The benefits of kickboxing are tenfold, from helping tone your body and build muscle mass to trimming down the waistline. Another reason many people turn to kickboxing is to lose weight. If this is why you are thinking about taking a kickboxing class, it is important you understand that losing weight with kickboxing can be a bit more complicated than you may realize. The number one way to lose weight is by burning more calories than you are taking in, right? Because kickboxing is so strength-building, many people actually gain weight in muscle mass, which can be frustrating.

This is why we encourage you to stay away from the scale and pay attention to how you are feeling and how you look. Scales can be deceiving and can cause a lot of frustrations for people – especially if you are working hard day after day to trim down, but the scale is telling you otherwise. Kickboxing is a full body workout that allows you to work out muscles that are not as commonly used, along with those that are. Think about it – when you see experienced kickboxers, you see people who are lean, muscular, and fit. This requires dedication and a combination of a healthy lifestyle and diet along with attending kickboxing classes several times a week. Think you are up for it? Let’s look at a few additional reasons why kickboxing can be good for weight loss, if you play your cards right, that is.

• You can burn a lot of calories quickly. Fitness experts note that you can burn upwards of 900 calories for every hour of kickboxing. According to Harvard Health, a 125 pound person will burn 300 calories in 30 minutes of straight kickboxing, whereas a person who weighs 185 pounds will burn 444 calories in the same session. This is on par with other types of high-intensity workouts, which is a good sign for those interested in kickboxing to get in shape.

• It works to tone the body. As mentioned above, kickboxing is an excellent cardio workout, which means it also works to tone the body faster than other forms of exercise. Kickboxing is particularly helpful in toning the belly and sides of the tummy, or those hated love handles.

• It is a moderate to high-intensity workout. Health professionals note that moderate to high-intensity workouts are best for burning calories and helping you get in shape as quickly as possible. Intense cardiovascular workouts like kickboxing help you build muscle tone and, in turn, lose weight.

• It helps reduce stress levels. You may not think of this is a way that kickboxing can help you lose weight, but it is. When you are stressed out or distracted, it can be quite difficult for the body to stay focused and healthy. Kickboxing provides an outlet for getting rid of some of this stress, while working to burn calories and make you happier overall.

If you are considering taking a kickboxing class, we encourage you to come in and chat with one of our instructors. We understand that these types of classes can be intimidating, especially if you have never kickboxed before. Our Arlington and Bedford kickboxing classes are designed for individuals of all skill levels – so check out our schedule and come take a class with us!