Running is one of the more common activities done to burn fat, lose weight and to maintain one’s health. It not only is one of the easier sport activities to do, but a truly effective one as well. Here are some of the benefits of running:
1. Running is one of the best activities most people can do to improve their health
2. Running is one of the top activities for burning fat
3. Running can slow down the aging process
4. Running helps lower blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of the arteries
5. Running reduces the risk of stroke and breast cancer
6. Running builds confidence and self-esteem like few other individual sports can
7. Running can help train the mind as much as it trains the body
8. Once you start running the fat in your body will make place for muscle
The above article via
I can attest to all of these. I feel like running has made me a stronger person in SO many ways. A lot of my siblings did track in junior high and high school and have stuck to running for years afterwards. The reason I bring that up is because I never thought of myself as much of a "track star" like them...mostly because I've never pushed myself...till now. A couple of weeks ago I was running uphill and surprisingly keeping up with my extremely athletic classmates and I thought to myself, "Hey! You've got the track star genes!" CONFIDENCE. I've never had confidence in ANYTHING athletic in my life, so this is a big deal for me.
Now, I know that the majority of folks look at running as "mindless exercise." Yes, I actually heard a girl call it that in the locker room yesterday. I thought so, too, in the beginning. It's why I listened to my iPod and had that killer running mix to "distract" me from how miserable I felt. Now, I feel like it's the opposite. Just like any other intense physical activity, running takes a great deal of mind power and, once you train up to it, can actually be fairly relaxing and peaceful, especially on a Spring morning.
I honestly feel like running has given me what the Biggest Loser contestants would call "a new lease on life." That's not to say I was on my way to an early grave, but I have honestly never felt so empowered and happy. I feel like I can do reaaally hard things if I put my mind to it and that I'm no longer limited by the size of my goals anymore. Go big or go home ;)
Anyway, if you don't like running, find something healthy that you do like and start steering your life in the direction YOU want to go.
Next time on PPP Healthy Addictions:
PILATES!
And how I went from only being able to touch my knees
to being able to almost do the splits. Yeeyah! :)
6 comments:
Thanks for this post. Running really does wonders and has pushed me in more ways than I thought it would. Every time is such a struggle and such an accomplishment.
I am very interested in that pilates post! I have had a little exposure to it and loved it but I haven't done much so I'm looking forward to what you have to say!
I really think we were meant to be bloggie friends. I just got back from a run, and it felt so good. Course, I am ridiculously out of running shape, even though I've been working out every morning (yay Jillian's 30 Day Shred), but wow! Love it! I used to hate it.
Also, I was never so limber as when I took a pilates class a couple years ago. I could grab my foot and pull it up just like a cheerleader. Haha! You're awesome, and you're motivating me a ton. Especially since I've decided to run the Top of Utah half-marathon at the end of the summer. :-)
I am all about running and also enjoy the races and trying to get new times.
I wish I could love running, but sadly I have stumpy legs and running is not fun with stumpy legs... I ran a half marathon once and I crossed the finish line like quasi moto... needless to say it was not pretty. I can't wait to hear about pilates. You are crazy!
I've actually started to add running to my exercise regime...it's been good. I can't (more like don't want) to do long distances. I would say 3-6 miles is my maximum. But, I congratulate anyone that can do those long hauls. I'm sure you've heard of the Dirty Dash...well, there's another one coming to none other than Rose Park in July. Maybe we should do a relay or just do it for fun. Thoughts?
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