Why run before you can walk?

You look at yourself in the mirror and you aren’t happy with what you see, you tell yourself you need to do something about it. The first thought that so many of us then follow this with is ‘I am going to start running’. I don’t actually no why this is, but I can only assume it is because it's simple and free. You can even download an app to help you complete the ‘couch to 5k’.

However, you then go for your first run and feel so unfit you just give up all together. Or you maybe lucky and survive the first few weeks and even start to enjoy your running but then have to stop because of injury. You have now lost that one tool you have been using to lose that unwanted weight.

Research has shown that running can increase the force by up to 3 times your body weight. This should not be an issue for a well-conditioned active adult but I assume that because weight loss is your goal, you are currently carrying more extra weight then you would like and did not achieve this physique from being active.

Why run when you can walk then?

Vigorous-intensity walking produced no greater loading forces than moderate-intensity walking. However, running at a vigorous intensity produced substantially greater loading forces than walking of the same intensity

Why not reduce that risk of discomfort and injury by implementing moderate-vigorous intensity walking into your programme instead of running? This way you can make sure you are able to continually obtain the health benefits from regular exercise.

Certain health benefits can be obtained by raising heart rates but research suggest that just by reducing body weight alone can have substantial health benefits. This can simply be achieved by creating a calorie deficit by eating less and moving more.

Activity trackers like ‘Fitbits’ have become very popular over recent years and I must say that I am a very big fan of them. They may not be 100% accurate but what they do well is they get people moving more and make them accountable for their daily activity.

If you are someone who enjoys running and you are able remain injury free, then who am I to stop you.

If you are someone who keeps getting injured from running or you just hate it then STOP! If there is one message I want you to take away from this article it is…. there are plenty of other ways to lose weight with out having to run!