On training and obesity

I was looking for some articles, studies, or SOMETHING to help me build on. See? I promised a couple of people I would write about training for MMA when one is severely overweight. All I can find is the general consensus that martial arts are great for combating the obesity epidemic, especially in children, and can keep you from getting fat. Also, cardio kickboxing is a good aerobic workout. Really? Who knew?

So, where does that leave those of us who are ALREADY significantly overweight? For now, I suppose that leaves us with my own, sometimes humiliating story. I hope you're okay with that! The thing is, training martial arts - ANY martial art - is a great way to work out. It's fun, it burns a LOT of calories, and eventually, if you stick with it, it WILL get you into shape. As a bonus, you're learning to defend yourself, which is especially beneficial to us girls! Another bonus? Since each class and each training session is different, it never gets boring the way getting on a treadmill does. I find that I am actually LOOKING FORWARD to working out, which has NEVER happened before! I miss it when I don't go.

Yeah, my size makes me a little self-conscious, okay, a LOT self-conscious, but that's okay. I need to learn to deal with myself anyway. This is just another way for me to do that! And while I am learning to accept my limitations and my size, I am finding that I am shrinking and more mobile. I have more energy, and I have more confidence. In fact, I am doing so well that I went completely insane and signed up to run a 5k at the end of June. I start training for THAT today as well!

So, here you go, my fellow obese women who want to fight. Here's where to start.

You'll find some schools that guarantee us they will get the weight off. But here, we have to be cautious, because, let's face it, we're fat and out of shape, and martial arts of any sort carry a risk of injury, perhaps even higher than the risks associated with just going to the gym, getting our fat butts on the treadmill, and sweating it off the old fashioned way.

On the flip side, we'll find some schools that are of the opinion that sports like muay thai and jiu jitsu are NOT for "heavyset people." Why? Well, with muay thai, there is again that risk of injury. With jiu jitsu, a lot of instructors are afraid that we will basically LITERALLY crush our opponents. This is also complete crap.

So the first step is finding a school or an instructor that will work with you where you are and help you get where you want to go. Make sure they're certified, and definitely tell them about any mobility problems you may have. Ask them specifically if your weight poses any problems with the classes, and don't be offended if it does. I've been learning jiu jitsu since NOVEMBER, and I still can't participate in the "rolling" portions of the classes. The only time I get hands-on jiu jitsu training is when I visit my boyfriend once a month (note: he is a trained instructor. I am not just sparring willy-nilly there!!) I have been learning muay thai for the same amount of time, and I am still not allowed to spar in my school, and mostly because of my size. This is NOT because I am fat and stupid, but because, the heavier one is, the greater the risk of injury they have.

Also, discuss your personal goals with the instructor. Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to learn self-defense? Are you a psycho like me who ACTUALLY wants to get in a ring and fight? Talk these things over with them so that they know what you are aiming for and can help you achieve your goals.

It's also a good idea to just have a little chat with each of the instructors and make sure you get along. If there is, say, one out of five instructors that you DON'T mesh with, that's a pretty good thing (unless he's the ONLY one teaching the class you want to take. Then it's time to go elsewhere!).

Okay, let me correct myself. THE FIRST STEP TO TRAINING IS TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE OKAY TO WORK OUT. This applies to ANY program though.

Once you've talked to the instructors, try a class. Most gyms and schools will give you at least one free day to try them out. If they don't, please go elsewhere. Remember that you will likely be signing up for a YEAR of training, and you don't want to get roped into paying a hundred bucks a month or so on a school that doesn't work for you.

And that's my first post about training. I'll give you more later, but right now, I have to run to the gym to train!