Sports Hoop - Trim Hoop 4B - 3.9lb (Dia.41) Large [Select Colors], Weighted Hula Hoop for Workout with 50 Minutes Workout Lesson DVD

I bought this as a last ditch effort in getting fit. After an emergency surgery I ballooned. I am currently at 268lbs, and have a hard time doing most exercises. The ones I do try ironically end up with me GAINING weight rather than losing. A friend of mine has been hooping for a while and says it is great. So, I decided to try.Pros: Once I got the hang of it (my 8 year old son showed me how to keep it up) I had fun with it. I don't dread picking it up to work with it daily. I follow the recommendation of the paper included in the box. Week one- 1 to 3 minutes per day. Week two- 3 to 5 minutes. Etc. I haven't used the video yet but I can't wait to try it. I am just trying to get the hang of it a little more first.Cons: It hurts when it hits my toe when it falls. It was very difficult to find the right size hoop. This one is actually specified for someone who weighs less than me but was the best combination of diameter and weight. It is very difficult to get the hang of- in fact, my 8 year old son had to show me how to get it to work. I can use a regular hoop, but this one was impossible, until he recommended twisting my whole upper body before swinging the hoop to start, while planting my feet. Once I did that I was good to go! It does hurt as it goes across the front of my stomach.Although I have a lot of cons listed, I don't think of them as deterrents. Except when it hits my toes. Ouch!I am enjoying this product and my kids are encouraging me and participating in helping me to keep up with it. It is fun and not as hard as you might think. I would definitely recommend this to others, whether for fitness or recreational use.