‘Tis the season to be jolly, but you can still stay lean and fit to enjoy the holiday season. The holidays may be the perfect time to let go and eat to your heart’s content, but if you want to lose that belly fat in time for the New Year, here are a few ways how kickboxing can help you avoid gaining holiday weight:
- Increase metabolism
Unfortunately most of us don’t have the metabolism of a teenager anymore, so we have to watch our weight by exercising and eating right. Kickboxing is a great way to increase your metabolic rate, as it is a type of high intensity cardio workout that gets your heart rate up and burns a high number of calories. As long as you go kickboxing on a regular basis, you won’t feel as guilty eating more on those cheat days!
- Tone your entire body
While certain types of exercise only focus on specific body parts, kickboxing tones your entire body, as it forces you to engage all the muscle groups in your body. Many people have the misconception that kicking only works your leg muscles, but you also work your core and abdominal muscles in a high kick. Other than building arm muscles, the punching and blocking movements also work your back and shoulders.
- Target certain muscle groups
While a kickboxing session works your whole body, you can also focus on specific muscle groups. At Urban Martial Arts we often focus on certain muscle groups on certain days for an extra challenge – one day might be abs day where we focus on toning your abs with side planks, the alligator drag and walkout from pushup position. On another day, it might be legs day where we focus on doing squads and lunges.
- Improve cardio and strength training
The beauty of kickboxing is that it is a combination of aerobic and inaerobic workout – in other words, kickboxing gets you the same results as running and lifting weights at the same time. Cardio kickboxing helps to burn fat and calories, while punching helps to build upper and lower body muscles and kicking helps to strengthen hamstring muscles.
- Revive your passion in exercise
Exercise can be fun too! Instead of seeing it as a chore, you should view kickboxing as a way to destress and let off some steam. Since exercise increases the release of endorphins, you’ll end up feeling happy and calm after an intense session of punching and kicking. If you need motivation to go to kickboxing classes, try going with a workout buddy and treat it as a social activity.
While it is tempting to go into hibernation mode during the holidays, it is important to keep up with your exercise regime in order to maintain your weight and metabolism. With the extra number of holiday feasts with family and friends, you’ll need the magic of kickboxing to burn that stubborn belly fat!
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