How to Lose Weight Figure Skating

Are you looking for a fun way to lose weight? Figure skating may be the perfect solution. A good figure-skating session will keep your heart rate up and help you to strengthen a variety of muscles. Best of all, it's a lot of fun. There are always new skills to learn and old moves to perfect, all of which help to provide the ongoing motivation to exercise. Make a commitment to figure-skate three times a week for three months, and you'll start to feel -- and see -- a difference in your body.

Things You'll Need

• Figure skates

Instructions

How to Lose Weight Figure Skating

1. Buy ice skates. Most rental skates provided by ice rinks don't offer the necessary ankle support. Ask your local rink for a skate -hop recommendation. You should have your feet measured by a knowledgeable salesperson. She can help you to find the right skates for your skill level and budget. Skaters at more advanced levels typically purchase the boot and the blade separately.

2. Consider signing up for group or private figure-skating lessons. Most skating rinks offer classes for both adults and children. These classes help you to learn new skills, keep you from picking up bad habits and provide some structure and extra motivation.

3. Dress for success. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. Dress in layers; although the ice rink itself may be cold, you'll soon be working up a sweat.

4. Start a skating session by skating around the rink several times (stroking), followed by a few minutes of stretching.

5. For the rest of your time on the ice, concentrate on keeping moving at all times. Try different moves to keep things interesting, and to force you to use different muscles.

6. Work on developing new figure-skating moves, as well as improving basic skills. The better you are at skating, the easier it will be to keep your heart rate up and burn calories. Concentrate on both speed and power.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid to fall. Falling is the first thing taught in most skating classes. Accept that you'll fall at times, and learn how to do it safely.

• Get a friend to become a skating buddy. You can encourage and motivate each other.

• Don't wear jeans or loose-fitting clothing while skating. These can hamper your ability to move, and can even present a safety hazard.

• Don't cut corners by buying or renting poor-quality skates. It's essential to have the right skates.

Resources

• The U.S. Figure Skating Association governs skaters ranging from beginners to Olympians.
• The Ice Skating Institute focuses on ice skating as a recreational activity.