Whether you’re working out at home with 180 Fitness in Gloucester, ON, or in the gym, you know that we encourage any type of fitness activity, even running. It’s something you can do on your own, isolated from others and in a safe manner. Running is an aerobic activity that builds your endurance, provides heart healthy exercises and boosts your immune system. It’s all about getting healthier, fitter and stronger so you can avoid illness and be the best you that you can be.
Running is a great way to burn kilojoules.
Running is a great way to lose weight. While it does have its drawbacks, such as burning both fat and lean muscle mass, that doesn’t mean that you can’t combine it with strength building exercises, like those on our streaming video workouts. In fact, it’s a great idea. You can supplement it with running and don’t even have to go a full half hour at one time to get your half hour workout. You can break it down to three ten minute runs.
Running can help your bones.
Running is a weight bearing exercise that builds strong muscles that tug on the bone, causing the body to increase the calcium in the bone to build strength and reduce mineral loss. Some studies have found that weight bearing exercise, which includes activities like strength building, dancing, walking and running, provide just as much benefit or more than some medications for osteoporosis.
You’ll get a great cardio workout.
Running will definitely get your heart pumping and boost your endurance. Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart needs to be exercised to get stronger. Running can increase its rate and is heart healthy. You can modify your run and make it a HIIT workout—high intensity interval training—that creates afterburn and gets you in shape faster. Just alternate between short high-intensity bursts and a recovery pace. You can make running a family affair. It’s perfect. If one member can’t keep up, no problem. Adjust the run for them and you’ll have a HITT workout because of modifying the intensity.
- Even though your exercising, don’t forget to eat healthy whether you’re trying to lose weight or just get fitter. A healthy, fit body starts in the kitchen and you can’t out-exercise an unhealthy diet.
- Running makes it easy to track your progress. You can use time or distance. If you can run at top speed for a few seconds and that grows to a minute or two before you require a recovery pace, you’ve made progress.
- Just like any exercise, always warm up your muscles before you run. Walk around, do jumping jacks or stretch and don’t forget a cool down workout. A cool down can be just walking around for a while.
- No matter what you choose as a workout program, check with your health care professional first, especially if you’re overweight, over 40 or have a health condition.
For more information, contact us at 180 Fitness