JumpSnap Ropeless Jump Rope

The Issue: You want an intense calorie burn without having to go to the gym, and you know that jumping rope would do the trick. Problem is you trip on it (only when a god of a man is watching) and hit things in your apartment with it (never the Ikea items, though, for some reason).

The Fix: JumpSnap, the ropeless jump rope. You don't have to be 10 years old and super sweet at Double Dutch to pull this off. JumpSnap features two electronic handles that track your number of jumps and estimates the number of calories you've burned (based on your height and weight, which you program into the handles). All you gotta do is hold the handles and jump as you would with a normal jump rope, but you don't have to worry about tripping or knocking stuff over since there's no rope. And you can also add weights to the handles for a more intense workout.

We're glad someone realized you don't actually need a loud, cumbersome rope to get the amazing benefits of a jump rope workout. According to JumpSnap, "Jumping rope burns more calories in less time than virtually any other exercise."

And our expert, Ocala, FL Certified Personal Trainer Katie Humphrey, says that jumping rope isn't only "a great way to burn calories." "The jumping motion," she says, "also helps move lymph in the body, so toxins and excess water (that creates bloating) are more easily flushed from the body. It's also a great workout for your arms, legs and core, so you'll feel tight all over."

The JumpSnap is available online for $39.95. Aside from the two handles, you'll get four workout DVDs, three weights for each handle and batteries.

Jumping rope is one of the quickest ways to get in to shape and no one wants to spend two hours a day in the gym. But, no one wants to look like a bull in a china shop using a real jump rope, so this thing really is the ticket.

In Chicks' Picks, we present health-related, non-prescription products that address a common problem and that relevant professionals like. This is not a product endorsement or recommendation on behalf of ChickRx. Please use your own judgment and consult your physician before using any new product.