Kickboxing/Martial Arts - Cardio, body fat, & cholesterol

Punisherthunder
Punisherthunder Posts: 11 Member
edited November 16 in Fitness and Exercise
Long.story.short.

I do have another post out here somewhere on lowering my cholesterol. I need to lower it 70 points at a minium and of course my LDL needs to go waaaaay down.

Diet aside for now, someone suggested that a martial arts type class, such as kickboxing or jiu-jitsu is good for getting cardio levels up high. Hopefully body fat can go down along with my cholesterol level.


Any have experience or recommendations?

Replies

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited April 2015
    There isn't really "diet aside" - you have to reduce calories to fix this, and the way you reduce calories will impact the kind of physical activity (and intensity) you can reasonably manage.

    You can have big deficits and light activity, or lots of good physical activity and a small deficit (ie, slow weight loss). Which way are you thinking of going?
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    Here’s some fun information for you. When you’re losing fat, your cholesterol and triglycerides (and markers for inflammation) are more likely to go up. Yes, afterward you’ll have an opportunity to see improved blood markers, but during, it is more likely to look worse than better.

    Fat loss comes from what and how much you eat. Pick an exercise based on the other fitness goals you have (strength, muscle mass, cardiovascular, endurance, agility, balance, speed). Martial arts are excellent cross training disciplines.
  • lulufee317537
    lulufee317537 Posts: 50 Member
    I practice karate and have studied other forms of martial arts as well. They can be excellent ways to get an intense cardio workout, but it depends on the class and instructor. I'd say any kicking/punching art would be the most cardio intense, next judo or jiu jitsu. But, again, it depends. Some classes will have you standing around doing the movements lightly and the instructor not demanding any effort from the students. Some instructors push the students really hard and so you get a good workout. Most schools will allow you to sit and watch a class before you join. To sum up, kicking/punching arts can be as good or better than, say, running, for cardio because you are moving your entire body the whole time rather than just your legs. Dancing also has this characteristic, but in martial arts, you are making the moves very forcefully where in dancing you don't generally do this.
  • Punisherthunder
    Punisherthunder Posts: 11 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    There isn't really "diet aside" - you have to reduce calories to fix this, and the way you reduce calories will impact the kind of physical activity (and intensity) you can reasonably manage.

    You can have big deficits and light activity, or lots of good physical activity and a small deficit (ie, slow weight loss). Which way are you thinking of going?

    My apologies, what I meant was that I have a diet plan laid out. It's the exercise/cardio plan I need.
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