This post has been updated for 2022.

If you’re interested in how to lose weight hula hooping, the size and weight of your hoop are very important factors to consider.  

How Heavy is Too Heavy?

First let me just say that I believe the fitness industry has confused people on the issue of how to lose weight hula hooping.  The market is now producing weighted hula hoops that weigh as much as ten pounds to meet the growing demand for exercise hula hoops.

Many people mistakenly think the heavier your hoop is, the more weight you will lose, and the big box stores don’t care how wrong that is.  They just want to make money off of what you think you need.

These excessively heavy hoops can be painful to use, and can cause bruising to your abdomen and hips, not to mention damage your internal organs!

A 1-2 pound hula hoop is the maximum hoop weight you should choose to lose weight hula hooping. Anything beyond that is risky and unnecessary.

Simply put, excessively heavy hula hoops are not safe, and the industry has done a great disservice to the public by producing and hyping up these kinds of hoops.

But, shouldn’t a heavier hoop create more resistance, thus a harder workout to lose weight hula hooping?

It’s true that a moderately weighted hula hoop, one to two pounds, is helpful for working out with a hula hoop.  You will definitely tone your muscle more than you would with a lightweight hoop.  

Once you get above two pounds, the extra weight increases risk of injury and also shortens the length of time you will be able to work out with the hoop.  

The repetitive movement of hooping with a one or two pound hula hoop will tone your abdominal muscles and torch calories without the risk of excessive weight.

Recommended Hoop Size to Lose Weight Hula Hooping

When we talk about hoop size, we are referring to the hoop’s diameter (the distance across the center of your hoop).  You are going to want a hoop that is big enough that you are able to keep it rotating around your waist for the maximum amount of time possible, while burning the maximum amount of calories.

A hoop with a smaller diameter will rotate faster, thus requiring a faster aerobic movement.  A larger, heavier hoop will go a little slower, allowing you to hoop for a longer period of time.

It’s basically the difference between running a sprint versus a marathon.  The marathon is preferable to lose weight hula hooping because you will keep your heart rate up longer, thus burning more calories and improving your overall metabolism.

We have been helping people pick out the right size weighted exercise hula hoop for over five years now.  Generally speaking, here are some guidelines we have come up with:

We offer custom sizing on all of our hoops if you want something over 55″.  All large diameter hoops are suitable for not just hoopers with larger waist measurements, but also as anyone who wants a rich and meditative hoop experience.

There is no such thing as a hoop that is too big.

You can read more in my article, What Size Hula Hoop Should I Get?  Also, feel free to join our Facebook group where you can talk to many members of our community and get quick answers to more of your questions.

So What Hoop Should I Get Then?

I know it can be so confusing when you are just starting out! We offer quite a few different options depending on your budget. Let me break it down for you…

Go Getter Hula Hoop Starter Pack – this is a set of 4 hoops so you can begin your journey with some options.  It comes with an approximately one-pound, large beginner hoop for on-body training, custom sized for your unique body. It also comes with a smaller, lighter weight dance hoop, great for learning some off-body tricks. Finally it comes with a pair of mini hula hoops, perfect for delving into twin hooping.  All of these hoops are useful for my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge!

Beginner Hoop – get yourself a nice big beginner hoop weighing about 1 to 1.5 pounds, a la carte. They come in any diameter you can dream up, to accommodate people of all sizes and shapes! Perfect for breaking a sweat every day, and all kinds of hoop dance. 

Weighted Exercise Hoop – this is just like our standard beginner hoop except it has heavier duty grip tape. Great for folks who are really looking to tone their core muscles with a little bit more resistance.  

If you want to buy my Six Week Challenge as well as the Go Getter Pack, save yourself some cash and buy them at the same time to get 50% off the hoops.  You will see the add-on option when you check out.

Remember, the best workout for you is the one you’ll actually do.  And hula hooping is so fun, it never feels like work.  Your days of staring down the clock on your treadmill are over.