Put a Kick in Your Step with Kickboxing

The number one reason most people throw in the towel on their weight loss journey is because they get bored. Doing the same thing, every day, can get old real fast. So, to avoid getting burnt out or bored, vary your routine from day to day. Your muscles and your body will thank you, too. 

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All too often, when we hear cardio workout, we think the only option is the treadmill or elliptical machine. There are so many options to get your daily cardio in. One of my favorites is the Cardio Kickboxing class at +LA Fitness. The fact that you're jumping up and down consistently for 60 minutes, is like jumping rope, but a lot more fun! 
Kickboxing is a full body workout; you pack a punch and deliver a kick working both your upper and lower body. And, you don't even need a punching bag. The kicks will tighten your legs and butt, whereas the punches will tone your shoulders and arms. While performing kicks, punches, and the boxer shuffle, you keep your core tight to strengthen your abs. Kickboxing also improves your balance, giving you more control of your moves, thus preventing injury. And the more classes you do, the better you get. So if you feel clumsy at first, don't give up, you will learn the moves with time and get better at them each time. 

Once you are accustomed to the kickboxing routine and build up your balance, you can get even more out of the workout by adding some weighted gloves. I picked up Valeo Women's Weighted Power Gloves and started using them during my kickboxing class. The next day, I could feel the burn. Each glove weighs 1lb, but I quickly out grew this weight because I already do a lot of strength training. And, it's difficult to find women's gloves that weigh more. But if you're a beginner, these are a great weight to start with. 

Like everything, variety is best. So don't just run on the treadmill 5 days a week and don't do kickboxing 5 days a week either. Mix up your cardio, just the same as you mix up your weight lifting! 

Here's a great sample weekly routine to mix up your cardio so you don't get bored! 

Week 1
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Treadmill	Spin	Kickboxing	Stair Master	Spin	Elliptical	Rest
Arms	Core	Core	Back		Legs
Week 2
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Spin	Yoga	Kickboxing	Rest	HIIT*	Boot Camp	Stretch
Back	Legs			Arms		Core
*High-Intensity Interval Training