Does jogging make you lose weight? It is a common question amongst joggers, fitness experts and many others who are passionate about jogging as an exercise form. Although there is no denying that jogging can help you lose weight because it works the whole body and burns more calories than any other cardio exercise, the question is whether you can sustain your jogging to the degree which allows you to lose weight. There are lots of factors to consider but in general the answer to the question is “Yes”.
The answer is yes because jogging is a form of low intensity aerobic exercise that forces your body to work hard to burn off calories and the excess fat stored on your body. In addition, jogging gives your heart a nice workout without putting too much pressure on it also tones up your muscles which are important for people who want to look good and feel good. Jogging does work the entire cardiovascular system and while some people may view this as “no work” and think that jogging can get you no where but the fact is that it does burn a lot of calories and you can use this excess energy (in calories) to run, swim, lift weights, etc. Therefore, you do not have to stop running because you are losing weight. Jogging is a great cardio workout that can be done by anyone and the more you do it the better shape you will be in.
How do you know if jogging is right for you? One of the main reasons why it can be a good choice for weight loss is that you can keep up a jogging routine even if you are not committed to a weight loss diet or program. However, this does not mean that you can go for long periods of time between jogs as your body will need to adjust to its new routine. If you do start to jope around too much you may find that your stamina suffers and you will actually stop exercising which may lead to eventual failure. This is one reason why so many people who used to jog but eventually give up do so for the health reasons.
You may be concerned that by jogging you will end up with large amounts of blubber which means that you will end up looking like Rudolph. This can be avoided if you choose your jogging partner wisely. The ideal jogging partners will be those who are of the same size as you as this allows the amount of blubber to spread evenly. Furthermore, it helps if your partners don’t smoke or drink much as these habits all add to the fat build up. You should also try to run on terrain that is flat such as a grass lawn or sand course as this prevents you from running into walls and tree trunks which could cause major injury.
You may also be worried about how long you will be able to maintain your weight loss after starting a jogging routine. The amount of jogging time you should be able to continue before you need to take a break should depend on your personal capacity. Jogging for more than an hour a day can reduce your stamina considerably as you become used to the physical exercise. If you do not have a lot of stamina you can increase the amount of time you are jogging each day. One good way of doing this is by finding a buddy who is jogging with you and then starting your run together. You should also find a high quality pair of shoes that provide good cushioning as you will be running on pavement.
One thing you should avoid doing when trying to lose weight is jogging on rough roads. Although it is great for cardio it can damage your joints. It is advisable to try to run on smoother roads especially when you first start. The purpose of jogging is to get fit and be fit but you don’t want to end up being too sore so listen to your body. If it hurts while jogging, stop immediately as it could be a sign of a serious problem such as a fracture. If you keep up a regular jogging schedule and make sure you take plenty of breaks you will soon start to feel healthier and lose weight on your own without having to rely on any other help.
