FAST HANDS FOR FAT LOSS

With a sporadic training regimen, MH’S Kris had lost his sense of purpose in the gym. And as booze and greasy hangover food found their way into his diet, his weight crept up. Here’s how he left bad habits on the ropes and landed a knockout blow to body f

I feel as though I’ve always tried to keep myself in reasonably good shape. I’ve dithered between going big on weights for six-month periods to focusing purely on cardio, but I’ve never paid much attention to tailoring my body to excel in an actual sport. I’d lost patience and motivation with the whole ‘winter bulk’, ‘spring shred’ mentality. I didn’t want ‘ T-shirt arms’ or ‘beach-ready abs’ (OK, maybe I did a little bit). I wanted to be strong and lean for a reason. Then it hit me: boxing –

“I’ve always admired boxers’ dedication to their sport”

a sporting discipline that would incorporate functional training in order to build a body fit for purpose.

Having zero boxing experience, it was a pretty daunting task. There’s nothing hugely appealing to me about hitting someone – or being hit, for that matter – but I’ve always admired the dedication boxers have to their sport. Fortunately, Kobox trainer Ian Streetz has plenty to spare. The training programme he put me on was composed of a combination of hard-hitting strength-endurance to build power in my shoulders and core, along with endless rounds of simple fat-burning circuits. The idea goes that when you do get to sparring, which is sort of the point, you’ll be able to focus on keeping good form and technique, regardless of the fact that you’re knackered, or your shoulders are burning so much you can barely hold your hands up.

While I didn’t take any big hits in the ring, I definitely took some physical beatings. But far from feeling like I’d gone the proverbial 12 rounds, I’ve never felt mentally and physically sharper than I did after my boxing sessions. Whether you’re a keen sportsman in need of a new challenge or simply a boxing fan who watches old fights on Youtube in your lunch hour, I’d urge you to glove up. It’s really not as scary as it looks.