Gloves up with Hayley Ward

Two-time world champion kick boxer, Hayley Ward, is just eighteen years old and yet she is one of the most intimidating young women in GB’s England boxing team. She tells us the secrets of her routine that keeps her fit in mind and body.

As if her world champion status isn’t enough, Hayley is also a black belt in elite boxer. This inspirational young woman goes to college in the week and holds down two part time jobs in her local town.

Boxing started as a way for her to focus on something other than the typical troubles as a teenage girl, she said: “To picture myself being happy and satisfied with what I have achieved is my main motivation.”

“As a young teenager I was bullied, I had done martial arts and boxing before however I believed by investing more of my time in the sport and taking a more serious approach to it, it would allow me to focus my mind on something else. I also enjoy everything about it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. It's what I was born to do.”

Her mentality is something to be admired by all. Instead of cracking open the bottle of wine, full of calories and curling up on the sofa, after getting in from a long day at work, you can let out your frustration on the bag and get a good nights sleep.

There are plenty of benefits to boxing at home, and easy ways to do it. She believes the start to a healthy lifestyle is nutrition. “You are what you eat and eating well will make you feel 100 X better. There are loads of things you can do at home, ab workouts, having a punch bag to release stress and stay active and even doing some cleaning gets you doing something!”

Hayley’s fitness and food tips are a great way to get a slimmer and slender figure that looks great in a bikini, as well as finding it easier to run along the sand. All this exercise jabs away the slump sat on your shoulder telling you to do it tomorrow, Hayley credits boxing as it helps her “feel fit and healthy all the time, I am able to socialise and relax and be surrounded by great people. Doing something you love that is enjoyable and keeping you healthy is the greatest thing in the world.”

“Boxing keeps you fit and it keeps you healthy, you learn new skills and your motor skills are kept in tip-top shape.” These lifestyle benefits are impossible to ignore, and with such an amazing young woman embodying them it’s hard not to want to start letting out your jealousy on the bag right now.