The Many Reasons To Take Up Running

Running is quite possibly the oldest form of exercise known to man. Whenever you ask anyone on the best way to get in shape, they'll invariably mention running as their technique of choice. And why shouldn't they? Anyone with a pair of legs can run. You don't even need shoes. Right now, you could get outside and start running. It's convenient, it's easy and almost everyone can do it. So maybe you've thought about taking up running for a while but you are not quite sure if it's 'worth' your time. Well, this write-up will give you more reasons to take up running.

1. Cardio & Aerobic conditioning - People talk about this organ called the heart. They always speak of how you need to be good to it and constantly exercise it if you are to live longer. While there is a correlation to that, the real benefit you get from running is aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning. This is whereby you feel light and agile. You also feel like your lungs are clear and you feel comfortable running. Everything physical feels easy and you have a certain agility and grace. Your joints no longer ache when you run and you just 'feel' awesome. You have lots of energy and your mood is always on a high. That's the beauty of fitness. It's a feeling of being 'healthy'.

2. Calorie burning/ fat loss - For those looking to slim down, running is a great way to burn the calories. Now bear in mind folks, a session of running for half an hour will only burn a few hundred calories and not much more. To slim down, you have to cut the calories you take in by controlling your diet and then you proceed to create a deficit of calories by burning a few hundred more so that your body turns to the fat reserves stored in your body to keep everything fuelled up. Running without changing your diet will condition you and make you feel fit but your body won't change all that much.

3. Self esteem - I don't know about you but when I stumble into my house, drenched in sweat, feeling as if I could collapse and die at any moment; a feeling of ecstasy completely takes over. And even though I'm in a great deal of discomfort (hot, sweaty and achy), I feel great. That's due to endorphins which 'reward' you after you do something you consider worthwhile. The feeling pervades well into the next day and sometimes lasts a week. Exercise has been shown to lower the levels of depression and generally make people happier. Try it!

4. Muscle tone - Finally, the muscle tone that running gives is spectacular. It's primarily in the legs that you get those lovely quad separations and shapely calves. Not only do your legs become toned, they also become stronger and develop a lot more endurance in the process. It sounds like a win/win situation to me!

Not only is running one of the best inner though workouts around, it's also a great way for improving problem areas that we all struggle with. For more information on fitness and exercise, check out our website on fitness.

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