Poughkeepsie Martial Arts and Being Overweight

   I never had problems with my weight until my mid-30's. All through High School, my career in the United States Marine Corps and the decade after my honorable discharge, I was lean and never had to worry about what I ate. When I hit 35 years old, I quit smoking and put on about 70 pounds over the next year. 

   I started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in April of 2008 at the age of 37 years old. In the first year, I lost 50 pounds. In another few months, I lost the rest of the extra weight I'd put on.

   I'm not superman, there was no secret diet and there wasn't any magic supplement that made it happen.

   Before I get into how Martial Arts training can help you lose weight, I want to point something out something very important. Being overweight at the age of 37 and being overweight in Middle or High School are two completely different things, and I understand that many, MANY other factors come into play in the latter - bullying, teasing, feelings of worthlessness and an overall lack of self-confidence or self worth. Dealing with those issues during your formative years can be very depressing and hard to deal with.

   The first and most obvious benefit of training Martial Arts when it comes to being overweight is getting your body moving and exercising. The physical exertion alone is going to get your metabolism cranking and your body will start to burn fat for the calories it needs to fuel itself.

   As you train and your body acclimates to the exertion, you will start to sleep better and feel more rested. While sleep is essential to overall health and feeling good, sleeping well is also going to help your body burn more fat. Your aerobic respiration will go up and contribute directly to an even better running metabolism.

   Your Martial Arts training will also teach you how to eat a clean and healthy diet. Cutting out the sugar, empty carbs and fatty food will force your body to burn fat at an ever greater rate than before. After a week or two of eating clean, you'll be adjusted to the dietary change and you will feel better than you have in a long time. Feeling better means you will be able to work harder in the gym, sleep better at night and lose even more weight.

   You will also make good friends during your training. won't to contribute directly to losing weight, but it will provide an incentive to work hard, stick to your game plan and reach your goals. Some of the best people I've met have been through training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and they push me to achieve my potential as hard as I push them.

   The last thing I wanted to mention is the discipline that will be instilled in you while training Martial Arts. That discipline will help you push through the hard training, resist the urges to eat things you shouldn't be eating and show up at the gym regularly. It's important to remember that this discipline will cross over to all aspects of your life - not just your Martial Arts training.

  I hope you make the choice to start training Martial Arts and stick to it. Through hard work, one can achieve anything imaginable.

   See you on the mats.

- Joe, Precision MMA member.