Okay, so I finally decided to get back in shape, and I thought a punching bag would be a good way to do it. I went with a 70-pounder, figuring it would be heavy enough to give me a good workout without being too crazy.
Setting It Up
First things first, I needed to find a spot for this thing. I don’t have a ton of space, but I cleared out a corner in my garage. It’s not pretty, but it works.
Then came the fun part – actually hanging the bag. I bought a heavy-duty ceiling mount, ’cause I didn’t want this thing falling on my head. I used a stud finder to make sure i was in solid wood. I drilled some pilot holes, and bolted the mount into the ceiling joist. It felt pretty secure, but I gave it a few good tugs just to be sure.
Next, I attached the chain to the bag and then to the mount. It took a little adjusting to get the height right – I wanted it to hang so I could hit it comfortably without having to reach too high or punch down.
My First Workout
Alright, bag’s up, time to throw some punches! I wrapped my hands (lesson learned from a previous, less-than-smart workout) and put on some gloves. I started with some basic jabs and crosses, just getting a feel for the bag. It felt good to hit something!
- Round 1: Mostly jabs, focusing on form.
- Round 2: Added some crosses, mixing it up.
- Round 3: Started throwing some hooks and uppercuts. My shoulders were definitely feeling it.
I kept going for about 20 minutes, and man, I was sweating. I definitely underestimated how tiring it would be. But it was a good kind of tired, you know? The kind where you feel like you actually did something.
The Aftermath
My arms and shoulders were sore for a couple of days, but in a good way. I have kept at it, doing a few rounds on the bag a few times a week. It’s a great stress reliever, and I’m starting to feel a little stronger. I need to work on my footwork, and maybe watch some videos on proper technique, but I’m pretty happy with my 70-pound punching bag purchase.
