1. Street cred
Think about the difference between saying, “Yeah, I play a little basketball,” versus “The stitches don’t bother me. I have another fight next month; you should come.” C’mon, it’s just cool. And when was the last time you had legitimate Cool Points, when you downloaded the Zippo lighter app to your iPhone? Puh-leeze.
2. Business smarts
If there is one thing you must do to thrive in the ring, it’s develop the ability to think clearly under massive pressure. That translates really nicely to the business world. Mergers and acquisition? Hostile takeovers? High finance? Forty-seven third graders? Bring it.
3. Get your mind off of work
Forget business smarts, if you’ve been racing your career motorcycle this long, you might want to ease up on that throttle and get off the bike now and then. It feels great to unsuit and pound the crap out of something. And taking a few good hits will definitely clear out the last of your desire to work 24/7, I promise.
4. Increase your bone density
Ok, you’re over 40 and it’s time to lay off the loaded potato skins at T.G.I. Friday’s and get under that bench press bar. Your bones aren’t going to get stronger unless you bring them some game, and weightlifting — a boxer’s primary tool for building muscle — is just the way to do it.
5. Muscle is sexy
All that weightlifting and other training is going to pay off in terms of the way your body looks, feels, and delivers. You’ll like what you see in the mirror, and so will whoever’s looking at you when you step out of the shower. Hubba hubba.
6. Me time
It wasn’t so long ago that you couldn’t take your eyes off the kids for a second or they’d eat all the buds of the neighbor’s peonies and you’d be on the phone with Poison Control. These days, they’re a little older and you only have to worry about paying the extra car insurance, who they’re dating, whether they’re texting and driving, and… whoops, sorry about that. My point was going to be that you can get away some nights and have “me time” without them. Boxing fits the bill.
7. Mentor someone
Ok, if you just don’t get enough with the kids, you’ll find some at the gym. They will be faster and have a higher punch count and they will bring a serious press to you in the ring, but you’ll be able to outlast and out think them. And you have the maturity to see a much bigger picture than they do. Why not be a good influence and also kick their butts (in the later rounds) too? Now that’s what I call a satisfying mentoring relationship.
8. Get out of your comfort zone
Let’s face it, you’ve been trying to find a place of comfort and ease for years. Stop that, it’s not good for you. Get off your butt and out of your rut and learn something new. Growing means risks, and boxing has just the right balance of risk and safety to give you a jolt and still send you home in one piece. Mostly one piece.
9. Eat better
Believe me, you are not going to work hard enough to go a few rounds and then sabotage yourself with crap eating. If you take to boxing, you’re going to want to support it every way you can, and that will spur you to make positive changes to the way you fuel your body. You’re sick of sports bar food anyway. This is gonna be purely delicious.
There’s never been a better time than now.
Original Image by savaman on Flickr
Related posts:
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t agree more. Especially with number 9, eat better. After a real boxing workout, you’re going to crave good, solid protein. (I’d recommend a delicious acai berry shake with a big boost of protein powder, hopefully whey based.) That’s going to lead to building good solid muscle, which in turn is going to start annihilating calories just to maintain itself, which will in turn lead to more craving for good solid protein, which in turn…. see where this is heading? Boxing has, for me, been the absolute best way to get in shape after a pretty unhealthy 30s, and I’ve never felt better. It’s fun, completely different from any other boring spinning class I’ve done, and more effective. Bring a friend to your first class to keep down on the first night jitters, and with any luck you’ll both be hooked. In 6 months, you’ll find your body burning more calories then ever before, due to a tremendous boost in your base rate metabolism. Everything else is just gravy. Enjoy!
I just googled “boxing for women over 40″ and found your blog & this article. At 44 I decided enough was enough & started working out with a trainer in small-group exercize – with one day a week devoted to the heavy bag & kickboxing. It’s my favorite excerize & now I want to try sparring. This from a woman who spent her high school years dodging gym because she didn’t want to have to reapply her make up.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Go, Julie, go! So glad you found the inspiration you needed. It’s scary when you start, but if you have a great trainer and plenty of girl guts, you can totally do this. Good for you.
Also, I haven’t embedded it on here yet, but I recently gave a 5 minute talk at the Lincoln Theater in Raleigh, NC called “13 Reasons Why Women Should Take Up Boxing.” Click over and watch the video if you get the chance: http://igniteraleigh.com/2010/04/27/lisa-boxing/
And thanks for reading!
Great article, Lisa! The “40+” theme resonates with men and women alike. I’m 42 and recently joined a boxing gym. Absolutely the most fun I’ve EVER had in a gym! (…well, except that time senior year with Laurie Terrault behind the bleachers….) There is something hard, classic, and enduring about boxing. Something you want to work for. Something you can be proud of. The “work” and “pride” is something that spills over into the rest of your life.
Tom, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to say “Boxing isn’t just for women!” — heh, heh. Btw, my trainer is 43 and expects to get (another) title fight this year. Aren’t the 40s FABULOUS? Good for you for finding a gym and sticking to your workouts.
Check back in and let me know how it goes for you!
My teenagers and myself are all out of shape….I am thinking about joining boxing with my kids, to get into better shape to set a better example for them….The gym by my house is all guys, and I am not sure if they want a 44 year old women in there taking up there space. I was in karate for many years and loved it, but I am thinking if I start boxing, I will loose weight and my kids will be proud of me………………it is something I always wanted to do, but never made the time……am I to old????????????
