Product Review: Cardio Core And More Hoop Workout By Empower

This is now an update and a review of the customizable 3lb weighted hoop from Empower Fitness. 

Hula Hooping is not something new to me. In fact, when I was little, my friends and I would do a hooping contest to see who can hula hoop the longest. It was fun to be able to have a friendly competition with your friends, yet we didn't even know back then that we were also working out. I would say I do well with the hoop, but I wish I can do more tricks with it. 

My weighted hoop came at the right time when I needed something new with my workout routine. I mean, I am the type of person who likes to mix my workout and not just stick to one because I do get bored. I want something new and fun. I did have a hula hoop back at the old house, but it was not a weighted one. This hoop is something I love to use. 

You would think that hoop workout is something that is easy, but with this workout there are other things you can do with it. My kids enjoy watching me do the hoop and they always want to try, but this one is too heavy for them. Even my husband wanted to learn how to hoop and it is so funny watching him do it. Shh... don't tell him I said that. 

Below are the two videos of me with my girl on my shoulders while I do the hoop, and one doing the shortened version of the Cardio Core and More Hoop Workout. 

My little girl has been a bit clingy lately, so sometimes I would end up working out with her, and hooping was something she thought was fun while she rides on my shoulders. 

Cardio Core and More Fitness Hoop

The package includes an instruction on how to assemble your hoop. The hoop consists of 8 easily assembled sections. Each section has an "A" side and a "B" side. The "A" side has a BUTTONHOLE and the "B" side has a corresponding INSERT BUTTON. The BUTTONHOLE by the way is under the foam on the "A" side of the section. Anyway, when you buy this product, it comes in a DVD and an information that you will need. 

Description

Hoop your way to a tighter tummy with Empower’s Cardio Core & More customizable weighted hoop! Burn as many calories as aerobics or running and have TWICE AS MUCH FUN. The Cardio Core & More hoop, weighing 3lbs, is an exhilarating total body, yet low impact, workout that will shake up your fitness routine! This hoop features transferrable weight— mix and match weighted and non-weighted sections to create three different workouts! Creative, fluid movement reshapes your waist, builds power in your core, and gets your heart pumping!

Features

- Transferrable weight hoop lets you mix and match weighted and non-weighted sections to create three different workouts.

- Soft, thick, foam padding for extra comfort while hooping.

- Snap-button connections easily disassembles into 6 pieces for storage or travel.

- Includes one 40-inch, 3 lb, Cardio Core & More customizable weighted hoop, 45-minute - DVD, and illustrated workout guide.

- As with most fitness hoops, this product may cause tenderness with first few uses

What Do I Think About The Fitness Hoop?

- I didn't think that hula hooping could give me such a workout, where it gets me sweaty and my heart rate's up, but it is more than just hooping away. Not only it is working your core, but it is also working my arms and my leg muscles. It is working my arm muscles because it weighs three pounds and I can feel my arm muscles burning. And when you are doing your hoop, your legs are also working. With this fitness, they included the bonus part where it works on your core, legs, arms, and thighs, so you can be ready when the warm season is here. And with that said, I need to workout more.

- The Cardio Core and More Fitness Hoop by Empower Fitness is categorized into different levels, and it consists of different cycles. The Fitness Hoop starts with Cycle 1, which involves the so called "Drive The Car" workout, all the way to Cycle 14: the "Heel Digs with Hoop Stretch". Just like with any other workout, the Fitness Hoop starts with the Warm Up, then followed by an "Easy" workout, "Harder" workout, to the "Go Girl" level workout, then ends with the "Cool Down". There is also a Bonus part of the DVD, which you didn't see it in my video. 

Here are the different Cycles from 1 to 14:

1. Drive The Car
2. Windshield Wiper
3. Cross Chop with Lunge
4. Figure 8's
5. Squat With Overhead Press
6. Drive the Car with Side Leg Lifts
7. Figure 8's with Knee Dips
8. Washing Machine (Squats with Rotation) - I think this one is so cute and fun to do, which for some reason it makes me giggle when I do this, which is good. It keeps my mind off of being tired and you actually have fun. 
9. Windshield Wiper with Leg Lifts
10. Angle Head Squats with Overhead Press & Twist
11. Jacks with Overhead Press
12. Hoop Circles
13. Washing Machine (Squats with Rotation)
14. Heel Digs with Hoop Stretch 

- It may sound kind of complicated, and it can be complicated for some, especially those who are not so coordinated, but once you do the workout two to three times you will get it. 

- To give you a little idea about the product, it is a 3 lb weighted hoop where the pink part of the hoop is the heaviest part and the orange is the lighter part. You can customize your hoop according to your workout, and that's a nice thing about. 

- Gin Miller, the instructor is fun to workout with. She is clear with her instructions on what the next step would be, and she has that calm voice, and the workout is easy to follow along. 

- When I first started with my Fitness Hoop, my tummy section was sore for a couple of days and with a slight tenderness, but that is to be expected. It all went away on the third day and I was able to enjoy my workout more. It says that muscle soreness is common 24-48 hours after a strength training workout, and slight tenderness may occur around your midsection when you first start using the hoop. According to Empower Fitness, this is perfectly normal and will lessen over time.

- I like how you can store the hoop when not in use by disassembling the parts. It is perfect for when you travel and you have no access to the gym, so you can just stay inside your room and work away. This will come in handy for me because traveling season for us is up ahead, and in some places they don't have a fitness area. The packaging by the way is neat because it is easy to get it out of the box and assemble it, and within a few minutes I was working out. 

- Of course, with common sense, you know your body well. And before you start any kind of workout, you might want to make sure that whether a certain workout is good for you or not. And please, don't forget to hydrate yourself before, during and after workout. It is important to always hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate. When I do my workout, I like to drink water in between breaks because not only it hydrates me, but it also gives me more energy. And here is a little tip that I learned from a show one time (I forgot what show), but it supposes that when you smell a slight bit of that Peppermint Essential Oil, it helps boost your energy. I don't know if that is all true, but it works for me. Just a little tip from you to you. 

- If this was my money, was it worth the buy? So far, I am enjoying my Hoop workout and I see a little bit of change (even my husband can tell), so it's working for me, and yes, it is worth it. It is a great Cardio to start your morning with. I will update this post later on to share more progress. Thank you Empower Fitness for the complimentary fitness hoop. 

- If you are interested to know more about Empower Fitness and their other products, you can visit their website. This is my second time reviewing one of their products, by the way. And if you are interested in their Boxing Bootcamp Kit, you can checkout my review. 

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