Why Running Isn't The Best Exercise For You

Yes, this is going to tell you why you should avoid running. I along with the majority of other people think that running is not only stupid, but counterproductive and dangerous. Take a look at why:

1. Guaranteed Way to Continue to Look Like Crap

Okay, let's be honest, I work out because I want to look good naked. Now, I have met and I know a number of amateur endurance athletes and the majority of them look like this guy: they are rather dumpy looking and fat (I mean that in a nice way). If distance running was meant to make you look irresistible naked then after running those 26.2 miles you should be fit and not have those flabby waist!

2. Running will Eat Your Muscles and Erode your Metabolism

The amount of muscle mass you have is what determines your metabolic rate. Men and women need to build muscle. Loss of muscle means that your body requires fewer calories, it needs fewer calories all of the time, but if you are still consuming the same amount of calories than your body is going to store the excess as fat.

There are two types of muscle fibers in the body, fat twitch and slow twitch. Fast-twitch muscle fibers are responsible for revving up your metabolism. The fibers that help you go at slower speeds for longer periods of time are the slow twitch fibers and these fibers do nothing for your metabolism as they develop.

What exercise stimulates the slow fibers, endurance training, and it does so at the cost of the fast twitch. Slow twitch fibers and fast twitch fibers are in engaged in a zero sum competition. This means that one type of fiber improves at the cost of the other type of fiber getting weaker. In other words, the better you get at endurance training, the more your metabolism and your muscles shrink.

This doesn't mean that endurance training isn't' any good. Actually if you are looking to become a really good distance runner, swimmer or cyclists these are excellent exercises. But, these cannot result to fat loss unless you are able to devote 30 hours a week on it. Then of course you have the added "benefit" of losing your libido... no sex drive.

If you are worried about getting "too big" forget it. Muscles that are toned do not happen overnight. It takes years of conscious effort to make your muscles grow big. You won't wake up one day after you have done your sprinting or weight lifting and look like the Terminator.

3. Biggest Waste of Time.

Here is a question: What is the worst thing an overweight person can do to lose weight?

Answer: Endurance type training such as distance running.

Aerobic exercise such as distance running is the least effective exercise a person can do for fat loss. End of story.

4. It is the Most Boring Activity

Really can you think of another activity outside of running , where you do the same thing over and over and over again for a span of 30, 40 or 60 minutes? Endurance training means sprinting tirelessly in a boring straight line... you have higher risks of injuring yourself and end up not losing weight.

Spring-based intervals are methods you can do to go fast - this eliminates the boredom. Try it forward/backward, sideways, sprint stair or simple patter! That doesn't leave time to get bored. Above it all, you see amazing results fast!


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