Since June I've boxed everyday for at least 20 minutes. What was at first trial and error--my movements were heavy and I gassed myself by breathing improperly and holding my breath--became second nature after the first month. Jump rope took less time to harness, but was much less forgiving. After a week of 30 minutes of jump rope a day, my body acclimated to the high intensity training and I was able to space my breaks reasonably, rather than having to catch my breath literally every 30 seconds. It'd take me over an hour to complete 30 minutes of jump rope.
I noticed my cravings for sugar dissipated and my cravings for carbs left shortly thereafter, but this process of detox and intense workout was taxing on my mental health, being so used to having extra time during the day to relax. Though I missed not having this extra time, I came to appreciate my rigorous schedule and was grateful to have something constructive to commit so heavily. The physical changes happened so gradually that I hardly recognized them at first, but it soon became apparent that I was getting something out of all the hard work I'd put into this regime. I started falling asleep quicker and getting a deeper sleep, my stamina improved greatly and my mood improved.
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Boxing, because it's so important to have good agility and combination skills, took longer to improve. Whereas jump rope is straightforward, boxing has an edge to it that separates it from other cardio. Shadow boxing is fairly easy to perfect, but sparring can get you hurt if you don't know what you're doing. after many tutorial videos and articles on tips for boxing, I realized it just takes time to get boxing right. I practiced everyday, and with a lot of help and a lot of time, I finally built the right muscles to succeed and feel comfortable with the sport.
Boxing makes you feel confident and feel like you could protect yourself, which is another perk that came with the exercise. Boxing is a full body workout, and a complete mental workout, since the agility and combination aspect can be strenuous. you have to move on your toes and think on your toes, be light and able to dodge a strike. The transformation I've experienced physically is surpassed only by the one I've notice with running, only because I run 3 miles a day, and not in short 2 minute intervals. My muscles are more toned and defined and my skin is healthier due to boxing and running. Though my muscles get sore after the warm-up rounds, the feeling at the end, during the last round, is satisfying and makes everything worth it.
