Does Running Help You Lose Belly Fat?

Does running help you lose weight? I am sorry to say, it will not. It is only a means of fat loss. Running does help you burn more calories and it helps increase your metabolism but these are both indirect ways of losing weight. When you run, you are exerting a great deal of energy but the calories that you burn will probably also be calories that you consume.

To get permanent, long term weight loss, you have to do other things besides running. Running can increase your heart rate for a short period of time but this will not lead to long term fat loss. It will only lead to short-term weight loss. You must eat a balanced diet and include some exercise. The best diet and the most effective exercise are those that are low in fats, calories, carbohydrates and sodium. If you combine running with a diet that is high in these foods, your weight loss will be permanent and sustainable.

When I talk about diet and long term weight loss, I mean eating a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish and poultry. You should limit your calories and count the number of calories you consume each day. If you do not monitor your calories, you are setting yourself up for failure. You can eat whatever you want as long as the calories are taken in by the body and then stored as fat.

You can eat as many small meals as you like and when you finish you do not need to eat anything else for several hours. But if you are not careful, your digestive system will become adjusted to the lack of food so you may experience some health benefits from this type of eating. If you choose to run, you will burn calories at a higher rate. And your body will require more calories for energy if it is running. If you combine this with the fact that you are also getting a good amount of cardiovascular exercise and the health benefits from long term stamina increases, you have a winning combination.

If you are thinking about long term fitness gains, you can start building on your runs by doing interval training. Interval training is not for everyone. For some people it will cause fatigue and illness. If you have been ill or injured in the past and are concerned about your heart rate while running, you should consider a different activity during your first two weeks of beginner weight loss programs.

When you are adding runs to your weight loss program, you should focus on three areas. Running is great for raising your heart rate, increasing your metabolism and helping to burn excess calories. You can adjust the intensity and speed of your runs to include or exclude one or more of these areas. It all depends on how fit you are and how much you are willing to work out. Your daily caloric intake should be based on your daily activity level.

Finally, you can add an extra element of fun to your runs by incorporating an activity such as playing tennis. Tennis is a great low impact sport that will help you get fit while playing a sport you love. As you get fitter and add intensity to your workouts, you will begin to lose weight. You will probably lose more than you put in. And you will continue to lose weight as long as you stay on your tennis court.

I hope this summary of tennis exercise helps you decide if running can help you lose belly fat. Interval running, tennis and other activities you can do on a tennis court can help you burn calories while maintaining your current activity level. This type of exercise program will get you off the couch and moving! So get out on the tennis court and have some fun! It's healthy!