Tuesday 27 December 2016

Does Running Burn Fat?

Running is one of the most efficient and reliable ways to burn fat. But how does running burn fat? And how can it be made more effective? Working out should not be a random process, but systematic and organized with progress evaluated regularly.


How does running burn fat by increasing metabolism?

Running is a hugely popular exercise and for good reason. It requires energy which must be obtained from the body and more specifically from fat and carbs. The higher the intensity of this process, the faster these products will be depleted from the body. Both carbs and fats can be used during this process, but how does running burn fat rather than carbs?

You can either opt to run faster or slower. In most cases, during high-intensity workouts, carbs will be used up since they are the more immediate source of energy. To exclusively burn fat in the body, then you should opt for slower running activities. You should go through the process for a longer period of time as then the body will begin to utilize fat directly as a source of energy. That said, high intensity exercise such as interval training (e.g. 30 second sprint, 30 second jog x 10) should not be overlooked as it will burn a greater amount of calories, albeit not using fat directly as a fuel. Ideally, you should go for a combination of the two.

The benefits of a workout schedule for fat burning

Maintaining a workout schedule is very important. This will keep you motivated and most importantly, allow you to track your progress. If you know that three days earlier you ran a mile in X amount of time, you have a target to beat. If you are aiming to burn fat directly – then the distance should be the target to beat – so run further over a longer time. If you are looking for increased fitness and higher calorie burning, you should aim to run the same distance in less time OR run a greater distance in the same time.

How does running burn fat by reducing stress?

Accumulation of abdominal fat is directly affected by stress, hormone; cortisol. Running helps the body to release serotonin, which boosts self-esteem and in return reduces levels of stress hormone. This can reduce the rate at which the abdominal fat accumulates. If that isn’t a good reason to go running, I don’t know what is!

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