Running is an excellent form of exercise that will keep you fit and healthy provided you have no existing physical ailments and conditions.
Running will enhance every part of your physical body and mind if carried out correctly.
Does running cause knee injury?
The answer is yes and no.
If you have worn damaged or weak knees in the first place, then yes and the same goes for your hips, shins and ankles etc.
If you have any form of wear and tear or arthritis in the joints, in particular the knees, then running is surely going to aggravate the problem.
This clearly is the same for all other forms of exercise. If you have arthritis, rheumatism, joint issues, strained or pulled tendons, ligaments and muscles then any exercise you do will provoke existing damage that you may have.
A simple shoulder injury or pulled muscle strain will be aggravated if you carry out say a bench-press or a barbell bicep curl with weights.
Even with a simple cricked neck it may be impossible to do simple press ups so you see whatever the exercise you do, it will aggravate any existing damage, no matter how small.
Therefore, to say that running is bad for you is incorrect without pointing out existing conditions.
If you have good knees and joints then running would be excellent for you and if carried out correctly it will not cause problems to your knees and hips providing you run correctly and sensibly within your fitness plan.
This would mean running proportionally to your fitness levels and experience and wearing the correct running gear such as good running trainers with shock absorption built into the soles.
Preferably running on grass as opposed to tarmac or concrete and only running for + miles if you are experienced enough to do so.
Bearing in mind there are millions of people around the world who run every day without issues.
Tens of thousands of people run marathons regularly without any problems.
Another major criticism of running.
((((Poor calorie burn))))
You will run off approximately 73 calories per 1 mile and if you’re an inexperienced runner then 1 mile is a lot to accomplish especially if you are overweight and out of shape.
2 miles running would be a good target to reach and even still you will only burn off 146 calories. That’s a one-inch piece of Mars bar!
It goes without saying you will not burn off fat around your body by running unless you incorporate the running and other forms of cardiovascular exercise into your daily eating plan and exercise regime.
To expect to burn off several stone of stored fat by getting up at 5 am every morning to run will result in failure and disappointment.
Any running you do will burn off the fuel or energy you have stored up in your liver and bloodstream before you can even access stored fat cells around the body.
You often see runners with slim and great physiques thus giving the impression that if you start running you might look like them and, in most cases, this is not true because those runners usually live that way of life by controlling calories from morning to night and indulge in other forms of exercise and cardio.
Running just rounds off a fit person’s fitness regime and tones up muscle and keeps you in a fantastic fit shape.
If you’re considering running as a novice.
Then you must pay attention first and foremost to your calories in and calories out if you are choosing running as your main form of fat burning exercise with the intention of getting in shape by losing weight otherwise it will result in failure and abandonment.
If for example you’re eating 2800 calories a day when you may need to be eating say 1900 calories a day to maintain fat loss then you will never burn fat off by running.
Irrespective of the diet plan, weight loss will not work if you are eating more than you are burning off.
The number one consideration to keep in mind is you must be eating less calories than you are burning off.
For many overweight people who are addicted to sugar and bad fast carbohydrates, running will only help with your fitness levels not your weight loss.
How to get the most out of running for weight loss?
Find out your daily calorie maintenance level and work to find a way to stick to it and keep below it.
Run at least 3 to 6 days a week in a slow and steady way at least 30 to 40 minutes a run and do only what is comfortable especially if you’re a beginner.
Make sure you invest in some good quality running trainers with good shock absorption. Buying trainers for £30 would be a mistake. A good set of trainers will cost you £100 plus and is worth the investment.
Try to eliminate sugar from your diet and find a balance with healthy fats and wholesome carbohydrates.
To recap
Keep it real, be realistic in what you can achieve for weight loss because the number one thing you have to keep in your mind is you must have less calories coming in than you’re burning out.
If you don’t keep this one fact in mind then running will be a waste of time especially if you’re overweight.
If the running is done correctly as part of your lifestyle change and possibly along with other cardiovascular training then running is an excellent way of life especially if you are getting up early in the mornings and you running in all weathers.
For many runners it is life changing, invigorating and charges you up for the day.
Don’t let the criticism of running put you off.
Just bear in mind the number of calories you are eating and the way you are eating!
How to start running?
It goes without saying; consult your doctor or GP first before taking any advice from this article.
Start off slow and steady and increase in increments to avoid impact loading onto your joints which can lead to strain injuries if you have weak knees.
Slow incremental and wise progressive training is the way to go to better improve yourself and your life.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational and informational purposes only and must not be used or taken as a substitute in any form for any medical, psychological (mental) advice, medication you are currently taking or any alternative treatments without the prior advice, guidance and consent from your medical doctor. Please speak with your doctor first before making any changes to your diet or medicine as a result of reading any information laid out on this website or in this or any other articles.
Copyright – Open College UK Limited
Please feel free to link to this post. Please do not copy – its owned. No reproduction is permitted.
