Did you make a commitment to lose a little weight in 2019? Maybe you recently had a health scare and are just looking to get in better shape. Whatever the situation is, there are tons of different ways that you can approach your new quest. Sure, you can take up swimming. You can take up biking or even hiking. However, there are several barriers to these approaches. You need a pool to swim, you need a bike to cycle, and you need a mountainous trail for hiking. However, that really isn’t the case when it comes to running. You just simply need nothing more than a pair of comfortable shorts, a shirt, and a pair of running shoes. These are probably all things that you have sitting in your closet. So, how can you approach running for weight loss in 2019?
You Still Have To Watch Your Diet
Sure, there really are tons of benefits that come along with running. And, weight loss or burning calories is just one of the many. However, just because you are burning calories it doesn’t mean that you can neglect your diet. This is especially true if you are trying to drop a few pounds. In fact, there are many runners that gain weight if they over fuel for their runs. Most runners actually end up overestimating the number of calories that they burn on a run and most calorie tracking devices don’t provide accurate data. Unless you are willing to spend big bucks on a high-tech device, you won’t get accurate readings.
However, by a rule of thumb, you can probably burn anywhere from 200 to 300 calories on a three-mile run. Just make sure that you stay away from that 400-calorie brownie or an extra slice of pizza. Never develop the attitude that it is okay to indulge because you earned it.
Never Underestimate Strength Training
Sure, running is going to help you shed a few unwanted pounds, but cross training is extremely important for conquering those longer-term goals. If you want to get in shape and stay in shape, you are going to need to include some strength training in your regimen. First off, building muscles in your legs will make you an overall stronger runner and reduce the risks of injury. Running is extremely hard on your joints and if you don’t have the muscle to support them, you are just going to wear yourself down. Second, lifting weights can help you lose weight as well. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn when you are at rest.
That’s right, with more lean muscle you can burn calories by just sitting around the house. Yes, you will likely need a gym membership for this part of your workout, but Anytime Fitness gym memberships really offer an affordable platform along with various pieces of strength training equipment. Getting in shape doesn’t have to be expensive when you get a gym membership from a popular gym like Anytime Fitness. In fact, you can get a membership right now for as low as $38.99 per month.
You Got To Push Yourself Without Overthinking It
If you have been around any athlete or watched their daily workout routines, you will notice that they are always coming up with strategies to optimize their training. Yes, you have to push yourself harder in order to get better, but this doesn’t mean that you need to go all overkill when you are starting out. When it comes to weight loss the most important thing is moving and burning calories. Start out with sprinting or running for 10-minutes then resting for 30 seconds to a minute.
Do this for a week or two then work your way up to 20-minutes and so on. Running at a high intensity is good for losing weight because it creates what is known as the afterburn effect. This means that your body continues to burn calories when you are no longer moving.
Be An Early Bird
Running probably doesn’t seem very appealing at first. And, when you throw waking up early on top of that it is going to even make things more challenging. However, once you get set into a routine, you will find that you won’t skimp on mileage or intensity just because you had a long workday or something unexpected came up. Getting up early and getting on the move first thing in the morning will make you an overall more production and active individual throughout the day.
