Does Running Really Help You Lose Weight?

If you have been asking the question "can run to help you lose weight?" then you are part of a club with many others. Running can be one of the most efficient ways to lose weight. It's a good weight loss exercise. But if it is your first time trying out this great exercise, you may be wondering whether running can really help you lose weight.

In the first paragraph above, I wrote "calories per minute" and "total calories burned." Now let's examine these key words together: calories per minute and total calories burned. They tell us how many calories we burn during a workout. You see, if we want to lose weight, then we must reduce our consumption of calories. And that's where running comes in.

By reducing our consumption of calories, we'll achieve quicker weight loss. That's because it will increase our metabolic rate. So what does increase our metabolic rate do? Well, it will cause our body to utilize more of our calories, burning more of them for energy.

So as a beginner, do your normal cardio routine, starting out at a moderate pace and gradually adding intensity as you feel stronger. You might try doing some morning runs or an evening run once or twice a week. Do these two things for a week and then see how your results change. You should be able to lose weight very quickly!

Now here is where I warn you about a possible plateau. As you increase your stamina, you also increase your heart rate. You may be surprised at how quickly your heart rate can increase. That's good news, because that means you can potentially work harder and burn more calories during your workout. But if your stamina increases too quickly, your body will burn through that extra energy before you've had enough time to complete another workout. If you do this without a professional personal trainer, you could wind up injuring yourself.

So, what can you do to make sure you're getting the most benefit from your workouts? The answer is simple-you need a professional fitness instructor to coach you. These trainers know exactly how much fuel your body needs to complete a particular exercise. They can tell you if you have enough calories for a solid workout and whether your heart rate is high enough to derive optimal benefits from your workout. If you don't think you could do a vigorous sprint 8 miles, for example, you might try a steady state walk. Or you could start with some walking in the local park.

Running is all about adjusting the intensity. If you're sprinting hard for your first time, you'll burn a lot of calories, but as you get into better shape, you'll slow your pace down a bit to allow your heart to recuperate. This is one of the secrets of long-term weight loss. Just keep your intensity level consistent and you'll burn a lot more calories even when you're not working out.

As an added benefit, if you get some running training in with your fitness regimen, you'll find that it really helps you lose weight. A good running program with a professional trainer could help you trim down in a hurry. It might be the extra boost you need to get started in a new healthy direction. It's important to remember, though, that losing weight requires a lot more effort than just eating right and running. Losing weight the healthy way takes time, determination, and patience.

The biggest thing about losing weight is taking the time to think about what you eat and how much you exercise. If you eat healthy, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly, you will find yourself losing weight and feeling great. The trick is to maintain those healthy habits once you're at your goal weight. Even after you've reached your goal weight, if you continue eating healthy and exercising regularly, you'll be steadily improving your body. Eventually, you'll feel so much healthier than before that you'll have to stop running altogether.

But if you've already lost the desired amount of weight and want to maintain it, then running can definitely help you do that. In fact, you may find that the only thing standing between you and a spotless, fit body is your own will power. If you do start to feel weak and hopeless because you're struggling to lose weight, then stop running! It doesn't help you lose weight.

The problem with many people who struggle with their weight is that they don't take running seriously enough. They think that running is just a hobby or something that just gets done once a week, like brushing teeth. That's not true! Running adds dozens of valuable health benefits to your life. Not to mention the mental satisfaction running gives you, especially if you're feeling low on motivation.