Sunday, July 19, 2009

REMEMBER THE HULA HOOP!

Remember the hula hoop craze in the late 50s? I used to love to hula
hoop when I was younger. I once entered a contest sponsored by a Frisch's Restaurant when I was in my early teens and went five hours and twenty minutes. I won a big boy and a malt for all that work! The girl that won went for 8 hours and won a transistor radio.

According to some sources the hula hoop originated in Australia. The 50s hoops were hollow plastic tubing. It is estimated that Wham-O sold over 100 million hoops in 1958 alone.

I recently read an article in Prevention Magazine that "hooping" is making a comeback and they are no longer for the playground but a way to burn calories and tone your stomach muscles.

Today, there are web sites such as http://hooping.org/ and http://yourhoop.com/ where you can purchase custom hoops, collapsible hoops, do-it-yourself hoops and instructional videos if your are interested in "hooping". They can range in price from $15 to $50 and more. It seems adults need one based on your body weight if you are using it for exercise.

So guys and gals if you want to tone up, get yourself one of these new "hoops", turn on the music and start "hooping" it up! I am seriously considering trying it out.

Do you have any memories or past experiences about the hula hoops or do you think this would be a good way to lose weight and tone up today?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I just found your site and will come back and visit. I remember being in a Department store in Tulsa Oklahoma. The elevator door opened onto the Toy Floor and among all the wonderful sights was a huge display of brightly colored Hula Hoops made by Whamo (if I remember that right). That was the first time i saw one and they were expensive...maybe a dollar each? : )

Linda said...

I remember hula hoops. I had one, but as I recall, never mastered it to the extent you did. I doubt I'll sign on for a second round of hula hooping.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

The Hula Hoop came in AFTER my growing-up years, but I do remember it and remember lots of people playing with them (like my kids and grands).

SO---they are coming back, huh??? That's cool!!!!! I love it when some of the old things we used to enjoy DO come back!!!!

Have a great Sunday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Betty said...

I never could get the hang of the hula hoop. I'd give it a big twist and before I could get my hips going the right way, it would spiral all the way down to my ankles, and land on the floor. Very frustrating.

Beverly said...

I tried hula hooping on Lily's and bout broke my back...

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you for the scoop on hula hoops. I remember them very well and had fun doing it. Wow, 5 hours and twenty minutes, you must of lost weight. Thank you for coming by, hope you had a nice weekend.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm hula-hop challenged - I could never get coordinated enough to make it happen, but I can see how it would slim you down!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Hi Judy loved your blog about hula hoops. I have a WII Fit and they have a excercise with hula hoops, it's quite fun and I enjoy it very much.

Yvonne.

June Saville said...

G'day Judy
I don't know if the hula hoop originated in Oz but we sure were keen on them! No respectable teenage girl would be seen without one! Wherever we went we'd be gyrating ...

Anonymous said...

I used to be able to hoop, can't wiggle like I used to now though. hehe

Beth said...

Wow, Judy, after five hours and twenty minutes of hula hooping, that Big Boy and malt must have tasted mighty good! I was a dismal failure at the hula hoop. In fact, I was the only one of my friends who couldn't hula hoop, so I always just watched. But, at least, I could ride a unicycle!

Ann said...

I remember I had trouble with hoops and never did master the thing.

Clara....in TN said...

I don't know if I could still "wiggle' enough to keep it going or not. I sure would like to try! I remember them well!

Rachel said...

Five hours and twenty minutes!! Goodness, I'll bet you were tired after that! Seems like they could have given you a little more for all that hula hooping!! Like a burger a day for a week at least!

I can not do the hula hooping now unless they are the weighted ones. The weighted ones are so easy to keep going. I have one that the dog jumps through occasionally for a treat. It's too light for me to get it going though. It just drops down to my ankles immediately. Great exercise though, for those who can do it!

JunieRose2005 said...

Oh, my! I'm very impressed, Judy!!

I was a little bit early for hula hoops but I remember my kids had them!


Junie

Dr.John said...

I couldn't work the dang things when I was young so I could never do it now.

Balisha said...

Don't know if I can do it anymore.I'd probably throw something out of wack.I'll wait for a picture of you...Judy.

Amber Star said...

I wasn't all that good with the hula hoop back then, but had one and could keep it going for a while. It would probably be a great way to lose some weight and tone muscles, but I'm not sure my osteoporosis back could handle it now. I've some great stretching excersises from one of my docs. They are gooduns, too, but he marked out the ones that flex the spine too much.

Jamie Dawn said...

I can remember hula hooping as a kid, so they must have been around in the 60's and early 70's too.
I would probably look hilarious trying to do it now.
I'd be willing to give it a try though! I bet you can really burn calories and work those love handles away.
I'm game for anything that will tone the body. I'm wondering if I'd even be able to keep the hula hoop going around? I'm sure my kids would love to see me try!! My hubby would probably crack up too.