Have you ever wondered if you could lose weight by just running 30 minutes a day?
Running is a great form of cardio because running for more than 20 minutes will jump start your metabolism and help burn some serious fat on a daily basis. Running is the best way to incorporate exercise in your daily routine because it does not require you to pay gym fee or buy a treadmill.
You can simply step outside your home and start taking advantage of this workout for free. It will raise your heartbeat, work your respiratory system, legs, calves and thighs to give you a serious workout session that will burn fat and keep you healthy.
If you are running 30 minutes a day, then we highly encourage you to continue or if you are thinking of running 30 minutes a day then we recommend you start today. Running 30 minutes a day will help you lose weight by burning fat and you will see results shortly after you start.
Can I Lose Weight by Running 30 Minutes a Day?
Yes, you can lose weight by running just 30 minutes a day.
This is not a rule or a fact but simply relates to the way running affects your body. You start burning fat 15-20 minutes into your run, which helps you lose weight. The main parts of weight loss from running are your eating habits and your daily diet which will heavily influence how much weight you lose from running.
Let’s discuss diet and other ways you can improve your 30-minute daily run for the best results to lose weight.
- Be Regular and Consistent
Being regular and consistent is the key to weight loss. You should remain regular with your running and your diet for best results. Often beginners will be ambitious and try to run every day, which is not a bad thing but it is also important to be practical with your running.
If you set the bar too high, you will only be disappointed when you do not achieve your goals. Start with two to three 30-minute runs per week and set smaller weekly goals. Losing 1 pound a week is an achievable, healthy and acceptable goal that will keep you motivated.
Beginners should try not to exert too much pressure from their runs because this results in a higher chance of injury and inconsistency. You want to start by setting 3 days a week for 30-minute runs and sticking to that routine no matter what.
This will help you become regular and develop a healthy habit. Once you are set with this schedule, you can gradually increase your running days by no more than 1 day per week to avoid serious injury or strain.
Whether you increase your running or not, what really matters is that you remain regular and consistent with your planned routine.
- Run 30 Minutes to Lose Weight
Research suggests that exercising 30 minutes a day is the ideal amount for shedding weight. People who run or exercise for 60 minutes every day are inclined toward eating more to compensate for the extra exercise, resulting in lesser or slower weight loss.
Additionally, 30 minutes of exercise leaves you enough energy to engage in the rest of your day, whereas longer exercise will lead to less energy and sedentary behavior for the remainder of your day.
The results showed that those who exercised for 30 minutes a day lost significantly more weight than those who exercised for 60 minutes per day. This means you should regularly run for 30 minutes a day for the best weight loss results and no more.
Running for 30 minutes will help you lose anywhere between 250-500 calories a day. You can effectively burn more fat from your runs by incorporating high intensity intervals. Similar to high intensity interval training, you burn more fat and keep burning well after your run.
You can break your run into parts, warm up by jogging for 5 minutes, then start running with 3-minute high intensity sprints and 2-minute jogs between each sprint. Finally, end your run with a 5-minute jog to cool down.
You should also do stretches of your legs and body before and after running sessions to burn more fat and reduce the risk of injury from running. This high intensity interval running and stretching will help you burn fat for hours after your run as your body continues to stabilize itself.
- Diet
As mentioned earlier, diet is the key factor for you to lose weight. You can lose weight by dieting alone, however, running 30 minutes a day is the best way to improve your overall weight loss and health. You need a caloric deficit for weight loss and there is no other way to lose weight.
The amount of calories entering your body must be less than the amount you burn. You can achieve this through your diet alone or by burning more calories through exercise. You want a daily caloric deficit of 500 calories to lose weight at a healthy pound per week.
You can cut your caloric intake by 500 calories or supplement this cut with your running. If you are burning 300 calories from daily running, then you only need to cut 200 calories from your daily diet. Be sure to check your macros and be consistent with both, your diet and running for the best results.
Conclusion
Running for 30 minutes a day is the best way to lose weight and you will start seeing results in as little as 3 weeks. You only need to stick to a plan and be regular and consistent with your running and diet for the best results.
Keep track of your progress, minimize injury and lose a healthy amount of weight by developing a regular running habit and incorporating stretches and high intensity intervals in your daily run. Always remember a calorie deficit diet is key.
For more information on running, diets, workouts and a healthy lifestyle, please visit our website.