Running for Weight Loss
Running for weight loss has shown to be a very effective way to lose those extra pounds. A wholesome dietary program when combined with running or some other type of physical activity has been shown to be extremely effective.
There are some disadvantages to running or jogging, but the advantages usually outweigh them. For example, running only works the lower muscles of the body, and runners are more prone to impact injuries (even more so as we age). But the advantages to the cardiovascular system and the fact that it’s so simple that just about anyone can do it, all you’ll need is a pair of shoes and some old clothes, makes it a logical selection for lots of people. Those that have joint and tendon injury may want to explore elliptical exercise machines, swimming, biking, etc.
Recent studies incidents that a 40 minute period of exercise will keep your metabolism accelerated and burning calories at a higher rate for several hours after you have stopped running or exercising. Which also is why weight loss and exercise works well together, dieting tends slow your metabolism and your body’s fat burning mechanism, while running or exercise revs it back up. Another advantage for running is that exercise suppresses the appetite.
Running at a low speed (jogging) is connected with burning more fat, while running faster ( like interval training) the body uses more carbohydrates for fuel. There’s no black or white, but slower aerobic running will rely on fats more for fuel.
If you hope to lose weight by running, keep in mind that you’ll only shed pounds if you burn more calories than you consume. One common dietary mistake among runners is that they overcompensate for the calories burned while exercising by consuming “extra calories”, thus some runners even experience that they gain weight rather than lose weight, as their body’s adapt to their regular training. A common mistake is to not eat right after exercising. For one thing it helps you to recover from training quicker, but it also reduces the risks of overeating hours later when you’re ravenous. Eating while your metabolism is still elevated will also assist with losing excess weight.
Runners do have special nutrition needs, but the basic nutrition principles for a wholesome diet still apply. Rather than going out to a fast food restaurant and eating junk food try instead choosing smaller portions of high fat and high calorie foods, instead substituting more whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruit and more complex carbohydrates. Your body will burn fats and run effectively.
