Running – A Great Fat Burning Exercise

For many people, they’re simply looking for an exercise that’s easy to do. It doesn’t cost them much or require too much gear or preparation. And they want an exercise that burns fat and helps them achieve their fitness goals fast. If this sounds like you then running may be your answer. Running is a great fat burning exercise. Here’s why:

Running burns a lot of calories – Yes, there are sports and activities that burn more calories. Cross country skiing and swimming for example can both burn more than running. However, they’re not as accessible as running is. And running really does burn a lot.

Of course, how many calories you burn depends on a few factors. Namely how far you run, how fast you run and how much you weigh. Here’s a simple equation:

Multiply .75 by your weight in pounds. This is how many calories on average you burn per mile you run.
So if you weighed 200 pounds the calculation would be .75 X 200 or 150 calories per mile. That means if you run three miles at an average pace, which would take you around 30 minutes, you’ll burn 450 calories. That’s a  lot of calories. And it adds up quickly when one pound of fat equals 3500 calories that means in a little over a week you’ve lost a pound. Run farther, faster and longer you’ll burn more and if you combine the running with a nutritious eating plan, you’ll lose more weight too.
And if you add interval training to your running program, you’ll burn more fat while you run and you’ll burn fat for the remainder of the day. Interval training is when you add intensity for short spurts of time during your workout.

How to Start Running to Burn Fat

• Buy good running shoes. Running shoes prevent injury and help you run farther and faster. For the best shoe for your fit and running form get a shoe fit or gait analysis at a running store.

• Set reasonable goals. Many runners like to achieve milestones. The first 5K, the first half marathon, the first marathon. These goals are great but so too are the steps that get you there. Set smaller goals to help you achieve your big race or distance goal.

Running is a fantastic way to burn fat and reach your fitness and weight loss goals. It’s easy to get started and it’s a low cost fitness program. Best of all, with the right gear, indoors or outdoors, it’s easy to find time to run each and every day.