would jogging every morning improve my general health ?

Question

im 5'6.5 and 110 pounds and want to go jogging every morning as im not really that fit and dont have alot of stamina. Also i want to tone up and shape up a bit before summer and ive heard this is a good cardio exercise. Does jogging make your calves massive? Just something i heard and not sure if its just a myth. What sort of diet (not diet as in no food,) i mean what sort of stuff should i eat.

Answer 1

I was told that jogging... feet pounding the pavement/earth time over is bad for the bones. Whilst you don't feel it fully... the vibrations run through your entire bone structure... and you may come to regret it in later life.

In contrast same person told me cycling is much better for you as it excercises more of your body system, is better cardiovascularly, and doesn't put stresses on your bone structure. At the same time I was told this a regular jogger said it was rubbish... but he dropped dead soon after (no joke) and the cyclist is alive and healthy.

Answer 2

Yes, it will improve your help as jogging is part of exercising and exercising should be done daily. However, you must realize your own limits first - don't overdo it. You have to work yourself gradually and improve over time. For example, you may be able to run only one block at first, but after a few weeks, perhaps you will be able to run five blocks. If you attempt to run five blocks right away, you may be pushing your limits and this is not a smart way to exercise. You mentioned that you only have a little bit of stamina, and this is one of the reasons why you should not try to jog too far too quickly.

Studies have also proven that women who jog while listening to music help them to lose more weight quickly. I am not sure if you are doing this simply to be fit and healthy, or if it is for weight loss, or possibly both of these options. Either way, jogging with music may help overall.

When jogging, make sure you wear appropriate clothing and always bring a bottle of water or some sort of thirst quenching liquid. Even in the winter it is important that you stay hydrated while jogging.

As for your diet, just stay away from foods with too many calories, too much sugar or salt, and a high level of fat. Try buying foods with low trans fat, or no fat at all. When you're tempted to reach for a bag of chips, grab some carrot sticks or grapes instead. Two foods that people believe to be healthy but actually aren't are granola bars and fruit cocktail, and there are many more as well. Keep a "food diary", which is simply a journal of what you eat daily. At the end of each week, look back and see what you improved on and what you can work on the following week. As an extra helpful tool, get a copy of your food guide and look to see how many servings of each food group you should be consuming daily.

When dieting, make sure you don't just eat healthy for a short period of time and then go back to fatty foods. Make sure you are committed to your diet, or else it is not worth it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Jogging is fantastic for your health. It's arguably the best cardiovascular exercise. Cardio driven exercises will increase your energy, stamina, and metabolism. Jogging will not make your calves bigger, but if you haven't jogged much before, you may notice a leaner, cut look to your legs after doing it for a while. And there is no scientific evidence that jogging will cause permanent damage to your knees. Typically, people that experience knee troubles are exercising incorrectly, too much (not letting their bodies recover), wearing shoes that don't fit properly, or not replacing their running shoes after several months of wear.

If you haven't ever jogged before, take it easy at first. Always warm up - either with a brisk walk, jumping jacks, something like that - and be sure to stretch. Your first jogs should be short to see how you feel and to make sure your shoes fit well. Try a mile or two to start. Then slowly increase you distance. Take days off in between. Try different workouts like varying your speeds throughout the run, short quick runs, long slow jogs, and hill work. And don't be shy about taking breaks from jogging to work in other exercises such as swimming, biking, and the variety of cardio machines commonly found at gyms.

As for a diet, meals high in carbohydrates will give you energy for long runs. But do it smart. Eat whole wheat pasta and breads. Additionally, plan on meals high in protein for post run recovery. I eat a lot of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and lean steaks. Also, any increase of fruits and vegetables in your diets will help regardless of how active you are. And finally, drink LOTS of water to help with staying hydrated.

Go to www.runnersworld.com for more tips on workouts for beginners, shoes, and diet. Have fun!

Answer 4

It will, if done properly.

Speed walk or jog for 25 to 30 minutes a day 3 times a week. If you can not jog for so long, speed walk.
Do it at a pace where you can say one or two sentences without gasping for air. If you can only say a couples of words and are out of air, you are overdoing it.
This will get your heart rate and metabolism going. So you will burn more fat.

Your calves will not get massive, rather lean and firm is more likely.

Do some muscle tonning exercises twice a week.
Use light weights or an elastic band, or just plain exercises; cruches, sit ups, push ups, etc. The idea is to make your muscles firm and tone, (not bulky). Muscles are the ones responsible for fat burning, so you want more lean firm muscles. Plus, they are also the ones that help carring our body and in keeping a good posture.
No need to kill yourself, just train till you feel a little fatigue.
Something like 15 reps of every exercise you choose to do.

Diet?
You have a good height to weight ratio as it is.
Just avoid or lessen fatty foods and sugar in your meals and drinks. (Sugar if not burn quickly becomes fat.)
Have a lot of veggies and fruit, enough protein, (about 50 grs, of protein a day according to your weight).
Also have good carbohidrates, remeber you are going to exercise more, burn more fat, so you will need to refuel as not to be to tired or weak.

Rest days are as important as work out days, so do not over do it.

If you are constant, which is the key element here, you will see results soon, before summer.

Answer 5

Jogging will absolutely improve your health! It's a great cardio exercise and it will tone your legs and make you feel great. It will NOT give you massive calf muscles...that's a myth. See the link below for a schedule & tips to start running. Have fun!

- Mike

Answer 6

carbs, if u are exercising, carbs give u energy, pasta, potatoes etc if u eat those and dont exercise than its turned into fat by the body so eats carbs and jog, no you wont get massive calves unless you do some weight lifting on them lol they will just be well defined and toned.

Answer 7

jogging will tone every part of your body make sure you drink plenty of water an eat lots of veg an fruits calves on girls don't go massive i run three times a week an mine are very slim .

Answer 8

Of course it's good for your health!! Here is a little physiology for you (I believe you are a woman). Women have little testosterone in their body compared to men. their ability to gain massive calves is very hard since women are made up of estrogen and progesterone. Dont worry about you calves getting big. keep up the good work. You actually sound like you have a good figure as it is!!

Answer 9

jogging or fast walking is ideal for toning your body up
sounds like you are on an ok diet as your weight is good
happy stepping and enjoy your summer

Answer 10

you should jog about 1 mille or so everyday which is just 3 or 4 blocks each day it helped me when I needed more excersice