Looking to get fit but not a gym kinda guy

[Dan856]

Hey all, Am looking to get in better shape this year and am committed to doing so, problem is I'm not a gym type of guy-I'm only interested in doing something active and beneficial like Martial arts/Krav Maga-any suggestions??

Thanks in advance!

Dan

[rangerrandy]

Put on a backpack with some weight in it and go for a walk. Lots of nice trails around to explore.

[Dan856]

Thanks but more interested in something to do in the evenings after work (I live in DT Calgary) hence the martial arts idea

[KGB]

Unfortunately there is no miracle pill available..... Cardio along is not enough to get in shape, it has to follow with some weights training. Don't get me wrong, anything is better than just sitting and watching tv. It also depends on your diet. Basically, it comes down to those 3 things: diet, cardio, weights. Take one out of picture and the process becomes less effective and much longer.
It also,depends on how old you are, what kind of shape u are in, your body metabolism.
Good luck!

[fatboyz]

check out Arashi Do Karate/Lom pa Yu Muay thai. They have several schools in Calgary and if you want an incredible work out and a lot of fun check out their Muay Thai Program.

[CanuckShooter]

Ballroom dancing....

[bessiedog]

Its a really good start.

Its very flexible to your sched.

be aware of how much sugar you're actually consuming.

You'll feel an attitude difference in 2 to 3 weeks.

feeling good is a big part of the battle.


good luck.


If you stick with it... I'll pay for your registration in your first 5k run in the CNP Soul Survivor in July

k?

[Gbuss]

I would recommend taekwondo. Find a dojo that dose international stuff. They tend to work you harder and wipe a guy in shape.

Gordon

[Bowie]

I know this might seem like everyone is doing it, but I've done all kinds of things over the year and I haven't found anything better then CrossFit. It's kind of expensive but the thing is you stay motivated. Which helps you keep going. A lot better then paying for a gym contract and not using it. Give it a try for a month. The first few weeks will hurt your pride but once you drink the koolaid it's hard to do anything else

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

check out Arashi Do Karate/Lom pa Yu Muay thai. They have several schools in Calgary and if you want an incredible work out and a lot of fun check out their Muay Thai Program.

x2 I don't know the specific school but I amateur kickboxed and it's a great way to get/stay in shape.

[myrand]

far from martial art, but try climbing if you think you might like it. great way to get strenght and flexibility. it also beat your fear of height if you have it. on top of that, its fun.

[gramps73]

yoga,
lots of tight pants and keeps the heart rate up...

[openfire]

Rock climbing. Loose weight so fast

[Quinn]

Get out of the city and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Back country skiing and snowboarding gets your cardio top notch.

30-40lb back pack and hiking a mountain a few times in a day! Really good time.

[coy coyote]

A man calls a company and orders their 5-day, 10 lb. weight loss program.

The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck.

She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company.
The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."
Without a second thought, he takes off after her.

A few miles later huffing and puffing, he finally gives up.

The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens.
On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised.

He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program.

The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning and beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life.
She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me."

Well, he's out the door after her like a shot.
This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck.

So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.
Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised.

He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program.

"Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years."

The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads,"If I catch you, you are mine!!!"

He lost 63 pounds that week.

[TreeGuy]

Beware the 'quick' fixes Dan.

Funny story......

A while back, I decided to get into shape again. I investigated an ad that guaranteed you'd lose 20 pounds in 3 days for $200.

I thought, "what the heck", and signed on.

They put me in a huge room that resembled American Ninja Warrior or whatever it's called. I was alone and somewhat nervous.

At this point, the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on entered the scene. She wasn't leaving much to the imagination with her choice of outfit either!

Apprehension soon morphed into a new range of emotions!

She looked me square in eye and exclaimed, "If you can catch me inside of 60 minutes, you can have me. ", and with a wink she was off like a coked out spider monkey!

The pounds literally melted away and on the final minute of the third day, the conquest was mine!

Now, a couple of days later I get a call. Same joint. They feed me an offer of losing a further 40 pounds in 4 days for $400.

I'm in!

They place me in the same tortuous setting with even more devices of pain. Then TWO goddesses appear with the same offer. "If you can catch us, you can have us. "

Worst 4 days of my life, but damned if I didn't make it happen.

Now I have an entirely new outlook on life. Walking with a strut, winking at ladies and just feeling great!

Eventually the euphoria wears off and a slight degree of narcissism sets in.

And that's how they signed me up for the ADVANCED program.

Once again, I entered the ring. This time with a smug cockiness. Sort of relishing the fruits of glorious victory.

At this point a large, jacked up black man entered. He smiled at the obviously confused expression on my face and said, "If I can catch YOU, you're mine!"

Tough week. Lol

[TreeGuy]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH !

Looks like we were posting the same old joke at the same time Coy.

