Roller Skating Weight Loss – Introduction
Is Roller Skating Good Exercise for Weight Loss and Body Transformation?
Do you believe that exercise has to be unpleasant to be effective in reaching your weight loss and fitness goals?
Do you think punishing workouts is the best way to lose weight and get fit or that working out has to be boring?
That isn’t true!
With so many different body transformation activities available, there is no reason to get stuck in a workout rut and do something you do not enjoy.
Sure, some people “embrace the suck” and look forward to suffering through their workouts, thinking that the more you sweat and struggle, the better your results will be.
But, unless you are a competitive athlete, a good workout doesn’t have to be torture to be beneficial.
Believe it or not, even fun exercises are great for your mental and physical health, fitness, and well-being.
So, with that in mind, today, we’re going to look at what some think of as a fringe fitness activity – roller skating – so you can decide if it deserves a place in your workouts.
Is roller skating a good exercise for changing your body?
Let’s find out!
The Health Benefits of Roller Skating
Whether you are new to roller skating, used to skate years ago and are thinking of starting again, or are already a proficient skater, these are the ways that this enjoyable physical activity can benefit you:
#1. Fun
Fitness experts love to argue over the best type of exercise for fat loss.
Some will tell you it’s HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), while others say it’s strength training.
Others may tell you that running, swimming, biking, yoga, or an indoor air bike is best.
However, the REAL best workout for fat loss is the one you will do, which is the one you enjoy!
Fun is an essential part of workout adherence, and it’s much easier to stick to a workout to which you look forward.
If, for example, you hate a 20-rep squats or deadlifts program, you will probably look for excuses not to do them, despite being powerful compound movements that can dramatically change your body.
Skating is a lot of fun, and you’ll undoubtedly enjoy gliding along on your wheels or blades and taking in the sights.
You may even forget that skating is a great workout because you enjoy it so much!
#2. Low-impact
Running and jumping are great workouts, but they are also hard on your joints.
When you run, your feet hit the floor with force roughly equal to eight times your body weight, which can take a toll on your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back.
On the other hand, skating is a low-impact cardiovascular activity, so because it is easier on your joints, you should be able to do it for a longer period of time before any aches and pains set in.
Longer, more comfortable workouts?
Sounds good!
#3. Leg strength development
Skating involves staying in a semi-squat position and driving yourself forward with something, not unlike a lunge.
Skating is a great way to tone and strengthen all your body’s muscle groups, particularly your major leg muscles.
That includes those hard-to-train inner and outer thigh muscles and one of your body’s strongest and largest muscles (that you’re likely sitting on right now), your gluteus maximus.
While skating won’t build HUGE leg muscles, it will tone and condition your core muscles and entire lower body, besides its cardiovascular benefits.
#4. Improve your cardiovascular fitness
Skating is predominantly an aerobic activity.
Aerobic means working with oxygen.
Aerobic exercises build fitness and endurance and strengthen the most important muscle in your body: the heart.
High levels of aerobic fitness are inextricably linked to lower levels of cardiovascular disease and better heart health in general.
#5. Burn calories and lose weight/fat
While the actual number of calories that you use while skating depends on your weight, age, speed, etc., it’s safe to say that roller skating can burn tons of fat, even stubborn belly fat, and help you lose weight.
Most people should be able to burn around 7-10 calories per minute or about 600 per hour.
This calorie burn is roughly the same energy expenditure as other forms of aerobic exercise, including rowing, cycling, and group exercise classes.
Now you know why roller skating is good exercise for weight loss.
However, it is not only aerobic fitness sports that fire up your fat-burning furnace.
Strength training exercises can do the same.
See How You Can Burn 533 Calories Deadlifting in One Workout for more details, plus a sample workout.
#6. Exercise outdoors
When the weather is nice, there is no better place to work out than outdoors.
Sunshine and fresh air are energizing and healthy.
Also, with plenty to see, you should find that your workout is much more enjoyable than if you were stuck in a gym on a bike staring at the wall or the TV.
Instead, you can change your body from fat to fit while skating around a gorgeous lake with the breeze cooling your body as you take in the breathtaking views.
How great is that?
That said, you better pay attention and watch where you’re going!
#7. Better balance and coordination
If you are new to skating, initially, you’ll probably find it quite tricky.
But you’ll soon get the hang of it and be whizzing along like a pro, even if you get tired quickly.
That’s because your balance and coordination will improve before your fitness.
Balance and coordination are components of neurological fitness which pertain to your nervous system.
Like muscles, your nervous system adapts to the demands of your workout.
