Don’t run only to lose weight

I t’s been said ad nauseam that America is a ‘fat nation’, but with so many people taking on the challenge to lose weight it would seem things are shaping up on that end, so to speak. Yet aiming to just shed the pounds is a rather short sighted approach to the problem of being overweight, since there is an unhealthy mindset that exists to begin with which gives rise to eating habits that are not only harmful to one’s physical wellbeing but diminish quality of life significantly. So ostensibly one must choose a weight lose strategy that not only tackles the immediate issue of losing weight but also engenders a healthier mindset as it pertains to food and related lifestyle choices. Running is a favourite choice for many who wish to tip the scales, seeing as it’s the most practical as well as affordable choice given other alternatives. But the benefit of running doesn’t end with just losing weight since endurance sports typically rallies all human resources including mental resources in order to get one through the demands running places on you. And in training the body to get back to shape, one invariably trains the mind as well to make healthier choices and stick to them. To lose weight is not a once off affair as many not yet on the path imagine it to be. It’s more of a long term commitment that requires more than just rote exercise to maintain it. A training for the mind and body that running can foster effectively.