Anybody trying to lose weight should engage in some kind of aerobic exercise in to boost their metabolism in order to burn calories faster. A brisk walk will do, but some people are more comfortable with jogging or running and feel it works better for them.
Making the choice to jog during weight loss will not only help you lose weight but will also help you get into the routine of exercising, a move that will help you keep the weight off when you have reached your goal weight. The ideal exercise for weight loss is a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise - for example, jogging combined with some weight lifting routines.
Getting into the habit of jogging is not a difficult one for most people, but if you have never been one to exercise, it may come as a shock at first. It's better not to jump right into a long jogging workout but rather to begin gently and work your way up to where you want to be. Do not rush the amount of time you spend jogging, but let your body guide you and let you know when you are ready. If you allow your body to be your guide, it will be much easier to work into a jogging routine without all of the discomfort.
In order to achieve the ultimate weight loss, you want to make jogging part of your routine but not the only exercise you perform. Although it is aerobic exercise that burns calories, resistance exercise helps you build lean muscle mass which burns fat faster. Therefore the ideal routine is a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises. Of course, if you can't do the resistance routines for health reasons, then certainly you can obtain the benefits from jogging but you may find it takes longer to accomplish. However, any kind of exercise you can perform will certainly help you lose weight and keep it off after you have reached your goal weight. You have to remember you will need to keep it up in order to maintain your weight loss. You cannot stop once you have reached your goal weight and expect to maintain the results.
Do not overdo your jogging in an attempt to lose weight faster. Although you may accomplish that goal, it will be at the cost of your health. Working your muscles too hard even in jogging can cause your muscles and cartilage to become damaged thus preventing you from doing many activities including jogging.
Although you want to jog in places that are well populated you also want to stay away from traffic. Do not choose high traffic roads to jog even if you are on the side of the road facing traffic. There is always the possibility that a vehicle will come off the road and hit you, or maybe just pull off the road with mechanical problems and fail to see you. If you choose roads that have a high traffic volume, choose one that has a sidewalk or a shoulder that is far enough off the main road for you to be safe.
In addition to the potential for being hit jogging in a high traffic area, is the possibility of being mugged or even kidnapped as you jog alongside the road. You can avoid these possibilities by being on the sidewalk or far enough away from the highway that someone would have to stop actually stop their car and get out in order to pull you into the car. Safety is a very important issue for joggers and one that you should not take lightly. Jogging is a healthy activity for the body but you also have to make sure you perform it with your personal safety in mind.
One of the best ways to make certain you are in a well-lit area that is well populated is in a business area. Keep in mind that not all business sections will follow this pattern, so you still have to be careful where you go. For example, factories and warehouses are not the safest places to be because even though people may be working, they are usually secluded and unable to see what is going on outside. The best places are around stores where customers come and go at all times, rather than restaurants or movie theaters where customers are generally indoors rather than outside.
The key to making jogging a healthy activity is to make certain you are aware of the surroundings where you jog and to be attentive to your surroundings. Don't become a target by being too preoccupied with your own thoughts or music. Although it may help pass the time while you are jogging it also puts your safety in danger and makes you vulnerable to a surprise attack by someone you neither saw nor heard.
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For information on jogging or running for weight loss, go to http://running-for-weight-loss.com/
