LA Boxing Post #7: One of Us

(I had hoped to post this on Thursday, but a whole lot of work and life happened in the meantime, my apologies if I kept anyone waiting...)


Raise your hand if you've ever been where Alissa was.  (Alissa:  that breeze that you just felt was the collective raising of many hands.)   We have all let insecurity dictate our lives in one way or another (not just people looking to lose weight/gain health, but literally ALL people deal with insecurity in one form or another).   What I have learned, and what I will say time and time again, is to turn into it and confront it head on.  Until you do this, you are a hostage of the insecurities. 


So one of my favorite classes at LA Boxing Georgetown are the Technical Boxing/Sparring classes taught by Randolph (who is as patient as he is knowledgeable).  They exemplify the second point I want to make about the insecurity regarding going to a gym:  the more you go to the gym and connect with the people around you, the more you will feel like you belong in the gym and among active people.

To make that point, I asked a few of my classmates from the technical class as well as a few of the staff members at the gym a few questions, including Alissa's concern "How would you feel if a 300lb woman came into LA Boxing?"

Paul (a very fit gentleman who has let me spar with him on two occasions) has been boxing for the past 4 months.  He did some martial arts in college, but boxing is fairly new to him.  Paul is taking boxing not just for the cardio, but for the "explosive strength" aspect that he found he couldn't get from weightlifting alone.  He noted that other members of the gym are a unique mix of all different body types and ages.  If he were to see an obese person at the gym, he would think "good on them for trying to make that effort to improve themselves" and that the "consistent effort to improve is inspirational."  His advice is to take it easy in the beginning (in boxing, in working out in general) and gain endurance/stamina.  "If you are in the mindset of going out swinging hard, you will be disappointed, you will get frustrated and give up.  Go in humble and eager to learn, not trying to prove a point, and you will stick with [it] longer." 

Jessica (another classmate who is in her mid-20s) originally started boxing with her dad, even though he didn't think she would stick with it.  A little over a year later, she is still at it.  She said that she is still boxing because she was never good at any physical activity before and she is good at this (also "it's nice after a stressful day to be able to beat the crap out of something or someone.")  Jessica made the same comment about the makeup of the gym -- members are all shapes and sizes -- and noted that many of the members were women.  She said "everyone is really helpful; no one judges you."  The only thing she'd think if an obese person came into the gym is "Good for them.  How's their right hook?"

While talking to Jessica, MMA/Kickboxing trainer Ed chimed in with what he'd think about the obese person walking in the door-- "About fucking time!  You made a commitment.  You came in.  The first step is the hardest:  get inside the fucking gym."  Once there, he advises people to ask a lot of questions, "[i]f you're new get the attention of the instructors, so they know to make sure to watch your form so you don't hurt yourself."  This is true in a boxing gym as well as a regular gym.  "The scariest part is getting in here.  Once you do don't quit because it's hard.  It gets easier."  He should know, he's been doing martial arts for just almost as long as I have been alive.

Last up to endure my battery of questions was Felix, the Regional Director at LA Boxing covering the DC area (he has been with LA Boxing for 3 years, has worked at many gyms in the past).  I was hoping he could tell me bit more about the membership in general, beyond the diversity that Paul and Jessica had mentioned.  I asked Felix a variation of the question I had asked the others:   "How would you convince an obese person to join?"  He said that telling people they can burn 1,000 calories an hour usually does the trick and that if an obese person wanted to join that he or she would "be received just like anyone else that joins -- as a person that wants to be a part of something."  What is that "something"?  He said that many women are not interested in the perceived violence of boxing (he hopes to offer budokon at some point), but that the gym is a workout-based facility with a strong group mentality, "people motivate and push each other. . .  it helps prevent people from giving up."  It's not just the instructors who are willing to help;  Felix says the long-standing members just as willing to help a new member feel comfortable in the gym.

So I guess all that's left to say to the people sitting on the sidelines, afraid to set foot in the gym: 

What will it take for you to join in the fun?



Recap
LA Boxing Post 1:  The Risks and Rewards of Change
LA Boxing Post 2:  Showing Up
LA Boxing Post 3:  Finding Your Fight
LA Boxing Post 4:  Belonging
LA Boxing Post 5:  Fight or Flight
LA Boxing Post 6:  Finding your Fight: The Class -- Reporting In

9 comments

I totally get that person's comment. I am currently at 202 lbs and a nutrition major. While I know im working to get healthy I often feel judged by others when asked my major and respond. Truthfully though its usually just my own judgment of myself people tend to get that weird confused look for anyone who is a nutrition major lol. It does push me though to stay motivated on my journey...I want to be able to say "do as I do" and be an example and not say "do as I say" and be a picture of poor health when I get my Registered Dietitian's license.
When I am at the gym and I see someone larger I think good for you, I know its hard especially someone substantially larger than me. I know how hard it is at 200 much less 3 or 4 or 500. I feel proud for them that they are there and cant contain a smile and a wave. :)

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I think it was a huge turning point for me when I started talking to thin/athletic people that I thought were at their peak condition and they were insecure as well and for many of the same reasons.

Instead of thinking of the insecurities as something to separate us from each other, I began to think of it as something that made us a community.

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Hey FGVW! So glad I finally stopped by after following your tweets for so long. And thanks for putting up this post. I used to worry that when I entered the gym, people would stop and stare. But now, I just think, "So what?" It's my body, my journey. And really, everyone has been super inspirational.

Anyway, I'm taking an artistic approach to fitblogging on my blog, sizingdowndiva.com. My goal is to visually (and verbally) document my weight loss journey. Could always use another fitness buddy if you need one!

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Great post, I liked it a lot. Although I would have liked to hear more from members. Not that I don't appreciate the comments from trainers and to a lesser extent the regional dude, but I'm not so worried about what the employees think. As a current "fat dude" with some insecurity problems to deal with, my issues are with the members working out around me. It's something I'm constantly trying to work on and it's good to know that not everyone is wondering "what's that fat guy doing here". ;)

Thanks for this post Robby. :)

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Vinny -- i could ask more members, but i'm 100% sure the answers would be the same. At the boxing gym, you're judged based on presence and effort. Everyone has their own skill level and pace.

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I believe boxing is an excellent "starter" workout for anyone at any weight. You can start off at your own pace, and there is always room to improve. And, what an empowering feeling to leave the gym after hitting a bag or doing drills with a partner - it will give you confidence no matter if you are 110 pounds or 310 pounds. Confidence will keep you motivated. I have 13 years of boxing behind me, and I used to teach beginning classes to all shapes, sizes and skill levels. Everyone helped everyone - and everyone enjoyed themselves. So I say if you havent tried it already? What are you waiting for! :)

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BN: Confidence does keep you motivated, but I think also the more you sweat the more you just don't give a crap about what everyone else thinks.

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And, no one is really staring or paying attention to you as you work out anyway. Hard work and sweat are most important. Most people at the are not paying attention to anyone around them. I dont. I'm just trying to get through my workout :)

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I think that on a treadmill/bike it's real easy to look around and see what everyone else is doing. At a boxing gym if you're doing that, you'll quickly learn that's when you get hit.

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<3 Robby