Creative and Cheap Way to Lose Weight
Many people ask me for advice on the best way to lose weight. While the answer usually varies person to person, I consistently suggest squash. So how is squash good for weight loss?
Image by ninahale via Flickr
Calories burned per hour
The calorie burning capabilities of squash are elite. If you look at the calorie charts, squash is one of the best sports/exercises to take part in. Most charts say squash burns about 800-1000 calories an hour. Forbes.com claims that squash burns 517 calories/ 30 minutes. One of the reasons why the figures are so high is because you constantly have to accelerate and decelerate as you change direction. Also you use your hands a lot more than in something like running.
Fun
What is more fun, running in a straight line, doing difficult exercise or playing a game with your friends/family? Yeah it’s that simple. Squash is also a very enjoyable sport. I don’t know many people who dislike it.
Lower risk of relapse
If your training plan is self made there is a pretty high chance that you will stop training short of your goal. With a personal trainer, it’s a lot better. They will motivate and guide you. Often times you’ll have to purchase a package from them and not to waste money, you’ll have to attend the appointments. With a sport, it’s even better. You can still have a coach/trainer, but at the same time you’ll make friends and relationships with the other squash player you’ll meet. Hopefully they’ll encourage you to a game of squash here or there. Oh and did I say squash is more fun and enjoyable than running or regular exercise.
The health implications of squash
Squash is a fairly safe and healthy sport. Of course there are its risks, but they exist everywhere. There’s always a chance you’ll trip will running, or drop a dumbbell… The key is to play smart and not do more than you can do. Forbes.com went as far as claiming it to the healthiest sport (http://www.forbes.com/2003/09/30/cx_ns_1001featslide.html?thisSpeed=20000).
Price
While you need proper equipment and an almost unavoidable gym membership (there are very few outdoor courts) it still beats paying for a personal trainer. The equipment could also be borrowed, but if not, other than the balls it should last for a long time.
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sandie | Aug 3, 2009 | Reply
I believe that when you first start playing this you can get really bad bruises from the ball until you learn how to dodge the balls and learn how to hit them.
Kiper | Aug 3, 2009 | Reply
Or get a new partner, hahaha
Actually to be honest with you, I’ve rarely been hit, even when I was new to the game. I play pretty competitive squash and I get hit maybe once every three hours. Only a couple times it’s led to a bruise.