In their efforts to lose weight, most people make the biggest mistake in thinking of getting fit and trim is by jogging. This action is not so uncommon, in fact, it has been one of the first approaches done for such a long time that everyone typically assumes it’s the most effective and safe routine.
Yet, let’s be realistic for a moment. Walk into any fitness center or gym and you’ll notice pounding endlessly sweating away on the treadmills. Sweaty t-shirts and spandex outfits are lined up in rows as people drag their feet mindlessly as they put one foot in front of the other.
Of course, this is the best part… for everything they do, all their sweat and efforts generally produce minimal results. After weeks or months of hard-work, most them tend to look the same. And to top it off, many of them eventually develop pain and injuries to their knees and back.
Is jogging something that is bad for me?
There’s a difference between running and/or sprinting and jogging. While both are high impact activities, running/sprinting is high intensity. Your metabolism gets a boost and your strength and stamina improve remarkably.
Running tends to be done for a shorter duration because it’s a much tougher activity. So, there’s less impact on your joints.
Jogging, however, is a lower intensity form of exercise. So, you don’t really get a boost in metabolism that lasts for hours (excess post-exercise oxygen deficit), but since it’s slower-paced, you can go on for a much longer time and actually wear out your joints without even realizing it.
You’re getting the worst of all worlds. Jogging is still tiring, takes up more time, causes pain in the long run – but the results are unimpressive and not worth the effort.
Announcing the powerful way of walking
Contrary to popular belief, walking is actually MORE effective than jogging. For starters, it’s a low impact activity and will not stress out your joints.
Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. – Thomas Jefferson
If you’re looking to lose weight, you may wonder if you should walk or jog. This should not even be a debate because almost 90% of your weight loss results will depend on your diet.
What you eat is much more important to weight loss than the type of activity you engage in. Exercise is just a means to an end. It’s supposed to boost your metabolism, burn some calories and improve your strength and stamina.
If you incorporate 2 or 3 resistance training sessions a week with a daily walking program, you’ll be set. Walking for 30 minutes first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach), is one of the best ways to burn stubborn fat.
The glycogen levels in your body will be low and your body will be forced to tap into its fat stores for fuel. If you were to try this with jogging, you’d be exhausted because there’s not enough glucose to fuel the activity. You’d be stressing your body out unnecessarily.
Depending on your goals, walking can be a meditative process if you try to walk mindfully and appreciate your surroundings. It’s a stress soother and can help some people more than meditation while sitting.
It also helps to improve your focus if you walk in a place with less distractions. Hiking in the mountains or through a nature trail is a form of walking. People don’t realize that hiking is actually a ‘walking activity’. It just has a different name.
Just like most forms of exercise, walking will improve your blood circulation, reduce cholesterol levels, lower the risk of heart disease and other health issues such as glaucoma, etc. If you walk daily in the sun, you’ll get a healthy dose of vitamin D too.
The beauty of walking is that most people can do it. You’d be amazed to discover how many morbidly obese people who could barely walk for more than a few minutes, gradually lost all their weight and increased their stamina just by walking alone.
Unlike jogging which is a draining activity, walking is easier and for people who dislike exercise, it’s an easier mental hurdle to cross. Once you start walking daily, you’ll inculcate the habit of activity in your lifestyle.
Keep in mind, you can always increase momentum. As time moves forward, you might want to incorporate higher levels of intensity for your workouts to help push and challenge yourself. Of course, that’s something you can tackle later…
As for now, get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes, lace them up, and get yourself walking. There’s something natural about walking and an immeasurable power can be attained from this simple, safe, and effective activity that we were born to do.
