I think I’ve found my newest obsession.  

Health and fitness has been a passion of mine for going on 20 years. Heart disease and diabetes run pretty rampant in my family. I was going to do whatever I could to reduce my risk of ending up going down that same path. So in my late 20’s, after my third and final son was born, I knew that I needed to put my health and well being first if I was going to be able to keep up with three toddlers. I was about 50 pounds overweight and knew something needed to change.

A friend invited me to do a 5K with her at the annual Cowtown race in Ft. Worth, and I committed to walking the whole thing. I was so proud of myself when I finished and this was basically the catalyst to my fitness journey. Every year after that, I would sign up for the Cowtown race. The following year I was able to run some and walk some, and eventually did several 10Ks and worked my way up to a half marathon. I found some gym buddies as well during those years and was an early morning gym rat for probably close to 10 years. Between cleaning up my diet and sticking to my fitness goals, I was able to lose almost all of that 50 pounds and kept it off for almost 20 years.  

And then…Menopause.  

To say my body changed overnight, might sound a bit extreme, but that’s certainly how it felt. All of my old tricks just didn’t seem to work anymore. I hadn’t changed my diet or exercise routines, but had managed to put on close to 15 pounds over the course of about a year. This was and still is very frustrating for me. I’ve spoken before about my Menopause journey, and the bottom line is that this stage of life has caused me to redefine so many aspects of my life. My body being one of them. I’ve had to change my mindset from being thin to being fit, strong and living as long and as healthy as I possibly can.   

Enter the Rebounder- A.K.A. – Trampoline 

I had seen a few reels on Instagram about Rebounding, but didn’t have the money or really the space for a trampoline. But a few months later, a coworker of mine posted that she was giving one away for free. I immediately replied and was the proud owner of my very own rebounder. I’m not one of those people who does a bunch of research before starting something, I’m too impatient for that. So, I just made a spot for it in my bedroom and woke up the next morning ready to bounce.

I started slow, with only about 5 minutes the first day, and slowly worked my way up to about 20 minutes. I noticed right away how it got my heart rate going and the other thing I noticed was how much FUN it was! It was like an immediate dopamine hit and it really seemed to lift my mood!

Now, I wish I could tell you that I immediately dropped those 15 pounds or that my body has been radically changed. But I can say that after having been rebounding pretty consistently for the past year, my body is slowly but surely starting to respond. It’s something that I look forward to every morning. It removes a lot of my excuses. Because it’s in my office, it takes less than a minute to commute from the bedroom. The weather is never a factor and it doesn’t require a monthly membership! But, don’t just take my word for it! I’ve got all kinds of proven benefits that might just make a rebounder out of you too!  

Science Backed Research 

NASA published a research study titled “Body Acceleration Distribution and O₂ Uptake in Humans During Running and Jumping”  that studied trampoline exercise for its efficiency in zero gravity environments and found all kinds of health benefits.  

  • More Bang for Your Bounce 

They found that rebounding is 68% more efficient for cardiovascular health; achieving the same results as a 30 minute run in only 10 minutes of rebounding. Starting with just 2-5 minutes of gentle bouncing daily, and gradually increasing as your body adapts. Remarkably, 10 minutes on your rebounder burns more calories than 30 minutes of running, while simultaneously strengthening leg muscles and improving balance. 

  • Low Impact – Full Body 

Trampoline surfaces absorb impact forces, reducing stress on joints compared to hard surfaces such as treadmills or sidewalks. Rebounding involves continuous acceleration/deceleration forces, engaging the core, legs and ultimately providing a full body workout; meaning less stress on our joints despite higher workload. By requiring constant full-body engagement, trampoline workouts simultaneously build balance, coordination, and core stability. 

  • Mind and Mood Boost 

Rebounding helps trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood boosters, which can lower stress and lift your mood. The steady, rhythmic movement engages both your body and mind, leaving you feeling more balanced and energized and helps you stay present. This combination can help lower cortisol levels and leave you feeling calmer and more refreshed. Rebounding also boosts coordination and brain activity, improving focus while strengthening neural connections for long-term cognitive health. 

Rebounding has done more for me overall than any other form of exercise ever has. I have more energy, better focus and start my day with a smile. I also feel that it has improved my lymphatic drainage as well as my immune system, but those are just my personal experience. While some of the newer models can be pricey, Facebook marketplace is a great place to find one and for me, it has been worth every penny.  

You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn or read her articles here.