I remember the days when I would hula hoop in my Grandma's back yard until I got tired and then maybe partake in some Hop-Scotch. I never saw my mother grab a hula hoop and join me - or anyone over the age of eight for that matter. But times have changed.

Hula hooping is the latest exercise craze. I haven't tried it yet but I know many who have and they can't stop talking about it.

Recently, after yet another Facebook post I wrote about an exhausting 45 minutes running on the treadmill and pumping my legs up and down on an elliptical for a half hour, a friend said "try hooping! It makes working out fun."

This piqued my curiosity. People usually don't use the words "fun" and "working out" in the same sentence. I was on a Zumba kick for awhile, which was actually fun and it was a great workout, but on a budget, Zumba classes got to be too pricey and my Zumba DVD only held my attention for so long.

As many of my blog readers know, I also tried P90x, which made me feel great, but was very very (did I say very?) far from enjoyable.

It sounds like this hula hooping fad is worth a try.

Alvin and the Chipmunks requested a hula hoop in their Christmas song and I think they were onto something. Let's hope Santa brings me a hula hoop too so I can embark on this new fitness program.

For those of you who are tired of running on the treadmill, it may be time to tap into your inner four year old and find a hula hoop program that you enjoy.