I never really got hula hooping as a kid. Everyone had a plastic hula hoop kickin' around in their garage, but whenever we tried them out, they always ended up falling to the ground - so we used them as skipping hoops instead! This past weekend I discovered what a real hula hoop is like. These are not your average plastic hoops - they're heavy duty, and weighted down with water. After a couple of tries, I got it! I managed to keep that hoop up for quite a while.

Once you get the hang of it, you can practice different techniques - hooping both right and left, moving side to side or front to back. I was shocked at how much effort went into it! You're basically giving yourself a full body workout. The next morning, my abs were sore!

Hula hoops come in all different sizes, and the kids had a great time trying out the smaller size.