The Bodycoach Blog

Stop all that running!!

well unless you are training for the Marathon that is, however if you are looking to burn fat and tone up your physique then running is deffinately not the way forward.

Why? because running for long distances will burn calories, but will also lower the lean muscle levels on your body and reduce your metabolic rate long term. Even though you will loose weight through running I guarantee you will lose muscle tone and increase your overall fat percentage.

I have proof! many of my clients train for the marathon and I regularly take fat percentage, total weight and muscle wight readings before and after their training. The results are always the same and speak for themselves, a reduction in total weight, mainly through muscle loss not fat loss! in all cases the fat percentage goes up.

So whats the answer? well if you are training fro the marathon or running regularly, then make sure you have some strength tarining as part of your progarmme. If you are looking to lose weight and improve your muscle tone, then ensure at least 80% of your training is strength and core related and only 20% cardiovascular (running)

ps. As we age our bodies lose muscle naturally and the metabolism slows down, so why not try and keep this muscle!