Running offers many health benefits like lowering your risk of cancer, heart diseases, and losing weight. However, not everyone enjoys running despite the benefits it brings to our body and health.

Look at the bright side, running is not the only cardio you could do to lose weight or burn fat. In fact, running might not even be the best “option”. Here are the five reasons why.

Related: Here’s the Answer to the Best Time of Day to Workout for Weight Loss

1. Your body gets too used to the same routine

Image: activestylefitness.com
Image: activestylefitness.com

If you do the same workout over and over again, the process becomes easier. Same goes to running. The more you run, the more efficient your body becomes at burning fat. The downside is when your body has become more efficient, the less energy it has to expend for a given amount of workload. In other words, you will have to run longer than before in order to continue making progress.

To tackle this issue, you could spice up your running routine by running faster with HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Instead of running for an hour, you can progress by trying 15 or 20 minutes of HIIT.

2. Running is time-consuming

Image: abc.net.au
Image: abc.net.au

The most common reason many people choose to skip workout session is that they don’t have the time for it. Hence, there is no point in running or hitting the treadmill if you only want to run for less than an hour.

3. Running limits calories burn

Normally one’s can burn anywhere from 300 to 500 kcal while running. However, your metabolism will bounce back to what it was before you begin your run once you complete your workout.

On the other hands, there are many exercises that can boost your metabolism even after you are done with your workout. HIIT can deliver better result compared to the usual steady-state running. You are not only burning calories while you are working out you will also burn MORE calories after your workout is done. After all, the intensity of your workout determines the amount of calories burn, not the overall time.

4. Running for long periods of time leave you so hungry

Image: f3y.com
Image: f3y.com

Research shows that exercising for long hours makes you hungry. When you begin to exercise for longer periods of time more than your body is used to, naturally your body wants to replace those calories you burn during your workout with more food. Eventually, people end up eating even more and not losing any weight although they train hard due to an increased appetite.

5. Because you are not enjoying running

Image: 360guide.info
Image: 360guide.info

Running is probably the most popular form of cardio workout. It is like the ultimate exercise that people go with when they want to start losing weight. However, running can be boring somehow especially running on the treadmill where you are facing the same view during your entire workout.

In a nutshell, if you hate running you will find many excuses not to do it, hence not working on your cardio. Instead, you should try some other form of cardio workouts that will meet your fat loss goals.

– Cover Image: dignityhealth.org