My jumprope journey.

Jumprope is a full body workout and efficient way to burn calories (over 900 per hour) and build stamina. I’m so happy I picked up my jumprope and bounced back into better shape – stronger than I’ve ever been. I found jumping very hard to begin with, I was creaking like an old galleon for the first few weeks. My body changed within 6 weeks of daily jumprope training and gave me shoulders of steel!

Jump Rope Partners

Dope Ropes – I began my jumprope journey with Dope Ropes, using a beaded rope, and then a speed rope. Later, I switched to a 4oz weighted speed rope and loved it so much I partnered with them to bring out my very own rope. I still use this rope every day. Use code FIFTYSISTER to save at the checkout.

Crossrope – More recently I have added weighted ropes from Crossrope to my workout so include the 8oz/half pound and 16oz/1 pound rope to tone my shoulders and build upper body strength. Use code FIFTYSISTER to save at the checkout.

How it started – In February 2022 I picked up my jump rope for the first time in over 40 years. Of course, when I was a child, in the UK we called it a skipping rope, but times have changed and so has my body. Why did I chose skipping/jumprope? Click here to see the top 10 benefits of skipping/jumprope.

I set myself a challenge.

I decided to set myself a challenge. To go from zero to 2000 jumps per day within a month. Sounds easy…right? How wrong was I?! I’ve been a keen hiker for many years, spending hours hiking the steep hills along the south Devon coast. My legs are strong, so I assumed that jumping rope would be a piece of cake, a walk in the park – easy! It was really tough at first, but I built up over one month to jumping 3000 jumps per day and I’ve been jumping ever since. It’s a full body workout which has totally transformed my body.

Which jump rope?

I started with a beaded rope from Dope Ropes. The beaded rope is popular for learning tricks and freestyle. As a beginner, it gives you the ability to jump slower as the beads give weight for momentum, to keep the rope in flight. Click here or image below to visit the store.

Cardio 2.0 rope

I used the Cardio 2.0 (standard not weighted) speed rope when I started. The Dope Rope Cardio 2.0 is ideal for all experience levels and is a particularly good option for cardio fitness and increasing the heart rate. If you want to get into skipping as a form of cardio, then this is a great rope to use, but I prefer a bit more weight to the rope.

Weighted jump ropes

I then progressed to weighted jump ropes, because I wanted to tone my arms and shoulders. I highly recommend the Dope Ropes 4oz weighted, or the Crossrope 4oz weighted rope which are both excellent for speed jumping sessions. It’s not too heavy and you will see and feel a difference in arm strength within a few weeks if you jump daily.

Build up slowly

These ropes are classed as heavy ropes weighing around 1/4lb but it is at the lighter end of the heavy rope spectrum. Weighted ropes range from 1/4lb up to 5lb, so please consider this.  If you are a beginner, this rope is also suitable and it’s better not to use anything heavier than this or you could risk developing poor form, injuries and you may also struggle to last as long in your sessions. At this weight, this rope can also be used to perform different skills and tricks making it versatile as well.  Once you build up good form, stamina and endurance with this rope, you could go for an even heavier rope at a later stage if you wish.

Ropeless Ropes from Crossrope

My husband really enjoys using the heavy 2lb ropeless rope from Crossrope and uses them every day. I have recently started with the 1lb ropes and I’m finding them very useful for when I’m travelling. These would also suit people who are not able to jump completely off the floor or with mobility restrictions, but still want to give their arms and upper body a good workout. Check out the Crossrope website for more information and weight options. Don’t forget to use code FIFTYSISTER at the checkout to save.

Time to get serious with some heavier ropes.

After jumping for 1 year with the 4oz ropes I went in search of heavier ropes to push my upper body workout a little further. Check out the selection of heavier ropes and handles from Crossrope on their website, and don’t forget to use code FIFTYSISTER to save. It’s important to build up slowly to avoid injury.

Why did I chose skipping? Click here to see the top 10 benefits of skipping.

Recommended sports bra

This bra completely stopped the bounce for me.

My daily jump rope routine

Building up slowly, has helped me progress from 20 jumps the first day, to over 3000 jumps per day now. My 30 minute daily exercise routine looks something like this:

• 2 minutes 8oz weighted rope + 3 minutes 4oz weighted rope
• 5 minutes stretches, squats and lunges / or kettlebell
• 2 minutes 16oz weighted rope + 3 minutes 4oz weighted rope
• 5 minutes 5 minutes stretches, squats and lunges / or kettlebell
• 2 minutes 8oz weighted rope + 3 minutes 4oz weighted rope

To begin with I counted jumps in sets of 100. Now I time my number of jumps per minute and then multiply that by the number of minutes jumped. Now I can do 3000 jumps in 15 minutes but I am going at supersonic speed! I do 3 sets of 5 minutes.

Why was I out of shape? Let’s rewind a little…

In July 2021 I had gained 32lbs quickly. I was drinking too much alcohol and I wasn’t exercising as much due to lockdown. I had recently moved back to Portugal and was living in a small rental property. Unable to hop on a plane to visit my son, I felt trapped and that my world was out of control. I was stressed, depressed and anxious. I wanted to just go to sleep for a very long time.

I booked a trip up to the north of Portugal, keen to hike in cooler weather and swim in freshwater rivers in the mountains. I set up my camera to film this stunning location, at the bottom of a valley in Soajo. I shot some footage of me swimming with my dogs and forgot all about it until September. Browsing through my photo album, I stumbled upon the footage of me setting up my camera and taking a dip. In the shot, I looking at the camera to see if the light is on, and I really don’t look my best with wet hair, no makeup and carrying extra weight. What a wakeup call!