Skip the jump rope – try Punk Rope!

~by Shelly, Fitsmi

I don’t have what you’d call athletic prowess (or really, athletic anything), especially when it comes to sports that require coordination. But a year ago I took this class called Punk Rope where we jumped rope and performed different drills to punk music. Having some previous experience with this (you jump that rope 8 year old Shelly!) and bored of the same old routine on the elliptical, I started, literally, whipping myself into shape twice a week.

After a bit of tripping over my rope and lashing the hell out of my arms and legs, I became a badass punk roping machine. I mean, real badass, like those boxers on TV sans glistening skin and fancy glitter shorts.

Getting started doesn’t take much and you don’t even need to sign up for a class. Just get yourself a jump rope, find a room with enough space (no ceiling fans!), play your favorite workout songs loudly, and give it a go. As you get better you can be more creative with the footwork and arm swings.

Oh, and here are some of my favorite pre or post-workout foods (if you’re gonna eat before try to eat at least an hour before working out):

-Fruit (apple, oranges, grapes, strawberries, blueberries)

-8 oz. low-fat yogurt

-Whole-wheat crackers with 2 tablespoons cottage cheese

-Dried fruit -2 sheets graham crackers

-Small handful of nuts

-1 slice whole-wheat toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

-8 oz. hot chocolate

As a rule of thumb: avoid anything high in sugar or in fat. The sugar will give you some quick energy, but you’ll come down quickly too. The fat will slow down digestion, making you more likely to get stomach cramps.

~Visit Fitsmi