Boxing For Weight Loss

Boxing is a physically demanding sport. In a typical boxing session, the average person can burn anywhere from 250 to 1000 calories an hour.

Weight loss isn’t the only reason to train boxing. There are numerous benefits of learning to box, including improved mental health, learning to defend yourself, and increased flexibility.

This article discusses eight reasons why you should train boxing for weight loss. Hopefully, this article will encourage you to smash your weight loss goal through training in boxing.

Boxing Burns Lots Of Calories

It’s no secret that you can burn lots of calories from training in boxing.

Boxing is a high pace activity where you’re constantly moving. You can expect to burn anywhere from 500-1000 calories in a typical one-hour class.

Of course, it is tough to know precisely how many calories an individual burns during a boxing session. The intensity of boxing sessions will vary depending on the gym, but classes usually consist of a combination of pad-work, bag-work, and partner drills.  

As a general rule, the heavier you are, the more calories you will burn per session. This is because it requires more energy to fuel your muscles. 

Boxing is an excellent choice if you’re looking to burn a lot of calories.

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Boxing Is An All In One Workout

One thing that makes boxing for weight loss so effective is that it’s an all-in-one workout, which means that you are working on your cardio, strength, and flexibility all at the same time.

Cardio is the most apparent aspect of the boxing workout you will feel. Nothing compares to the cardio needed to be successful in the boxing ring. During training, you’re constantly moving, improving both your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. After class is finished, you will be physically exhausted. 

Boxing training also enhances your muscular strength. Moving around the ring and throwing strikes requires you to activate all of your body’s muscle fibers. In a short time, you’ll start to feel significantly stronger than before you began boxing.

Then the last thing boxing will improve is your flexibility. Typically, boxing classes go through a stretching routine during the warm-up. Regularly stretching will improve your balance and prevent injuries, leading to a better quality of life.

Boxing Culture Promotes A Healthy Lifestyle

boxing for weight loss

To improve your health, you need to be in a positive environment. If you’re training boxing for weight loss, being around like-minded people will help you reach your goal.

The culture of boxing encourages a healthy lifestyle. Not just to enhance your performance in the ring but also your quality of life.

It is fantastic that you want to lose weight, and you probably will, but changing your lifestyle is essential. By changing your lifestyle to a happier and healthier one, the weight loss is more likely to stay off.

Boxing Teaches You How To Defend Yourself 

For most people, self-defense may not seem like a reason to learn boxing, but let me clarify. There may be a day where you find yourself in a violent situation, and you need to defend yourself. 

If you’re put in a threatening situation where you need to defend yourself, you need to be prepared. Not only physically prepared but also mentally.

Being conditioned to face violence can make the difference between life and death. It may sound extreme, but you don’t know what your attacker is capable of, so you have to be ready to defend yourself physically.

By being physically in shape and mentally prepared to defend yourself, the odds of you going home to your family unharmed increase drastically.

Boxing teaches you how to evade strikes as well as return punches of your own if necessary. 

Competing Within Your Weight Class

boxing for weight loss

Many people who train in boxing never intend to participate in competitions. They might be apprehensive that they will get injured or knocked out by their opponent.

Their fears usually disappear once they discover boxing bouts are separated by weight and experience. Knowing that you’re going against someone of a similar size and experience level as you can give you some confidence.

Fighting in a lower-weight class gives you a goal to reach and can make you committed to losing weight. You can continue developing your boxing skills while gradually dropping weight to your chosen weight class.

Fighting competitively isn’t for everyone. Just enjoy your boxing training, be open to learn and see where it takes you.

If you’re looking to compete, you must discuss your goals with your coach, who will have years of experience to guide you.

Being Part Of The Boxing Community & Making Friends

When you have a health-related goal like losing weight, you need to surround yourself with like-minded people. Training boxing makes you part of the boxing community, which is full of people with self-improvement goals. 

You’re going to make a large group of friends to help you achieve your weight loss goal. They’re going to help you both in the ring and in all areas of your fitness journey.

These new friends and training partners will want to see you achieve your weight loss goal and keep you accountable to accomplish it. Being part of the boxing community is special, and your new training partners will help you stay on track.

You’ll Spend More Time At The Gym

When you start boxing and get addicted to the training, it can take up most of your free time. If you usually spend most of your free time eating out and drinking in bars, spending more time in the gym is a good thing.

By spending most of your free time in the ring, you’ll spend less time going out to eat and will focus your extra time and energy on boxing to improve your health and technique.

Like most things in life, balance is everything. You can still enjoy eating out and drinking occasionally.

Boxing Is Fun

boxing for weight loss

The last reason to learn boxing for weight loss is the most simple. Boxing is fun.

There is nothing better than getting in the ring, breaking a good sweat, and burning a lot of calories while learning the sweet science.

One of the primary reasons people struggle when trying to lose weight is because they’re doing something monotonous. If you do not have fun training, you will find it hard to be consistent with your training.

Boxing training stimulates you both physically and mentally.

Boxing For Weight Loss: Are You Convinced?

The list of reasons to train boxing for weight loss is endless. One of the many benefits of boxing is that it’s a proven and effective way to lose weight.

Boxing is one of the best martial arts to learn if you want to lose weight. The training sessions are challenging, calorie-burning workouts that are fun. It’s not uncommon for boxers to burn more than 1000 calories per session.

Not only is the training challenging and fun, but you’ll make friends and improve your mental health. Boxing is a sport that can change your life and make you a healthier and happier person.

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Gareth Davies

I'm a martial arts competitor and enthusiast. Over the last 15 years, I have trained and competed in several martial arts. I live in Manchester U.K working as a strength & conditioning coach when I'm not travelling and exploring martial arts around the world.
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