Fun family workout in just 5 minutes

If a hectic summer schedule doesn’t allow for an hour on the elliptical and you are looking for ways to burn off last night’s indulgence at the neighborhood barbeque, consider buying a jump rope.  Jumping rope burns almost 700 calories per hour, the same number of calories burned by jogging for that same period of time.  While jumping rope for an hour isn’t do-able for most, several 5 minute cardio blasts throughout the day can provide a similar benefit.  It is also a great way to get the kids moving without the hassle of driving, scheduling or hauling sports equipement.  Jump ropes are inexpensive, easy to store, lightweight and require no maintenance.  Check out the video for jumping tips then check out some of the  different kinds of ropes available for exercisers.

This digital jump rope with clock, timer, count, calorie and fat settings sells for just under $20 on Overstock.com

The Nike Weighted Jump Rope sells for $18 at REI.com

The Reebok Mountain Tech Jump Rope is available for $13-15 at GNC and JCPenney stores