The holidays are over. The turkey and ham have been consumed. The mince pies have been devoured. If you even so much as smell another Bailey’s hot chocolate, it will be too soon.
Everyone lets themselves go a little bit over the holidays, and it can be difficult to shift that weight afterwards. If you’re looking for a fun and effective way to lose weight, getting involved in a martial arts class is one of the best ways to go.
Natural Cardio and Weight Training
Many people will take up running to work of their holiday weight but, as an exercise that is purely cardio-focused, it doesn’t offer up as many benefits as taking part in martial arts classes. From a scientific perspective, martial arts are effective for weight loss because they are not only cardio activities, but they also include bodyweight exercises that help you burn further calories.
Combining weight training with cardio exercises is a great way to lose weight, because the cardio burns calories while you workout while the weight training continues to burn calories afterwards. Martial arts really do offer up the best of both worlds in terms of exercising, and it is a great way to get you closer to your weight loss goals.
Reducing Stress
Did you know that stress is a common reason for weight gain? Whenever you get stressed out, your body releases hormones like cortisol that tell your body that it needs more energy. This is why you often crave fatty foods. Even if you don’t give into your hankering for eating an entire bag of Walker’s, stress slows down your metabolism and makes it difficult for you to lose weight.
Martial arts and other forms of high intensity training can help to relieve stress and act as outlets for aggression. Any negative feelings that you experience during the week can be worked out during your session, helping to reduce your cortisol levels. As a result, you’ll crave less junk food and your metabolism will remain at a healthy level that allows you to lose weight at a normal rate.
Progress
Losing weight is a slow process, and it’s not uncommon for people to become discouraged if you don’t see much of a result after a couple of weeks. In fact, 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by February, usually because they don’t see enough progress to warrant continuing towards their goal.
When you’re taking part in martial arts, weight loss isn’t the only goal – so, you can revel in other achievements while you wait for the kilos to start melting off. You’re learning valuable skills every session. Even if you don’t see a shift in your weight one week, you can walk away from each class knowing that you’ve learned something new and are on a path to developing great skills.
It’s Just Fun!
Learning a martial art is fun task that takes part in a social setting, which is reason enough to get involved. You interact with other students and your instructor on a weekly basis, and you’re likely to even make some new friends out of it. Everyone supports each other in a friendly environment, building a sense of community among the participants.
This is something that you don’t get by going for a run or visit the gym. Simply put, taking martial arts makes losing weight fun.
So, Which Martial Arts Help You Lose Weight?
Martial arts is a huge discipline, encompassing a wide variety of styles. Each one benefits you in a unique way, but there are a select few that will help you reach your weight loss goals a lot sooner.
Muay Thai, “the Art of Eight Limbs”, provides you with a full body workout every session. During a 1-hour class, it is not uncommon for students to burn about 1000 calories, as they engage in a mix of cardio exercises and interval training.
Kung Fu and Taekwondo are diverse forms of martial arts that combines a number of different exercises. Kicking and jumping are major focuses of this style and, if you stick with it, you’ll eventually get into flipping. Combining all of those actions in a single session gives you a well-rounded workout that really helps you lose weight.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is another popular option for those looking to get into shape. It is a fantastic cardio workout, and requires a very low base level of fitness from its participants. You don’t have to be in great shape to get started with this martial art style, but you’ll be able to reap the benefits over time. In fact, you’ll hear many success stories about people who have lost hundreds of pounds, thanks to their participation in Jiu-Jitsu.
So, if you’re worried about how you’re ever going to get rid of all of this holiday weight, consider enrolling in a martial arts class. You’ll be able to achieve your weight loss goals in a fun and productive manner, while learning valuable new skills in a social setting.
