Boxing is a highly effective cardiovascular workout. Although you’re not moving your legs, you are moving your arms through complex compound movements repeatedly. This elevates the heart rate significantly and will put you out of breath very quickly. The increase in heart rate means that your body is suffering from an oxygen deficit – the goal of a cardiovascular based workout. This means that lots of calories are being expended. Considering that a calorie deficit is a prerequisite to weight loss, boxing is going to be a highly effective workout in this regard.

When seeking to lose weight, keep in mind that intensity is going to be directly proportional to weight loss. The higher your intensity, the more energy that is expended and hence the greater the energy deficit created. The added benefit of a high intensity workout is that it has the ability to stimulate a significant amount of fat breakdown after your workout has concluded. The reason why you are feeling so exhausted is because your body is readily sourcing nutrients to repair itself from the highly demanding workout – often much of this energy is sourced from body fat.

Also, boxing is a highly effective workout if you do injure yourself and are unable to use your lower body. This form of cardiovascular exercise is a very useful tool with knee injuries (a very common injury).

Boxing is all about technique so once you pick up the moves you should be fine. If you're not particularly fit then that's not a huge problem. Boxing is actually easier for a lot of people than running, especially for those with excess weight.

Boxing is very much a high repetition work-out so you'll see tone rather than muscle. It's also very empowering and people really get pumped up and stuck into it during the moves. While it's not a self-defence lesson, by the end of the first class, you should be able to throw a solid punch.

It is both aerobic and anaerobic. A lot of men and women are realizing the benefits of boxing training as a very effective means to losing weight, attaining fitness, gaining a lean and toned physique.

Be sure to give it a go – boxing is a lot of fun as well as a highly effective cardio workout for weight loss.