[Red Bullets]

Dan856...
Put on 5 to 10 lb. wrist and ankle weights and go play around going up and down the bow river slopes. Not on sidewalks or trails. Try bushwacking or freestyle slopes. In a few months when you do things without the weights you will definitely notice the difference.

A 40 lb. backpack is good for core strength building and leg strength but doesn't work the arms. Extremity weights build more of the whole body. A better strategy might be a 20 lb. back pack with a 5 lb. weight on each arm and leg. Or work up to those weights.

[dj240]

I love muay thai kick boxing.
Check out team Smadych or Elite mma.
Its one of the most intense workouts i have ever done

[Cottus]

I, too, don't like the gym. But I read testimonials on the benefits of old school weight lifting. Simple stuff, no weird movements, no diets, no supplements. So I've been going to the gym. The program is called Stronglifts 5x5. You lift a barbell for 3 exercises, 3 times a week. No more. And you start really light to get the whole body in shape. One of the benefits to starting really light is you don't get burned out at the start, and the workouts take 30-40 minutes because the warmups are shorter and the rests are short.

Squats. Bench press. Overhead press. Barbell row. Deadlift. Its a simple, proscribed regime that's easy to follow. Even at heavier weights I'm in and out in 60 minutes. PLUS the current advocate of this method runs a website with free tutorials, free videos, and a free workout app for your phone. The "inventor" of this method is credited as being Reg Parks, an early trainer of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it likely goes back further than that.

Lift weights. Lift heavy weights. Eat protein.

My $0.02

[dumoulin]

Originally Posted by Dan856

Hey all, Am looking to get in better shape this year and am committed to doing so, problem is I'm not a gym type of guy-I'm only interested in doing something active and beneficial like Martial arts/Krav Maga-any suggestions??

Thanks in advance!

Dan

I think you're well on your way. Eat right and exercise.

Many Dojos offer different programs from kickboxing to traditional martial arts. Joining a program will offer two things: fitness and exercise while applying it to a practical application whereas joining a gym just gets you fit. I'D recommend Zen Karate as it explores not only Karate, but kickboxing and a mix of other martial arts.

[JonBoy]

To start, focus on your eating, not your exercise. You'll have far better results and the habit will be lasting.

After that, move into an exercise program that interests you. Or, better yet, a variety of them - mix it up a bit. Martial arts is fine but you should throw in some heavier cardio and/or some weights, as well. Even doing something simple like sitting in a chair with no arms (like a kitchen chair) and doing curls while you watch a hockey game or something!

[Jayhad]

Steve Maxwell's 22 minute Single Kettle Bell work...... good luck

[odie0077]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

check out Arashi Do Karate/Lom pa Yu Muay thai. They have several schools in Calgary and if you want an incredible work out and a lot of fun check out their Muay Thai Program.

Been with them in Edmonton for years now getting on the mats is is great for weight loss. An there are a few extras that come with it. Great group of friends on an off mats an good for your mind try the BJJ for your core an kickboxing is like a blow torch for fat. Good luck anything you do will be better than the couch.

[rem338win]

Martial arts, being Jujitzu, kick boxing, Kali, whatever, is not a stay in shape program. All of the people I know that seriously train in these arts also train in the gym and field.
Kettle bells and Crossfit. Takes little time, very good for you. They have measuring sticks so to speak built into the programs.
Do a martial art and the other to reduce the boredom.....

[260 Rem]

I spent lots of time in martial arts. I made a point of training outside my main club at least two months each year to get exposure to the strengths and weakness' of various styles. With a couple of other second Dan's, I operated a Shotokan club for about ten years.
Among the clubs I attended as a student, most spent about 50% of dojo time on "direct fitness" activities. My operational philosophy was different ... quite simply ... If you want to pay to exercise, go to a gym, if you want to learn Karate ... train here. We made sure students warmed up and stretched, but 90% of our dojo time was devoted to technique and practice. My advice, choose your club based on your goal. Want cardio ... run.!

[tdwarburton]

Check out Summit Self defense In Airdrie.

[tdwarburton]

Sorry that should be Submit Self Defense not Summit

[Fredo]

A few keys to be in shape:

- Drink water, at least 2 liters a day. Ban all pops, even the sugar free.
- Avoid sugar at all cost. There is plenty enough in fruits.
- Avoid salt. Most natural food already got sodium
- Eat fish more often than meat
- Cut your food intake by half. You overfeed and you don't know it yet.
- No more than a beer a day!
- Run 20-40 min 3 or 4 times a week
- Pushups. 2-3 series of 20, a few times a day
- Lift some stuffs, get some kettle weights.
- Stretch your whole body on the morning
- Stop watching TV and do something outside instead

Building gym muscle is useless cosmetics. Power and speed are in flexibility and endurance.

[justletmehunt]

I like the P90X program. Don't buy the discs. Just go on Youtube and watch them there. The cardio, yoga and isometrics are hell but they work.