Jogging for fitness is one of the best ways to get you in shape and stay that way. All you need is you and a pair of shoes and you can get started. Jogging improves your physical condition in many ways. It makes your heart stronger, boosts your muscle tone and strength, reduces stress, and also can help other health problems, including arthritis and osteoporosis.
Jogging for fitness takes more of a commitment than walking does, but you will see significantly higher rewards in terms of your improvements in endurance and strength.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has said that a 160-pound person jogging at 6 miles per hour will burn around 12.5 calories each minute. You will burn more calories if you run faster or if you are heavier than 160 pounds..
Jogging for fitness has some advantages over walking. Primarily, remember that jogging simply takes less time! You also achieve a higher level of cardiovascular fitness and burn more calories. On the downside, you can get more injuries by jogging, but if you have the right shoes and stretch before and after, your chances of injury are low.
If you want to start jogging for fitness, be sure to check with your doctor before you begin. There is disagreement about who should get medical clearance and who shouldn’t. But the safest bet is to check with your physician in all cases before starting any strenuous exercise program. This is especially a good idea if you are overweight or if heart disease runs in your family. Also check with your doctor if you smoke or used to smoke, or if you have hypertension. Fitness experts offer a variety of methods for getting started.
When you start jogging for fitness, be sure to log your workouts. It really does help motivate you to see how you are getting faster and stronger as the weeks go by. Go online and find a training program that you like and keep track of your results!
As a beginner, remember not to push yourself too hard when jogging for fitness. You will get tired of course, but you should not be gasping for breath. Remember, if you cannot maintain a conversation while jogging you are probably going too hard.
Keep in mind that the hardest part of starting to jog for fitness is the first week or so. But after awhile, you will start to feel better as you gain speed and strength. Many runners find that after a few months, they can’t live without running! You may find yourself not able to go more than a day or two without a good jog! You may also find that you no longer want to walk anymore to stay in shape – it takes too long and doesn’t bring your heart rate up high enough.