Despite lots of arguments about the details, most experts agree that weight loss is a matter of energy balanceconsistently burn more calories than you take in, and youll lose weight. (And, unfortunately, vice versa for gaining weight.) Because it allows you to burn a good amount of calories in a relatively short time, running can be a key component of an effective weight-loss program.
If you have weight to lose, you didnt gain it overnight. Instead, it was probably a gradual accumulation that at some point became significant. Thats worth keeping in mind when coming up with a weight-loss programresearch shows that your best bet for long-term success is combining exercise with reasonable calorie restriction, and focusing on the long view. Crash diets, in contrast, can result in more dramatic short-term weight loss, but generally arent sustainable for long, and can place your health at risk.
Although we dont advocate over-concentration on precise calorie counting, its worth keeping in mind the general figure of a mile of running burning 100 calories. If youre trying to lose weight, the calorie-burning effect of running 20 miles a week can be negated by just a few chocolate chip cookies. We point this out not to be depressing, but to emphasize that running alone might not bring the weight loss you want, especially in the short term.
Another thing to keep in mind when using running for weight loss: Being active during other parts of the daytaking stairs instead of elevators, walking instead of driving to stores, doing yard work by hand, etc.will compound the calorie-burning benefits of running. Thats a better approach than being sedentary except when youre running.
The articles below are full of inspiration and advice for runners looking to lose anywhere from a little to a lot of weight.
View original post here:
Weight Loss | Runner's World
