A popular fitness magazine published an article entitled “11
Ways to Burn More Calories.” Read through the list and notice how many of them are
integral to every single ilovekickboxing class. Check this out!
Exercising on a Full or Empty Stomach – the recommendation
here is to have at least some food in your system for your workout. This
provides some reserves for your muscles to work at peak performance and
increases fat burn rates as compared to not having eaten prior to exercise. Use
good judgment in timing and in amounts to eat and get to know your body. High
quality inputs give your body the nutrients it needs to burn the most fat and
calories.
Upper-Body or Lower Body – everyone wants those strong,
sculpted arms. Fortunately, all muscle groups are worked on in every ILKB
class. But it’s those big muscle groups that help burn the most calories. So
embrace every lunge, squat, and burpee (everyone’s favorite) especially when
jumps are added, not to mention all the great heavy bag work, and know that you
are maximizing your efforts for fat and calorie burn along with muscle
strengthening.
Slow and Steady or Interval Training – the article states
that, “alternating between periods of all-out effort and rest, it lets you go
harder, longer, to burn the same number of calories in about half the time as
you would with steady state exercise.” Studies even suggest that high intensity
intervals can boost your metabolism for 14 hours. Every ILKB class has those
high intensity bursts separated by a short rest, whether in the conditioning
portion of class or the heavy bag work. It’s awesome to catch your breath while
your instructor explains the next combo so you can go all out til the next one
– this is high intensity interval training!
Working Out By Yourself or With Others – this one is rather
self-explanatory. Our ILKB family loves to work out together. We all encourage
each other and push each other to go harder even when we don’t realize that’s
what we are doing.
Starting Your Workout with Static or Dynamic Stretches – the
article recommends that light jogging or butt kicks keeps your muscles strong
instead of static “bend and hold” stretches. So all that conditioning at the
beginning of every ILKB class keeps you strong so you can use proper form and
burn more calories.
Doing the Same Workout Every Day or Switching It Up –
switching it up wins out. The amazing variety in every ILKB class makes it easy
to switch up your workout. Even though the number of basic kicks and punches is
relatively small and easy to learn, the variety of combos makes every class new
and different, challenging your body to keep up and burn more calories.
Strength Training or Cardio First – putting strength
training before cardio exercise is said to burn the most calories. There are
two energy systems your body uses to convert food to energy: anaerobic (stored
energy) and aerobic (converting fat to energy.) They do not work independently,
but generally strength training (the conditioning part of ILKB classes) uses up
anaerobic energy and cardio training (the heavy bag work) dips deep into the
aerobic system. So even the order of the class is designed to provide the most
effective workout for your efforts.