Hi, Jade — if you are wondering if you are too old, consider that I had my first boxing fight (which I won) about two weeks before I turned 45. I am also planning on competing in the women’s nationals in the summer of 2011. I am in better shape that I ever was in my life.
Who cares if the all-guys gym near you “wants a 44 year old woman there” — your money is the same color as theirs. I’m the only woman on my boxing team, by the way, and it isn’t a problem for any of us. However, there are LOTS of women who come for the boxing and kickboxing fitness classes.
But don’t think that the very first gym you try will necessarily be the right match for you and your family. Be willing to get in there and find one that does work out for all of you. Good for you for making the decision to change your life for the better; both for your self and for your kids!
Drop back by The Glowing Edge some time and let me know how it goes!
THANKS LISA! I was shocked to hear there are women out there boxing over 40….I have never boxed but have taken my kids to several gyms. After I read your note, I emailed the owner of the boxing club and your right he said they have a women there over 30 and she placed 4th in the world. Even though she is the only women there training the owner told me to come in on Jan 10th when he gets back from vacation and he will gladly welcome us to his gym….He has owned the gym for 30 years in Chicago and has alot of history behind it. So, yes I am going to take your advice and start training there and maybe I will get good at it….I grew up fighting with my older brothers so I had to learn how to fight at an early age………Thanks for the encouragement sure do appreciate it……
Glad to hear it, Jade. You’ve taken the biggest step in just getting started. I hope it goes well for you!
Lisa,
Since I am just starting to train, what is the best diet for me? I do swim twice a week and that is about it. I am going to start jogging for the first time in years so I know my diet is going to make a huge difference…any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Here are a few articles that will tell you some about how I eat:
http://www.theglowingedge.com/five-forbidden-foods/
http://www.theglowingedge.com/how-to-cheat-on-your-diet-and-do-it-well/
http://www.theglowingedge.com/fuel-your-sport/
http://www.theglowingedge.com/eat-more-guts/
You can also find more related posts at the bottom of each one of those articles. Cheers!
I’m so glad I found your blog!
I started taking a boxing class in August and since then, I’m completely hooked! I take class about 5-6 days a week between two different gyms. And since I started the classes in August, I’ve dropped 10 pounds! I’m 45 years old and for the first time, I’ve finally found a workout that I just can’t wait to get to. I schedule my work, husband and 11 year old boy around my boxing schedule. I’ll even be starting with a personal boxing instructor in about 2 weeks! Can’t wait.
Being in my 40′s, I was so relieved to learn that I’m not alone and that there are other women like me doing this. All of my friends and family are a little perplexed by my new obsession, but they are all getting used to it. All of my Facebook posts in the last few months have been “boxing this and boxing that”! LOL. I’m starting to get into the best shape of my life and people are all starting to notice. I’ve been in that last 15-20 pounds to lose forever and this is finally working.
For Christmas, I asked for nothing but hand-wraps in every color from Meiser MMA!! Santa got me some and then what I didn’t get, I ordered from Amazon. I really like those. They are 180′s with the cotton/spandex.
Well, this is great! I’ll keep following your blog!! It’s great knowing I’m not alone.
Oh, I live in Burbank, CA and go to a gym near my work in Los Angeles and one near my home.
You’ve got another follower!
Great to have you drop by, Jenny! And awesome news about your boxing. You are most definitely NOT alone, even if we are all scattered about some (I’m on the east coast).
Btw, if any of you find that you need extra *extra* protection on your hands, I’ve been using gel MMA gloves inside my boxing gloves and it works great. For a while I was taping a slice of a beer koozy (those foam things) across my knuckles, but the gel gloves are da bombtastic.
Stay strong, and keep up the great work!
Thanks for the advice, Lisa! I’ve been using 14′s will the MMA gloves work in that size. And is 14 even the right size. I’m pretty average for a gal. 5’6″ in my 130′s weight-wise.
I had an awesome “Lunch-Boxing” class today. It’s every Monday. Everyone at work knows that they can’t schedule a meeting for me at noon ’cause “Jenny’s Boxing”! LOL. I’ve even recruited other people from my office to go with me.
Stay warm on the East Coast! And I’ll be checking in often!
– Jenny
Thanks Lisa for the advice, I start my first boxing class wed. Hope I don’t get beat up to bad!
I have my first private boxing lesson with a trainer tomorrow!! I’m so excited!! Can’t wait, can’t wait!!
Jenny and Jade, don’t forget to report and let me know how things went for you. You can email me directly at lisa@theglowingedge.com. Stay strong!
Please ya got to be kidding?
I started boxing at 18 and was already old for the amertures. I had 23 fights and then retired at 28 ( 17 wins 6 losses ). After that I just got into weights and a bit of cardio to keep in shape.
I can tell you that by the time you are 30, your reflexes have substantially degraded for most people to have any chance of becoming an effective fighter. Furthermore a body over 30 will start racking up injuries such as tennis elbow, shin splints and stress fractures if it tries to train hard and frequently enough to train for a real fight in the ring.
Finally allot of these so called boxing trainers have never been in the ring in their life and never trained a real fighter. Be ware they can teach your rubbish form.
It’s a young persons sport…
Hey, ExFighter, thanks for weighing in to the discussion. It sounds like you had a fantastic fighting career!
You’re certainly right that professional boxing is great for younger women and men, but most of us who box (and compete) in our forties are not pro fighters. We are women who simply love the ring and all the joy the sport has to offer.
It’s absolutely the case that most of the people I spar — who are younger than me by at least 20 years! — are faster and have better reflexes. But I can also hold my own. I learn a lot and feel great when I do it.