Running, a good way to lose weight?

Losing weight is not just about changing your diet; exercise plays an equally important role. Is running the right way to achieve your goals?

Do you burn a lot of calories when running? 

Running seems to be one of the easiest sports to start with if you want to get fitter, and there is a good reason for that. A Harvard research where each sport is evaluated based on the number of calories burned per 30 minutes, running ranks among the most effective sports, so if you want to lose weight, it's a fantastic way to shed those extra pounds. 

According to this study, as the speed increases, the number of calories burned also rises, which is good for the body, but there are a few caveats to consider. The duration of the effort is more important than the speed during the effort, so make sure to find a pace that you can maintain for a longer period of time. 

Running and injuries

Running is also one of the most injury-prone sports, especially for beginners, which is why a good training schedule with a gradual buildup is very important. It seems simple; you walk out the door and you can start running, but that comes with risks of injuries. 

With every step you take, one leg catches the whole body weight multiplied by the speed of the falling motion. You can imagine the impact on your muscles and joints. Because you repeat the same movement with each step and therefore have to absorb the same impacts, the risk of injuries due to overexertion is high. 

Do you still need to diet if you also run?

Another common mistake when using running for weight loss is that people think they can consume many more calories because of the miles they have run. You may burn a few hundred extra calories on the day you run, but if you easily eat that back after training, it is pointless! So always keep track of your nutrition to achieve the maximum results. 

Running is therefore a wonderful way to burn a lot of calories and to your weight to work, but don't start without setting up a good training schedule to prevent injuries. Also, make sure to maintain a healthy diet to avoid negating the results of running.