For a long time running, jogging has been universally acknowledged as one of the most beneficial exercises despite its simplicity. Ask any jogger and they’ll tell you one thing: the beauty with jogging is that it is very accessible to everyone. You can do it anytime, alone or with a group, outside on the roads and trails or inside on a treadmill. You can push it hard or take it easy. You can run in the rain or run in the heat, provided you are properly protected.
But perhaps the best part with jogging is that it is as normal and as intrinsic to human lifestyle as any other sporting event or exercise. In our formative years, we loved to play in the sun and run endlessly until our legs can bear no more. As kids, we had so much fun on the run. We fostered relationships on the run. We forged values, ethics, and habits on the playgrounds while we were on the run. Today, that spirit has not changed even as we have grown in years. Put on your running shoes and you’ll find that you are still capable of running as far as your legs can take you.
Of the many benefits of jogging, here are 10 that are guaranteed to initiate a transformation in the lives of many who used to live sedentary and passive lifestyles.
1. CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS. The Hollywood movie “Zombieland” made an interesting reference to the concept of cardiovascular fitness. In the first few minutes of the movie, the protagonist remarked how a strong cardiovascular system can allow you to live in an era of zombie dominance. All the protagonist did was run and run from the clutches of hungry zombies and because he was fit enough to do all that running, he was spared from certain death. Of course, he also had other survival tips to his arsenal, but still.
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The joke is obvious but the lessons are applicable. Everyone who has experienced shortness of breath after a short walk knows what it means to have a healthy cardiovascular system. Jogging improves the body’s ability to utilize oxygen as well as boosting lung capacity such that every breath delivers more oxygen to the muscles. With improved cardio fitness, your body is better suited to handle the load the next time you engage in a strenuous activity. Improved cardiovascular fitness also means improved endurance allowing you to do more for longer periods. Finally, you will be able to spend more time running with the kids on a blissful day at the park.
2. WEIGHT CONTROL. Jogging is one of the most effective exercises when it comes to burning calories. An average person can burn 200 calories in an intermediate 2-mile run. A routine consisting of 5-mile jogs per day for up to 4 days a week can burn an extra 2000 calories leading to better weight control with the same diet.
3. MORE TONED PHYSIQUE. Jogging cannot immediately give you that dream body you have long been searching but with enough work, you will surely get there. Studies show that even after the run, the body adopts a higher metabolic rate which also burns more calories per unit time than if you weren’t doing any form of exercise. This does not only help in weight control but over time, it would also result to a fitter, healthier and more toned body.
4. IMPROVED MOOD. Among runners, there is a universal consensus that jogging improves mood. This is more commonly known as runner’s high. After a good run, the body releases endorphins which are “happy hormones” that help to improve mood overall. A regular jogging routine can actually help to keep depression at bay because of the body’s regular supply of endorphins.
5. REDUCED RISK TO DREADED DISEASES. While jogging is no magic bullet to cure any ills, it definitely has positive benefits in lowering the risk for dreaded disease. A stronger heart is better suited to handle extra stress or loads while a fit cardiovascular system is essential in flushing out unwanted build-up of bad cholesterol on the artery walls. With studies showing a strong correlation between excess weight and the incidence of dreaded diseases, better weight management is also an essential tool towards a healthier lifestyle.
6. STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM. Because of the intensive physical nature of jogging, it momentarily elevates the load that the body experiences. As a result, the immune system springs into action by producing more disease-fighting antibodies and white blood cells. With a regular jogging routine, the immune system naturally elevates its level of body defense helping to ward off all sorts of illnesses and infections.
7. IMPROVED HEART EFFICIENCY. This benefit is related to cardiovascular fitness but it bears a separate discussion on to itself to demonstrate the real value of jogging. In elite athletes such as cyclists and marathoners, their resting heart rate is in the 40 to 50 beats per minute range while for normal non-athletic folks, the number ranges from 60 to 80. The resting heart rate is indicative of how efficient the heart is supplying oxygen to the organs. A lower resting heart rate means each beat delivers more oxygen than if there were more beats per minute. With enough jogging, runners can train their hearts to be more efficient in oxygen delivery resulting to improved health and fitness overall.
8. REDUCED STRESS. Jogging fosters a more balanced outlook towards exercise, not to mention an avenue for introspection during long jogs or just a calming sense of being one with the environment when running outdoors. Jogging is an excellent form of relaxation because it takes your mind off of things that normally cause stress.
9. A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT. People who regularly jog feel they are doing more in the way of taking care of themselves. This is a good way for positive reinforcement that helps to create a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in life.
10. THE PROMISE OF MORE THINGS TO COME. Many runners who started off as joggers eventually graduated to running marathons on a regular basis. The more you jog, the more you push away the boundaries and limits that you have imposed upon yourself. Jogging is as much a journey of self discovery as it is an exercise and doing it on a regular basis helps in creating a sense of wanting to run farther than you did today. It that regard, it heralds the coming of more fulfilling things in the future.
For people looking to pick up a sport or start with an easy to follow-through exercise, there is nothing more appropriate than jogging. It carries a lot of benefits that helps to better one’s lifestyle, health and outlook in life. Lace up your shoes and embark on a journey of self discovery as you run your way to health and fitness.
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