Hello!

Hope you can help me. I'm just starting with exercising after going from 300 to 287 with just calorie counting and am really enjoying doing 10 mins of cycling and 10 of boxing (punch bag..not a person!) 3 times a week. I was intending to build up to 15 mins of each then speed up. At the moment I cycle at about 10-13 kph. I'm sure I'll end up exercising 5 days a week as I'm finding myself missing it when I don't..very odd! Anyway 2 questions..

1) Does this sound like a good combination of exercises? I find walking really painful in my back after only a short distance.
2) My fella, who is exercising with me, says he's not bothered about the boxing as it'll not help him lose weight (he has very little to lose) but I think muscle burns more energy than fat so it will help. Who's right?

Thanks in advance.

Claire x

Boxing is cardio, so is cycling. They'll both help you lose weight! The reason boxers are beefcakes (mmmm boxers...) Is because mostly they lift weights too, to help with the strength. The main technique, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee..." is cardio. Try keeping on your tiptoes and moving around the bag more. Treat your bag as an opponent and hit it when it's swinging towards you. You can also try varying the power of your punches on the bag.

I really like a "no contact" spar with my fella, so you can practise technique and have a real life opponent to react to!

If you want to build muscle (which in turn burns fat and also takes up less space than the same weight of fat) then try starting with some dumbells and www.stumptuous.com/iron. You can also head over to LWL thread for more fabulous advice!

Oh and as for the combination, anything you enjoy is GREAT exercise! Don't stop moving!

Thank you 2Frustrated. And what a great pic! Will check out the LWL thread.

Claire x