Jogging became an exercise craze in the 1970s, and decades later it is still a popular method of exercise. Most people work out to be physically fit, and for many, exercise is performed with the goal of losing weight and combating fat. The best way to view the effects of jogging on your weight is to look at your exercise in terms of the calories burned and your daily diet as the amount of calories consumed in a day. Aerobic exercises burn large amounts of calories and can lead to weight loss over a period of time. Jogging is an aerobic activity, making it very effective at causing weight loss.
Exercise Benefits
Exercise is most beneficial to weight-loss efforts when the type of exercise you are performing is aerobic in nature. This means the body is being forced to take in more oxygen and tap energy stored in fat deposits in order to fuel your activity. Your heart rate and breathing rate accelerate during aerobic activity to provide oxygen at a faster rate.
Jogging Schedule
For effective jogging that benefits the body and your weight, you should jog at least three to four times a week. The longer you can jog, the more calories you will burn in a given session, but you should aim for 20 to 30 minutes of jogging in every workout. Your running can be done at your own pace, but it is most important that you keep the heart rate elevated for the duration of the workout session.
Diet
Your diet is a critical part of losing weight. You should be eating a reduced-calorie diet that creates a calorie deficit, meaning you are burning more calories in a day than you are losing. While it is tempting to increase your daily consumption to match the increased activity level caused by jogging, this can negate the benefits of jogging in regards to your weight loss.
Considerations
Jogging can be a difficult activity if you are new to it or haven't been active for a long time. Over time, though, consistent jogging can make it easier to increase your jogging pace and distance. This can increase the calories burned during exercise, making the activity more beneficial to your weight-loss goals. You should increase your weekly mileage slowly, though, to prevent injuries from occurring -- a general rule is to only increase weekly mileage by 10 percent each week.
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