Everyone loves a good run here and there. Whenever you see commercials for being fit and healthy or for losing weight, it’s always this busty person running. Well – now the stereotype is proving to be true!
I love a good run. I wanna say I’m an awesome, fit person who runs every single day (you know with the headband and mini-barbells in both hands?). But, sadly, that’s not me. I actually run for an hour once every two or three days. And I don’t tout around barbells. I admit I enjoy running at night under the moonlight when it’s all quiet.
It’s a bad habit I guess, but I like running with the night’s cool breeze to refresh me and without the heat of the day or the sun’s hot rays beating down on my face.
Why You Shouldn’t Follow Me – Run in the Sun!
Of course, there’s a reason why people run during the day – it’s healthier. The sun gives your skin vitamin D, and the sunlight itself lowers depression and amps up your mood when it filters through your eyes. According to psychologists, you’re biologically happier when bright light shines through your eyes. I guess that’s why people describe dark rooms as being gloomy, and why bright rooms are happier.
How Running Every Week Adds Years to Your Life
Well, scientists found something neat about running. It turns out that even my lax running regimen has some surprising benefits. It turns out that for every hour you run, your life gets maxed 7 more hours! That’s pretty neat! These scientists say that if you run for two to four hours every week, you’ll end up extending your life by about three or four years – which is the average added lifespan runners have over people who don’t run.
I guess I run about two hours every week if I only run two nights out of seven. I think that’s pretty awesome. Getting three more years in life means I can do more things I guess. Some people have done amazing things in three years – like create Google or Windows. It might sound like a short time, but it really isn’t.
These scientists also found that running also helps you live longer by protecting you from dying prematurely. They say that runners enjoy a 25 to 40 percent reduced risk of dying before you have to. I’m not really sure what that means – but it sounds great! Hey whatever keeps you alive longer can only be good, right?
Running for Weight Loss
But if you’re one of those people who care about now instead of later then let me sell you on running with a different angle. It helps you lose weight better than most other exercises!
If you run like seven or eight miles per hour, you’re burning between 300 to 600 calories every 30 minutes. You only need to burn 3,000 calories or so to burn a pound of fat. That means if you run for 5 hours a week, you could conceivably lose a pound per week just by running and not dieting. Of course that means you’ll have to resist not eating more because you’re more active.
That means you can lose four pounds in one month while eating the same stuff – all you have to do is add a running regimen.
If you add dieting into the mix, you’re looking at upwards of seven pounds or more. In two months you’d lose about 14 pounds, which is how much most people are aiming for.
So my friends, let’s get running. It’s free, easy, and really fun to be honest. I like running while listening to my mp3 player. If you’re into an energetic song, running makes it more enjoyable.
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