Well, for starters, running uses some of the biggest muscles on the body. And that means, you use a lot of energy when you run.

But not only that. Running is addictive, and once you get into it, it is fun and life changing.

But running can take you so far when it comes to loosing weight.

Running Gear

Here is the fun part. Running is one of the most affordable sports all around. You basically need your legs and a good pair of running shoes.

At the beginning, you won’t need high end running shoes. Regular sneakers are fine.

On your first runs, all you need to wear is running shoes with good cushioning and arch support. Then, with time, you can go to a running store and pick a comfortable pair or shoes according to your needs.

And don’t forget a good running bra for women. All that running will create a little too much motion on the chest. And if you are well endowed on the breast area, running can hurt there.

Get a few running bras made of moisture wicking fabrics to help you stay comfortable while you sweat.

Diet

No matter how much you run, you won’t be losing weight if you eat more food than necessary unless you are a serious runner and run lots and lots of miles a week. In that case, you would actually have to take lots of food to find the energy to do your workouts.

But not everybody has the time, dedication or genetics to become a professional runner.

If you are a regular runner with a full time job, family, and social obligations, you’ll have to watch what you eat if you want to lose a few pounds.

This is the basic principle on weight loss. You need to take in less calories than what you use. If during the day you only need 2000 calories but you eat 2500, those 500 extra calories will accumulate in your body and become body fat.

A pound of body fat is the equivalent of about 3500 calories. So if you eat 500 calories extra a day, you can easily gain a pound a week.

Now the opposite is true . If you only need 2000 calories a day, but eat only 1500, guess what? You could be losing a pound of body fat in a week. Not bad at all.

Training Plan

Have a training plan where you can know what your goals are, and how to get there. Without a plan, you will easily get discouraged and quit running after a couple weeks.

Losing weight healthily is a long term process and it begins with improving your diet. And if you add running to the process, things get better. You could be burning more than 200 calories just by running 2 miles a day.

But running is hard work. It takes a lot of commitment, at least for the first few months. Once you get into it, running can be very addictive.

That is why it is important to have a training plan. That way you can set goals and reach them.

The takeaway

Running is a great exercise to lose weight. But running alone can't take you so far. You will have to modify your diet.

You’ll also need a training plan to set and reach goals. And dont forget that a good pair of shoes and a good running bra will make your running more fun and comfortable.