@CandiceMarie, I have two hula hoops. these two bought from Amazon -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ResultSport%C2%AE-Level-Foam-Weighted-Exercise/dp/B002N1AX06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403339801&sr=8-1&keywords=hula+hoophttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Hooping4Life-Fluorescent-Dance-Hoop-instructions/dp/B001CG74MI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1403339801&sr=8-11&keywords=hula+hoopThey are both about 100cm wide (40"), the first one weighs 1.2kg and the second 625g. Don't be tempted to buy anything heavier. I had one which weighed 2kg and had 'waves' on the inside and I ended up back and blue with bruising. You can actually damage your internal organs if they are too heavy. However the ones we had as children are just too light.
Even as a child I was never able to hula hoop. I decided that if my girls can do it then so could I so with a bit of help from them and persistence I can hula hoop in the lounge whilst watching TV for as long as I like, usually 15 mins, without dropping it.
TIPS - Stand with you knees soft (slightly bent), put you best foot in front of the other. The mistake I always made as a child was to move my hips/waist in a circle - no, no. Move you hips/waist in forward/backward movements. When you feel the hoop going down then slightly bend your knees and 'flick' your hip to bring it back up. All your movements are subtle.
I can now walk with the hoop, although I do look like a constipated duck! @Nessie also got me hooping in the opposite direction.
If anyone who has never hooped before fancies it I'd say give it a go. The hoop will drop to the floor a lot to begin with but it is extremely satisfying when you get the knack.
This you tube video is helpful -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0visc3p6uAA