Gym or Martial Art?

[rolsby]

With so little money left for physical training, I need to plan carefully as to where I spend my money.  I'm curious what others have done.

[Alex Haddox]

Weight loss is all about cardio. Many TMA (Traditional Martial Art) studios don't do enough cardio, or do it poorly for those who are out of shape. Sometimes even dangerously.

Get a heart rate monitor, calculate your optimal range and hit the road, trail or treadmill. If you have good trails, they are the best as they vary the difficulty. If you use the treadmill, be certain to mix it up. Respect the monitor and do it safely.

Plus, the first 10 minutes counts for nothing. It is all warm-up for your body and metabolism. The real progress is made after the 20-minute mark. It is not about distance, it is about time and heart rate.

If you workout regularly, it will be about a month before you body's metabolism stays up after workout. Before then, the workout boost drops off quickly after you finish.

Go slow and be safe.

[EColon]

Get a dvd workout.  I recommend Billy Blanks.  Done them and OMG they are hard, you will lose weight.  As a matter of fact I went from 225 to 180 doing them.  Forty something pounds.  Try it.  Right now I'm on 195 so I'm doing a one hour walk, shirt off to get a tan.  Oh, mistake.  I'm read as a lobster now.  But tomorrow, I'm walking it again.

I agree with the start slow.  You can pull a muscle easily.  Also think of it as a long term project.  Drink lots of water, No eating after six.

[Blackwing Shooter]

Weight loss is all about cardio. Many TMA (Traditional Martial Art) studios don't do enough cardio, or do it poorly for those who are out of shape. Sometimes even dangerously.

Get a heart rate monitor, calculate your optimal range and hit the road, trail or treadmill. If you have good trails, they are the best as they vary the difficulty. If you use the treadmill, be certain to mix it up. Respect the monitor and do it safely.

Plus, the first 10 minutes counts for nothing. It is all warm-up for your body and metabolism. The real progress is made after the 20-minute mark. It is not about distance, it is about time and heart rate.

If you workout regularly, it will be about a month before you body's metabolism stays up after workout. Before then, the workout boost drops off quickly after you finish.

Go slow and be safe.

Alex, well said.  I makes me feel good to know that I am on the right path.

[Eric R Shelton]

Don't forget diet.  If you're going to be working out, your body needs good fuel for the exertion instead of Cheetos and Ring Dings.

I (mostly) stick to what's called the Paleo Diet.  That's just my preference, and easiest way to moderate what I eat.  I have no problem avoiding junk like enriched white flour.  (Just for kicks, compare countries that use enriched white flour to nations with incidence of diabetes.  Pretty interesting.)

Language warning, but Arthur's Hall has some interesting articles on it, should you choose.
My Life as a Caveman
Go Paleo!!!

Again, Paleo is just my choice as I find it easy to do, but the important thing is that you find what works for you.  But putting cheap gas that will knock in a high-performance racing engine makes about as much sense as working out and not eating well.  I've dropped 20 pounds, 4 inches from my waist, lost no size in upper body, and have veins visible along my bicep at rest now.  Make it a way of life instead of a fad (cough, cough, P90X buyers, cough cough!!) and you'll see the benefits- just stay the course.

[rolsby]

Thanks everyone.

[Daeglan]

Don't forget diet.  If you're going to be working out, your body needs good fuel for the exertion instead of Cheetos and Ring Dings.

I (mostly) stick to what's called the Paleo Diet.  That's just my preference, and easiest way to moderate what I eat.  I have no problem avoiding junk like enriched white flour.  (Just for kicks, compare countries that use enriched white flour to nations with incidence of diabetes.  Pretty interesting.)

Language warning, but Arthur's Hall has some interesting articles on it, should you choose.
My Life as a Caveman
Go Paleo!!!

Again, Paleo is just my choice as I find it easy to do, but the important thing is that you find what works for you.  But putting cheap gas that will knock in a high-performance racing engine makes about as much sense as working out and not eating well.  I've dropped 20 pounds, 4 inches from my waist, lost no size in upper body, and have veins visible along my bicep at rest now.  Make it a way of life instead of a fad (cough, cough, P90X buyers, cough cough!!) and you'll see the benefits- just stay the course.

What do you mean Cheetos and Ring Dings aren't fuel? /Sarcasm

[BodOm]

Might I just submit that Muay Thai is a very intense cardio workout, I am almost at the month of training mark, and look forward to the next few months of real conditioning. Though already I've had to tighten my belt a little...

[Chemsoldier]

Request for clarification.  Do you mean Gym vs. Martial Arts (General) or Gym vs. taking a "Traditional Martial Art"

Big difference there.  Nothing wrong with either martial arts schools in general or a traditional martial art but there can be a difference.  A GOOD Krav Maga joint is going to cardio the crap out of you.  Boxing and kick boxing gyms can be the same.

There are also some mutant schools out there that are combination MMA/Crossfit gyms for the real masochist.

I still voted Gym, but intent could be met through the right martial arts joint. 

