Good Energy's Sarah Heipel shares.....

Good Energy Personal Training & Nutrition, Holistic Fitness Coach Sarah Heipel shares,

The Benefits of Running - Why Start in the First Place?

New to Running? Here's 10 reasons why it's such a great thing to do.

1) Lose weight - running is second only to cross-country skiing in burning calories per minute. If you're struggling to control your cravings then the good news is that running tends to lessen your appetite.

2) Make Stronger Bones - the natural process of muscle and bone loss as we age can be slowed down in the bodies of frequent runners. Muscles and bones get healthier and stronger due to the demands put on them by a regular pounding around a track or a park. This means you are more likely to delay or avoid the effects of osteoporosis.

3) Anytime. Anywhere. It’s that simple!

4) Lower blood pressure - when you run your arteries get flexed more, in effect giving them a work out at the same time as you. By maintaining the flexibility of your arteries in this way you'll also be making sure your blood pressure is lowered.

5) Healthier lungs - by taking deep breaths during your run you are forcing your lungs to use more of their potential, up to 50% of the lung tissue you don't normally use! If you're a smoker then one of the benefits of jogging can be recovering large proportions of your lung potential.

6) Boosts your brain - regular runners have significantly improved mental skills as they get older than more sedentary people. Also just 25 minutes of aerobic exercise has been shown to boost creativity.

7) Improves your mood - there's no doubt about it, one of the main benefits of running is the great feeling you get by getting away from all the stresses and strains of everyday life. When the endorphins start coursing through your system everything might just seem to be a bit more manageable. BBC News has a great article on how Ronnie Sullivan used running to combat his depression.

8) Stronger cardiovascular system - your heart and lungs will get stronger and more efficient when they get a regular chance to show off their stuff.

9) Lower cholesterol - running increases the levels of High Density Lipoproteins (the "good" kind of cholesterol) in your body while reducing the Low Density Lipoproteins (the "bad" kind). This can lower your chances of having a stroke or heart attack.

10) Joining the community! - thousands of people around the country run everyday and you can join them. There are loads of clubs and communities you can get involved with and make new and enthusiastic friends who'll support you in reaching your goals.

A huge thank you to Sarah for sharing this information with us.

Have you squeezed your lemons

lately?

( To find out more information or to contact Sarah, Good Energy Personal Training & Nutrition is located @ 357 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, L9Y 2M5... 705-444-3674 by email Sarah@goodenergycoach.com )