I have so much admiration for the men and women who run the marathon. It takes months of dedication and hard work that allow a runner to run the run. I often say to myself in another life I would like to run a marathon. What stops me I ask myself? It’s not the hard work or dedication that I couldn’t handle. And I know I would find many friends along the training route that I would enjoy being with. What stops me is that it is hard on your body. It is physically brutal. But, for those of you who want to step up their exercise program in order to feel better about yourself and to lose weight, then running is part of the answer (the other part is healthy eating and the right amount of rest).
I am not going to lie, if your body can handle it (especially your feet and knees) running is a great way to slim down and shed some pounds. I would suggest that you start with a run/walk program (where you run for a given amount of time, then walk, then run again). This type of program keeps you moving for a longer period of time. You may work out for 30 to 40 minutes or even an hour with a run/walk program, whereas with a run-only program, you might not be able to go a full 20 minutes. If your goal with running is weight loss, then you are—at least in the beginning—better served with longer workouts at lower intensities. Running intensely can often lead to injuries. But don’t forget to incorporate strength training as it’s equally important for weight loss and health. Bottom line is that running is a great way to lose weight. All you need to do is be patient, knowing this is a journey and may take a few weeks and maybe even months. But, if you're patient, you'll see good results from your running efforts.