Working Towards a Running Regimen

If you have been inactive and are looking to get back into shape it is important that you understand how you can ease back into it. A lot of people think they need to immediately begin to push themselves, this notion is wrong and the success rate of remaining active longer than 60 days increases dramatically if you ease yourself back into a workout regimen.

Walking is a great place to start and shouldn’t be overlooked when getting back into shape. As you build endurance you will pick up the pace and eventually run for long distances, but it is still critical to start each run with a light jog or a walk.

Walking does a great job of priming the leg muscles for a good run. Running and walking both require the same muscles to be used, the main difference is how fast you use them and the how much they affect your heart rate.

Most people who have been inactive start by walking 30 minutes a day. You should give yourself enough time to warm up, stretch, walk, and cool down; some people only a lot themselves the 30 minute walk time without realizing the entire process.

As you stay consistent with our walking routine you can slowly begin to go longer and then eventually faster. To some people this may sound intimidating but if you start to run or jog when you are fully ready you won’t have any regrets.

In order to monitor your pace you should have a watch that can time you, this makes it easy to track your progress and identify any weakness or strengths you might have. When you begin to time yourself you may want to go to a track that has a clock on it, or simply use a stop watch or download an application on your smart phone.

You should take as much time as you need before you increase the distance and the pace of a jog or run. Having an elevated heart rate for more than thirty minutes will guarantee that you are burning calories, and with consistency you will watch the pounds fall off.

Many people are very determined when they first start a workout routine, it is very important that you don’t overdo yourself. Overdoing it can lead to injuries and or decreased motivation, always keep in mind that consistency is the answer to weight loss.

As time goes on and you become more comfortable and fit you should start to set specific goals for yourself. Whether that entail going the same distance faster, or going further at the same time, whatever you feel is your strength try to focus on it and work towards a monthly goal.

Eventually you will be able to increase distance and speed of your runs, this will result in a high amount of calories being burned and will ultimately result in losing fat. After you feel you have good stamina it is critical to stay motivated, this is the key to living and active lifestyle.

With the right motivation and proper mindset you can get off the couch and begin living an active lifestyle today. Always remember that you can start of slow, then as time goes on you push yourself and in no time you will be on your way to being active and maintaining a high fitness level.

About the Author: Cade Lennox is a fitness and health expert who has written dozens of treadmill buying guides and other exercise related articles. He also writes about diets, nutrition and other health topics.