Do the Hula!

I recently came across an article in Self Magazine featuring Kelly Osbourne's weight loss and new life style change. She went through a dramatic change after her mysterious seizure that took place on a recording of Fashion Police. She has lost about 80 pounds by various ways of exercising and by simply changing what she eats at what time of day. I'll briefly go into her changes here, but really, you could just read the Article, its fantastic!

The first thing she did, and I'm 100% on board with it, is Hooping. Yes Hula Hooping! Did you know that you could burn up to 500 cal just hula hooping for an hour? Not to mention all the fun tricks you can learn and the arm workout you can do. Let's not forget all the different colors, sizes, weights, and effects hula hoops can have! I personally have purchased a Foam 2.5lb (36") Rainbow Hula Hoop, a 3lb Supa Hoop (48") with the Rain effect, and a 38" light weight LED Rainbow hoop. Take it from me, find out which hoop is the right size and weight for you before purchasing hula hoops. Getting hoops via Amazon or Ebay will help save you some money, but if you can afford the Hoopnotica sets, those are the ones Kelly O. uses, they are pretty good, durable, and come in plenty of varieties.

Another change she made was a very balanced daily diet, like took a really hard look at herself, kind of daily diet. (Again, not a "diet" kind of diet. A "What am I consuming daily and want to consume daily" diet.) She also doesn't completely deprive herself from her guilty pleasure foods. ONCE IN AWHILE isn't bad, but having a doughnut everyday for breakfast is not good for you. That doughnut is now part of your daily diet. If you have a good one on one with yourself, you can start changing that doughnut for a bowl of oatmeal, and now the oatmeal is part of your daily diet and your consuming half the sugar, carbs, and calories!

Weight loss also has to do with the time of day you eat something. Kelly O. told Self that if she craves pizza that day and she's been "good" during the week, she'll have it for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and oatmeal for dinner. Consuming the naughty foods in the morning gives you all day to burn them off. That sounds great, but remember, it's not to be an every day thing and it's okay if you have a late dinner with friends occasionally. Everything in moderation and remember to take responsibility.

Since her recent accomplishment, Kelly O. has inspired many to start out simple and to not beat yourself up. People who have always struggled with weight are switching towards better choices and easier workout routines that are more doable that the feared P90X or Insanity programs. If you can do those, more power to you, but the rest of us need something a little easier. Kelly O. says to start just walk, or do some light yoga, or even pick up a hoop. Whatever you feel like doing, it should be fun and you should be able to accomplish it.

I'll be honest, I never knew how to hoop and I'm still learning, but I won't quit, I find hooping fun to do whether its inside watching tv or outside with my LED at night. I even took on adding a squat to pick up my hoop every time it falls. I encourage you to give it a try if hooping interests you and try to get others involved. Kelly O. and Adam Lambert hoop together, so grab a friend, head to the park, and laugh your way fit!

Hoopers bring their own Sunshine!

-Chef Marie CM