-Chem

[Eric R Shelton]

Chem's right on the money, as usual.  My Krav instructor was a sadist, and knew how to push me vs. other students, etc.  Love it!  Since classes have been cancelled on base, I'm going to be rolling into an Army Combatives class- I'll give you a report at the end of March!  (Still want to stick with Krav Maga, though.  I really dig it!)

[Alex Haddox]

I am sticking with my Gym recommendation.

Although a martial art school might offer a good conditioning program, they do not have the training or experience to ease someone into the program. Often it is 0 to 150% in one week. We are getting older (unlike Eric) and unless you are already in shape (like Eric), it could be dangerous. I've seen too many people get injured, throw up or pass out due to bad instructors pushing new folks too hard. You don't want to look like a fat noob, so you also push yourself too hard in an effort to keep up with the colored belts at the other end of the line.

I've gotten myself into political hot water by publicly contradicting the Grand Master (GM) during class and telling a student to sit out. He was showing early signs of heat exhaustion (dizzy, chills, couldn't catch his breath, etc.) and the GM wanted him to keep going. It was old-school, hard core TMA versus a 48-year old out of shape new student.

I've been through the ACE Group Fitness Instructor training, and they know how to evaluate your current level and build a program to get where you want to go. Safely.

[rolsby]

Request for clarification.  Do you mean Gym vs. Martial Arts (General) or Gym vs. taking a "Traditional Martial Art"

I guess I would need a little more of the context of the meaning of "traditional" to respond effectively.  I changed the subject to get started... 

[glock23cc]

Alex got most of it right.  U do need cardio to increase weight loss and keep u in shape but in order to lose weight u have to burn more calories than u take in.  And depending on your muscle mass an increase in muscle might negate any weight loss.  However u will have less fat, just more muscle. Which is what most people want.  More muscle = more calories burned.  U have to find a balance between size and speed/endurance.  You dont need a gym to do that though.  Pullups, pushups, jogging, cycling, all stuff you can do at or around your home. At least to get started.
Good Luck

[Eric R Shelton]

Alex made a good point that I overlooked- because we don't really see our own situations as well as somebody on the outside sometimes.  I had already made my return to the gym and committed to getting back in shape at least a month before I got into Krav.  But I had forgotten that. 

[Chemsoldier]

Yeah Eric, I forget sometimes that not everyone does PT everyday.  Alex is on the money.

-Chem

[tom]

Rather than Gym as in 24 hour fitness or Golds you have to go to something like CrossFit or get with a good personal trainer.  If you only want to loose weight and can discipline yourself (primarily diet and sticking with it) then a Golds will work but if you want to gain agility, speed, overall balance, etc. there are way better ways to train. 
One of the big challenges in home fitness or unsupervised gym work is that a) you cheat because you don't do the movement correctly (because you can't) b) you don't build a productive pattern of exercises that really work the right balance of muscles and c) you end up on crap like the treadmill which will help your aerobics but gazelles don't train by running 10 miles, they sprint -- so when you get on a machine focus on intervals.
If you feel like you don't have a lot of time and want to drive your metabolic rate up and kick your ass then look into Tabata Training.  http://www.squidoo.com/tabatatraining  there are lots of great videos on YouTube for this also and it is basically what you are going to do if you go to a place like CrossFit.  I have found that working with a personal training I push harder and it is really re-profiled me.
Martial arts I believe is another good route from this perspective and it will definitely help you gain speed and coordination and be useful to you from a defense perspective.  I haven't ever given it a run though....I don't need another hobby sucking up my cash.

tom

[Alex Haddox]

Alex made a good point that I overlooked- because we don't really see our own situations as well as somebody on the outside sometimes.

We still love ya, Eric, but are also jealous of that skinny body of yours!

[Eric R Shelton]

I have only PT Tests to thank!  LOL!  Actually, I knew that when people quit smoking they tended to eat and put on weight, so I replaced cigarettes with the gym and it's been pretty miraculous for me.  But by no means easy.  It's easy now.  The first two months were a different story...

[TMUSCLE1]

I love ya Eric, but in all honesty if you are serious about losing weight and are on a budget insanity or P90x programs are great!  I really mean that...but that if for those of us that enjoy pushing ourselves.  If you are a person that needs that enviroment(not a knock, just a fact of life) then go for the gym!  If not, those to "fad" programs are pretty good.

I used to think they were a fad too.  Then my gfs friend bought Insanity one night and left it at our house.  It has been kicking my butt and I'm enjoying every minute of it!  I say that because I've always been a pretty active guy, with all of the outdoor things I like to do, my job, and I used to be a competitive bodybuilder.  This is just my two cents on that. 

Like others have said, it is a lifestyle, not something you do for a few months and then put the pounds back on.  That's the main reason people yo you so much is because they don't stick with it!  That, and try to eat every few hours...it doesn't have to be a full meal(like bodybuilding), but even if you just packed a protein shake with some fruit or nuts that will go alon gway for you to eat between your meals. 

[rolsby]

No eating after six.

I work third shift so that isn't an option.