The Benefits of Jogging!

Incorporating jogging into your workouts and into your life can have more of an affect that many realize. We have listed three important and convenient benefits that jogging can add to your life. Regardless if you are just starting out, training for a 5K, or training for a marathon, the benefits that can be achieved should not be overlooked.

#1: Cardiovascular Health

Jogging is a form of cardio. This is a very good thing. Moving from walking to jogging causes our muscles to work hard, requires more energy, and requires more oxygen to get to our muscles. All of these demands cause our heart and lungs to work more. This in turn causes our hearts and lungs to work more efficiently to get the job done. The results on cardiovascular health are not immediate, you might feel like it is not worth it initially, the life benefits are definitely worth working towards. Benefits of a healthier heart and lungs can include the ability to climb stairs without losing your breath, keeping up with your kids easier, being able to breath better, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

#2: Weight Loss

If one of your resolutions was weight loss or just want to get healthier, jogging can be a great tool in weight loss. Increasing the amount of exercise in your schedule can help increase the amount of weight that is lost by increasing the number of calories burned. In fact, the same person will burn almost 2X the number of calories jogging as they will walking in the same amount of time. This means that you can get the same results in less time exercising!

#3: Bone and Joint Health

A common misconception when it comes to jogging is that doing so can hurt your joints, especially your knees, and lead to an increased risk of a fracture. It is true that starting jogging too quickly or taking on more than you are ready for can lead to an increase in injury but, jogging, when done correctly, is very beneficial to your joints and your bones. Jogging places additional forces on your joints and bones that they are not used to. If jogging is started and increased slowly, the ligaments and tendons around the joints as well as the bones themselves will strengthen to better handle that stress. This can lead to a decrease in knee, low back, and hip problems as each get stronger the more often you jog.

Thought the benefits that can be achieved with jogging are great, precautions should always be taken to ensure the risks do not outweigh the rewards. Such precautions include always consult your primary care physician before starting an exercise program and only increase your running by a maximum of 10% per week. It is also important to stop exercising and seek medical assistance if you experience pain or irritation during or after running.

The American Academy of Sports Medicine recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercises 5/7 days per week. This amount of exercise not only improves your health but can reduce chronic diseases. If you are considering adding jogging to your exercise program, just remember that there are more benefits than just completing that 5K!

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