Rollerblading was the sport to do in the mid-90s. Its popularity declined over the years, but it saw a resurgence thanks to the pandemic.
Rollerblade, the company that makes rollerblade skates, noted that sales increased by 300% at the start of the pandemic.
Now that the pandemic subsided, those who gained weight during the pandemic are asking, “Is rollerblading good exercise?”
It is and can be a great tool to help you lose those pandemic pounds. Read on to learn how rollerblading helps with weight loss and how to get started.
Is Rollerblading Good Exercise?
Rollerblading is classified as a great exercise. It works the lower body, which are large muscle groups that need a lot of energy to operate.
You’ll improve your cardiovascular fitness. One overlooked benefit is balance. Your balance isn’t something that you think about, but it does get worse over time.
Rollerblading is an excellent exercise, and you can combine it with other exercises to lose weight. Strength training combined with rollerblading offers a 1-2 punch to lose weight fast.
As you build muscle, you increase your metabolism. When you have a good rollerblading session your body will continue to burn calories, which can create a caloric deficit.
That means you’re consuming fewer calories than you burn. That’s how weight loss happens.
How Weight Loss Works
There are other variables at work that contribute to weight loss. The first is the intensity of training.
If you’re rollerblading at a cruising speed and you’re able to talk, you’re not going to improve your fitness like you would with higher-intensity sessions.
As your rollerblading skills get better, try to sprint for 30 seconds and go at an easy pace for 30 seconds. Interval training can help you lose weight and build fitness faster.
If you want to lose weight, you have to have a diet that supports it. You don’t want to hit a fast-food restaurant.
Incorporate whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats and fish into your diet. You’ll be happy with the results.
Sleep and recovery support protein synthesis. Be sure to get quality sleep so your muscles can recover and grow.
Getting Started With Rollerblades
There’s no doubt that rollerblading is great exercise. If you’re ready to try it out for yourself, you’ll need to get some gear.
You’ll need a pair of rollerblades. Don’t forget about safety equipment to protect your head, hands, and knees.
If you’re interested in buying the best rollerblades on the market, this blog post explains the top brands and why they rank among the best.
If you’re on a budget or if you’re not sure about rollerblading just yet, you can buy used equipment or rent it.
Building Up Your Rollerblading Skills
Even if you rollerbladed non-stop in the 1990s, let’s face it. You’re not 25 anymore. Your balance declines along with your muscle mass as you get older.
Your muscles aren’t used to working, even if you managed to stay in shape. You’re working different muscles on rollerblades.
It’s important to start slowly because you’ll reduce the risk of injury. You’ll limit the risk of pulling a muscle or getting hurt from falling.
Start with trying on the skates. You’ll have to figure out your balance, so you might try to stand up in a doorway to test things out safely.
You can lean against a wall or hang onto something else to get your feet settled.
Now it’s time for takeoff.
Find an area that gives you enough space to practice skating. It should be a smooth, flat surface with no hills.
Slowly put one foot forward. The opposite foot will be at an angle that allows you to push off. Return the forward foot to the starting position and use that to push off.
Remember to shift your weight back and forth as you rotate sides.
Remember to Brake!
How do you stop once you get started? This is probably the most intimidating prospect for beginner rollerbladers.
Your rollerblades have a stopper in the back. Put one leg forward and point your toes up off the ground. That puts pressure on the brake and slows you down.
Another braking method is the T-stop. This is where you take one leg and put it behind you. You’ll rotate your back foot to form a T. Put a little pressure on the back foot and you’ll slow down.
Beginners should start with using the stopper and then try the T-stop.
Turns and Tricks
Take the time to master going and stopping. You’ll get confident on rollerblades and add fun things like turns and tricks.
Turning is actually easy once you learn the concept. Watch ice skaters and notice how they put one foot in front of the other and lean into the turn.
That’s what you want to do on rollerblades. It’ll take a few tries to learn, and you might find that you have better turning skills on one side than the other.
For instance, you can try a barrel-roll, flat spin, or fishtail. These are all impressive tricks. Give yourself time to develop the skills to pull these tricks off.
Is Rollerblading Good for Weight Loss?
Can you lose weight on rollerblades? You can, but rollerblading alone won’t make the pounds come off. You have to get your diet and sleep in order, too.
If you’re still wondering, “Is rollerblading good exercise,” wonder no more. Rollerblading is a great way to build up your fitness and coordination.
These are two things that decline as we age. Rollerblading like it’s the mid-90s can help bring those skills back.
Visit the Sports section of the blog for more tips to be active and healthy.
