Will the First Lady start a new Hula-Hoop fitness fad?
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The First Lady has a go at the playground skipping classic, double-dutch
More photos:Thursday October 22 2009
US President Barack Obama once boasted that his wife was "the best hula-hooper I know" and yesterday the First Lady put on an impressive display of her skills in this old-fashioned sport.
Wearing a floaty top and belt cinched in at the waist with tailored trousers and ballet flats, the First Lady managed to get in 142 turns out of just one continuous swivel of the hoop.
Mrs Obama also tried her hand at double-dutch, though onlookers say her skipping skills were a bit of a disappointment.
The First Lady’s foray into schoolyard sports on the White House South Lawn was part of a day of activities designed to encourage young Americans to eat healthier foods and to keep active to stave off early-onset obesity.
Experts say the display could result in a new exercise fad as Mrs O’s legion of fashion and fitness fans look to emulate her slim physique.
During the presidential campaign, manufacturers reported a 20pc rise in sales of hula hoops after Michelle was pictured using her hoop along with one of her daughters.
Working out with the help of a hoop can boost core stability and tone the mid region, according to one fitness expert.
“There’s a lot of focus on posture, the pelvic floor and pulling in the abdominal muscles,” trainer Jane Chinery said.
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