7 Tips to Get the Most Out Of Jogging

One of the best ways to keep fit and to lose weight is to jog. High cardio combined with strenuous muscle workouts have a great capacity to help us burn the extra fat we carry around, and it's nothing new.

It's fair to say that humans have been jogging since we got on two feet, chasing after or running away from all kinds of danger. It is innate; it is something that we simply 'know' how to do, yet many of us have never learned how to do it properly and we wind up running wrong, causing lasting damage and wasted time.

A recent issue of Men's Health Magazine comments on the some of the reasons we are running wrong. We are lazy and our egos are too big to admit that we don't know what we're doing. Combine that with 'desk jobs, cars, couches, [and] complacency,' and you have a recipe for bodies that actually wind up suffering from the exercise.

The instructions that follow are tips designed to help you get the most out of a run, while causing the least amount of damage to your body.

1. Stretch before you run. Opening up your entire body will allow for more absorption of impact than running cold.

2. Stand up tall. Folding or slouching when you run restricts blood flow. Stretch your core upward and open the chest. This motion offers better breathing.

3. Breathe deeply. Many joggers push themselves too hard, which causes short shallow breaths. Shallow breathing inhibits the amount of oxygen your body can take in, making you tired and less able to exercise. Deep rhythmic breaths, unforced, are what serve you best. If you can't run breathing like this, then slow down and let your lungs catch up to your body.

4. Land on the middle of your foot. If you are running on your toes it means your stride isn't long enough; landing on your heels shows too long a stride. Practice hitting on mid-foot.

5. Push off your foot. A motion, or thrust, off your landed foot creates forward momentum and better flow for your jog.

6. Run lightly. If your foot is slamming into the ground creating a loud sound, then you are probably damaging everything connected to the feet ' which is your entire body. Go lightly and don't force your run.

7. Stand straight and relax. Leaning to one side will wear out your body, as will too much tension in your muscles. Let your body sink into the run, but don't allow it to collapse. Striking the balance between the two is vital.

Jogging is great if you are aiming to lose some pounds and get in shape. Pushing hard and getting your heart rate up in the first half of your run will serve to burn more calories. Push hard off the line using the techniques above, and then gradually slow your run, and don't forget to stretch once you are finished!