A Beginner’s Guide to Running for Weight Loss (Part 1)

Regular physical activity is vital for anyone who wants to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

There are many things you can do to burn body fat, generate a calorie deficit and help you stay in shape. The real question is: which cardiovascular exercises are best for weight loss?

Swimming, cycling and running are all great workouts if you’re consistent. But if you enjoy running, then you’re in luck – running is a great way to burn calories and promote weight loss. Compared to these other forms of exercise, one study showed that running burns more calories per mile because it takes more time to run a mile than it does to ride a bike.

If you’re embarking on a journey to improve your health and are considering running to lose weight, this guide will provide seven simple tips to help you get started (pun intended) without even realising it.

Can you lose weight and reduce belly fat by running?

Yes you can.

But please note that it is not possible to lose belly fat specifically by running because that is not the way to exercise. You can do crunches all day long to strengthen your belly, but the only way to shrink your belly is to lose fat all over your body, and running is a great option.

Of course, running isn’t the only effective way to lose weight. For example, this 20-minute high-intensity interval training session can help burn calories faster.

But if you prefer a less intense workout, running is a great option.

What does science have to say?

Ten years ago, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory published a study showing a positive correlation between running and weight loss. More recently, a Czech study of more than 1,000 adult runners confirmed the earlier findings, concluding that regular running for exercise leads to weight loss and can improve physical health. It does this by significantly reducing body fat under the skin and around the organs.

Translation: jogging leads to weight loss.

So if you’re a beginner determined to run for weight loss, read on to learn how you can start increasing your mileage and shedding pounds right away.