Balance is your ability to keep your center of mass over your base of support, and coordination is your ability to control your limbs accurately and efficiently.
These fitness components tend to decline with lack of use and age.
Skating will restore and improve them, making you more athletic and agile.
And a Couple of Drawbacks
While skating is a great way to work out, get fit, tone up, and lose weight, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider, too:
Skating is a skill
Roller skating is more complicated than it looks!
That doesn’t mean you CAN’T learn to skate, but it will take time to master the basics and develop your skills.
Initially, this may mean that you are limited to short workouts, and you spend most of your time trying to stay on your feet!
So, at first, skating may not be the complete aerobic workout you hoped it would be.
But, with practice, you’ll soon be able to go further and faster, burning lots of calories in the process.
Injuries and accidents
While roller skating is a low-impact activity, that all changes if you fall or crash into something.
Even a tiny pebble can send you flying into the pavement!
And believe me, that hurts.
So, especially as a beginner, you are more vulnerable to falling, resulting in serious injuries.
Therefore, you must have and use your safety gear; always wear a:
- helmet,
- knee pads,
- elbow pads, and
- wrist guards.
Also, if you skate in public places, you need to be aware of other pedestrians and the traffic around you.
Even if it’s not your fault, you could still come out of a collision with an injury unless you have your protective gear on.
Skating injuries range from scrapes and bruises to fractures.
Finding a suitable surface to skate on
Unless you go to a dedicated roller rink, you’ll probably need to find somewhere safe and smooth to go skating.
Pedestrian walkways are often potholed, and roads aren’t always smooth enough for roller skating, which means that you’ll have to drive somewhere to find somewhere suitable to skate.
Cost
Depending on the type of skates you buy, getting into skating can be expensive.
For example, you’ll need:
- quad (four-wheeled) or
- inline skates and all the
- safety gear (helmet, wrist guards, etc.) mentioned above.
If possible, borrow a pair of roller skates or roller blades, and see if you enjoy this form of exercise before committing your hard-earned cash to the equipment you need.
Types of Roller Skating
While skating is a fun and effective cardio workout, there is more to this activity than just cruising up and down the boardwalk.
Types of roller skating include:
Artistic skating
Artistic skating is all about performance, ranging from dance to freestyle to precision skating.
If you enjoy dancing or gymnastics, this may be the skating discipline for you.
Speed skating
Do you feel the need, the need for speed?!
Then this is the one for you!
Speed skating is fundamentally sprinting on wheels and a great way to improve fitness and endurance.
As skaters travel faster than runners, distances tend to be longer than the more usual 100-400 meters seen in track meets.
Aggressive inline skating
This type of skating is like parkour on wheels.
Skaters perform stunts and tricks over ramps, bowls, rails, and other obstacles.
You can do aggressive inline skating on the street or in skate parks.
Road skating
Road skating is much like road cycling.
It’s a competitive sport where groups of skaters compete in teams over long distances.
Road skaters can reach and maintain speeds of over 30 mph.
Roller hockey
Roller hockey is essentially ice hockey but on roller skates.
You could play with like-minded friends or join a team.
Roller derby
Roller derby is a full-contact five-a-side sport that women mainly play.
However, there is also a men’s roller derby federation.
It’s been around since the 1930s but is currently enjoying a resurgence.
Of course, to participate in any of these skating sports, you need to be a proficient skater, so dust off your inline or quad skates and start practicing!
Or, you could enjoy skating for what it is – a fun way to work out, burn calories, and get fit.
Is Roller Skating Good Exercise for Weight Loss – Wrapping Up
So, is roller skating a good exercise for weight loss and body transformation?
You bet it is!
It ticks all the same boxes as running, cycling, swimming, rowing, etc., and will provide you with a good fitness workout that burns lots of calories.
It’s fun and a great excuse for getting out and about instead of hiding away in a gym.
That said, roller skating is a skill that takes time to master.
So, you can’t expect your first few workouts to do much for your fitness or fat-burning.
But, with a bit of practice and perseverance, you’ll soon be gliding along and looking fabulous, so stick with it and enjoy all the benefits of roller skating for weight loss.
What’s Next
When it comes to exercising for weight loss, most individuals depend on cardio activities like the star of our article – roller skating.
However, not everyone has the skill or desire to learn how to roller skate.
What to do?
Fortunately, there is another way to achieve your ideal body weight goal – weightlifting for weight loss.
And the only equipment you need is a weightlifting bench and a pair of dumbbells.
See Weight Lifting for Weight Loss Plan: A Program That Works for more details
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