Heavy bag for fitness/losing weight?

Dave!

Story folks,

Just looking for some thoughts on punching a heavy bag as a means for losing weight.

I find it hard to motivate myself to go jogging, etc., but I reckon I'd enjoy the heavy bag.

I'm not overweight or anything (12st even, 5ft 10/11ins), but I've got a bit of a belly and a slight man boob problem

Just hoping to lose those babies, and generally tone up.

Would hitting the heavy bag be good for this if I have some sort of structured workout?

Cheers

Khannie

I'd advise going to some kind of class as well. You'll probably find it more enjoyable than hitting the bag at home (I certainly do). I also found Muay Thai very good for weight loss, but anything that you enjoy like that will probably work very well.

To answer your question though: Hitting the bag at home is good exercise alright and will definitely help with weight loss (coupled with a decent diet of course).

ragg

[quote=[Deleted User];61129226]Can't advise you on the bag alone but in the space of 6 months or so I lost 2 stone doing thai boxing. Unreal results in comparison to any "gym routines".[/quote]

Pah, my gym routing saw me lose 10kgs in 6 weeks - Unreal results in comparison to any thai boxing routine

Roper

A few things for the havy bag:

1) make sure it's actually heavy. most store/Argos ones are only about 40 kgs and mill around the place if you hit them. A nice pear bag is great but expensive. Second best is a good solid heavy bag 50kgs plus.
2) Where are you going to hang it? Even a bog standard rafter is a bit dodgy as the bag will be bucking abd swinging about a good bit. If you have a garage/shed with a concrete wall or some overhead steel that's your best bet. I used to have mine on the back garden wall. Left it out in the rain a few times which made it stink but added a few kegs to it!
3) Learn how to hit it properly, learn how to wrap your hands and get some decent bag gloves or mitts. Nothing worse than a bad connection on a heavy bag.

Khannie

[quote=[Deleted User];61134766]Khannie back me up here! [/QUOTE]

Haha. Ok....I will then.

Muay Thai is very good for maintaining a low bodyfat. You need only look at the average fighter (like me....no smart remarks about me being below average ). There's no denying that I'm slim. Going to the gym / doing lots of weights / going cycling etc. etc. are all good for maintaining a low bodyfat too. My own experience was that I lost a lot of weight (and kept it off) doing MT without really thinking about it.

Really though, the shape you're after is defined largely by how you eat.

Dave!

Cheers folks!

I'll probably be hanging it in the shed if I do get one (have to clear some of the sh*t outa the shed first ), so I'll make sure it's good and stable when I'm hanging it up

arybvtcw0eolkf

Dave! wrote: »

Cheers folks!

I'll probably be hanging it in the shed if I do get one (have to clear some of the sh*t outa the shed first ), so I'll make sure it's good and stable when I'm hanging it up

First off take what Roper said about good gloves and wrapping serious, or look through the Martial Arts forum, in the last few years we've had a few posts from people suffering injuries from the bag.

Second, since your fitting it yourself - if you can get some advice on hanging it.

Hang it too high & you'll be hitting it very low, resulting in the thing swinging wildly about the place. Hang it too low, mean's you'll be hitting the bag high & although it won't swing wildly it'll wobble horribly (I hope I'm describing that correctly) and you'll loose the advantage that a heavy bag workout can give you.

Instructed correctly a heavy bag is a great workout, unfortunetly I've not seen one person who could use it correctly without at least some instruction first.

.

dioltas

I'd say it's unreal for fat loss. I do intervals on mine and i'm usually a ball of sweat after a proper session, usually have to sit down for a bit.

Roper wrote: »

1) make sure it's actually heavy. most store/Argos ones are only about 40 kgs and mill around the place if you hit them. A nice pear bag is great but expensive. Second best is a good solid heavy bag 50kgs plus.

My father got ours from Mick Dowling, not sure how much he paid, but it is a good solid one anyway.

Roper wrote: »

2) If you have a garage/shed with a concrete wall or some overhead steel that's your best bet.

That's what I have, the overhead steel in the garage. Does the job!

devereaux17

hello chum,

if u want to get in killer shape i suggest you start using weights. now dont get me wrong doing what u will be doing is great...but within reason, i suggest u get urself into a gym and start pumping some iron.