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Hi MoB, the thing is I don’t enjoy other classes as much as I enjoy BC, right now I do a class of BC daily (even when I’m really busy I manage to still do it) and I’m afraid if I start doing other classes (that I don’t enjoy as much) I would get bored and stop. In the past few years I tried many times to make exercise a routine but I failed and almost gave up, then I tried BC. I really don’t know how you guys do it!

I mean doing different classes!! I love what you said about filling the plate with anything green !!  and the idea of eating five small healthy meals instead of three big ones is really appealing!

I do drink lots of water but always AFTER the meal, and it never occurred to me to drink it to eat less! So drinking before meals is really a good suggestion!

A lifelong process? You are right..but I would really feel better about the “process” if I drop a couple of pounds !!

 Thanks, I’m grateful for all the good tips you shared. I’m sick and tired of hearing skinny people saying they eat what they want and they do absolutely nothing to stay fit. so it’s really comforting to know that some people make effort s to reach their goals. AND THEY DO REACH EM!

Thanks Ron, but I don't know..I mean I don't feel comfortable sitting and listening to a doctor telling me I should eat less and exercise more! Also, if I share my weight struggle with a doctor / trainer I would feel embarrassed if I don’t lose weight. I know it may look silly to you but I’d rather keep my weight issues away from people’s eyes!

Hey Chris,

I’m glad someone has finally told me the truth about those wrist weights!! But can I use resistance bands instead? I hear that when you have muscles you burn more calories.. that’s what I wanted to achieve by using the weights.

 “Think like a fighter and picture your target in front of you” waw!! I love what you said! Even if you didn’t mention that you are an instructor I would’ve known coz you sound like one!  I will keep what you said in mind. Each session I’m gonna picture an imaginary target, the first one is SO GONNA BE my boss

heyy........ Glad to hear that you're so passionate about BC. I had a weight problem too and now i'm a BC instructor and training for balance, i'm shooting my video in a month or so! key here is to adopt a diet you can live with for the rest of your life (moderation) and not only for a month or two. If you're on a diet for a limited amount of time, once you stop you'll gain the weight faster than you can imagine!

 As for eating vs. weight... It doesn't matter how much you weigh as long as you're feeling slimmer and lighter, you do know that muscle mass weighs a lot, so what you lose in fat you can gain in muscle mass. I use my clothes to determine if I've gained or lost weight. Try cutting down on carbs and sugars, you can go crazy on veggies though (bell peppers are my favorite) Keep in mind that results will not be immediate, this is not magic, perseverance is the key word here.

 I'm not sure that an 2 hours of BC daily is a good idea, in fact 1 hour DAILY is not a good idea. Your muscles need to recover so take one day off per week. Try mixing up classes so instead of two hours of BC, try BC then pump or balance! Btw Body Balance is recently being choreographed to increase consumption of calories!!

Wishing you the best of luck! Stay with the fight! : ) 

Rockahina:

Hey Chris,

I’m glad someone has finally told me the truth about those wrist weights!! But can I use resistance bands instead? I hear that when you have muscles you burn more calories.. that’s what I wanted to achieve by using the weights.

 “Think like a fighter and picture your target in front of you” waw!! I love what you said! Even if you didn’t mention that you are an instructor I would’ve known coz you sound like one!  I will keep what you said in mind. Each session I’m gonna picture an imaginary target, the first one is SO GONNA BE my boss

if you practice in front of a mirror the best way to get the moves right is to picture yourself as the target so with the jabs go for your own nose, uppers your own chin, hooks your own jaw. the best thing about this is that you can see where your punches are going!! hehe the imaginary target is a perfect way too, i use that in muay thai, with the knees, I go crazy!! 

Before adding another hour of Combat a day, I would say vary your routine throughout the week.  Add a Body Pump, BodyFlow/BodyBalance and/or an RPM class.  Changing things up will strengthen and work ALL your muscles and make you less prone to injuries (from repetitive movement, overuse, overtraining certain muscle groups while neglecting others, etc.)  If you're experiencing joint pain from the impact in Combat, then adding another hour of it is asking for injury.

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in losing weight.  There are lots of great resources on the web for learning more about nutrition.  First you should calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which is the number of calories your body needs each day just to function.  (If you do a Google search for BMR, a website comes up that has a calculator.  It's very easy.)  Once you get that number, don't go below it!  Calorie restriction will starve your body of the fuel you need to power through your intense workouts.  Eat to lose!  Think: lean proteins (chicken, lean beef, salmon, or tofu/soy if you're vegetarian), lots of fresh veggies and fruits, nuts, and complex carbs like whole grains and beans and sweet potatoes.  Eat for performance.  There's no "performance fuel" in a bag of chips, a soda or a cookie.  (Though everyone deserves the occasional treat:)

Go easy on yourself and remember that you are only 25!  You have started the journey much earlier than some people.  Don't think of it as a sprint or a strict timeline.  Just get on the right path (which you already are) and keep taking classes, do what you love, be kind to your body and give it the right nutrients and water and sleep (hugely important for weight loss!) and the scale WILL move!!!!  It's a guarantee!

Sounds like a good target!  I think most of us feel that way sometimes.  You sound very smart and are just doing what you feel your body can handle and that's great.  For Combat, just focus on the moves and really doing them correctly and safely.  When you deliver a punch or kick, you are gaining muscle.  My arms, shoulders and legs have really been transformed since I've been doing Combat, and my core is much stronger and leaner.  That's all from the power that your own body is unleashing during Combat class.  You don't need the resistance bands if you just focus on your moves, and your boss' face as your target!

 If you'd like to use resistance bands or weights, have a personal trainer set you up with a good program.  It may cost a little, but it will be a great addition to the classes that you love to take. Let the PT know what your favorites are and what you take the most often, and they can structure a program around those to give you the most benefit and work the parts of your body in a different way than the classes do.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask your instructor to help you with your moves and let them know what you are trying to achieve.  We are there to help you get the most out of your workout and to do it safely.

Good luck!