Jogging and running, I am convinced, really does melt off the pounds, and the fat. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found that regular jogging makes my excess calories go up in smoke, so to speak, and it seems like I can eat more without putting on excess weight. When I think about why this might be with jogging and running, more so than when I do my “regular” thing at the gym like getting on the elliptical machine and doing my weights workout, I think it’s because your body is under a real stressor and this accounts for the extra calorie burn and sweating.

Not only that, but when you run outside as opposed to indoors on a treadmill, you get the benefit of alternating inclinations and speeds, and also of the weather being inclement, so say if it’s a bit nippy outside, you get the extra benefit of your body trying harder to heat itself up, which burns more calories than when it is in a totally comfortable temperature stasis, and when it is hot or very warm outside, you get the benefit of getting slightly overheated, which your body also tries to compensate for and starts to burn more calories to keep the body cooled.

So, running outside, I’ve found, is one of the best calorie burners out there. Not only that, it offers a peace of mind and pleasantness that works overtime on busting stress that working out indoors can’t offer. You get to see greenery, which is intrinsically calming to the human species and gives a sense of well being and one with nature, and you also get to breathe in the fresh air, which is excellent for your lungs and for your sense of well being as well.

I took a long run today. It was 75 degrees outside, and I did get pretty hot. I alternated jogging and running/sprinting and walking, which I think really does the trick since you are not overbearing on your legs and your joints, but you are keeping that calorie burn at an ultimate high since you are still “coming down” when you are walking, from your jogging.

When I came back, I was literally dripping with sweat, and that was only on a moderately warm day with a bit of a cool breeze. I was out there for about 35 minutes total, and my sense of calm and stress reduction when I got back was amazing. I was exhausted of course, but I really felt like I had accomplished something, and being outside added to that sense of elation. Running outdoors is one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise I’ve ever done, definitely.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Workout Regimens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.