Here are 9 amazing changes you’ll see after becoming a runner; so that when you’re drenched in sweat wondering what all the effort is for, you can remind yourself of these changes and push yourself to keep going!
1. You’ll maintain a healthy body weight
We’ve all heard the story. An amazing inspirational and determined overweight person puts in all the hard work to melt off all those pounds and slim down to a jaw-dropping size that’s half of what they used to be. But losing weight is only part of the equation if you want to keep that impressive figure you’ve attained.
According to a study by The National Weight Control Registry, upon following a large group of people who have lost an average of 66 pounds, and kept the weight off for over 5 years, 90% of them exercise an average of an hour a day.
By now we’ve established that when it comes to exercise, consistency is far more important than intensity. Running is a fantastic habit to get into long term. This is so that after you melt off all that weight, you can make sure it stays off for good. And that is one great change to expect when you become a runner!
2. Running lowers risk of heart related diseases and illnesses
According to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, running can decrease your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases that might even lead to death from heart disease by a whopping 45%! That’s almost half as less likely!
This is because running helps you improve blood pressure, HDL cholesterol (it’s the good kind), and blood sugar sensitivity. It exercises your heart along with the rest of your body, strengthening the muscles on the wall of your essential organ.
3. Running will make you feel happier and more stress-free
It’s known as “The Runner’s High”, a short-lasting, deeply euphoric state following intense exercise. Endorphins aren’t the only magical feel-good chemical that your brain rewards you with. Along with endorphins, running also stimulates an increase in dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. With the blood pumping through your body and the rush of all these happy hormones, this is a great way to relieve stress.
According to a study published in a volume of Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, running actually mitigates the effects of long-term chronic stress on the brain! Sweet! Now that’s definitely a runner change you can be grateful for.
4. Running helps boost your confidence
Running is such a bizarrely efficient way to boost your confidence. You’d think that heaving for breath while you’re drenched in sweat is the last place on Earth that will make you feel confident.
But amazingly enough, the intoxicating affects of all the feel-good hormones surging through your bloodstream combined with the amazing feeling of accomplishment every time you’re done with your run and realize you’re still miraculously alive, its no wonder you feel unstoppable.
Over time as your strength, endurance, stamina and speed get better and better, you’ll be riding that runner’s high on cloud 9 all day long!
5. You’ll sleep better
According to a study done at John Hopkins Medical Center, it was found that cardiovascular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality. By wearing your body down and making sure that you’re tired enough to fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, you can not only sleep longer, but also sleep better!
Exercising also helps you stick to and manage a good sleeping schedule. A study done at MPDI on the effects of running on resting heart rate found that long term runners experienced a lower resting heart rate as well as low blood pressure. These are known to be an important factor in having a good night’s sleep. Looks like all those changes that come with becoming a runner are worth it after all!
6. You’ll find yourself being more self disciplined
As amazing as the physical benefits of running are, the life-changing and mental benefits are no less spectacular. Most runners have some kind of routine or schedule that they like to follow. This could be a specific time of the day that they run. Or specific days of the week or maybe specific distances, depending on their personal goals. Now we all know that goals aren’t always easy to follow.
However, determined runners tend to become masters of managing their time.
This self control and self discipline to reach a fitness or health goal doesn’t have to be limited to just the fitness side of your life. Instead, these invaluable skills can be applied to different areas of your life. Such as: study, career, family or work and it stemmed from what? That’s right. Running.
Want to know how you can help yourself on the journey of setting goals? Read our article on setting goals that you will always achieve!
7. You start to crave healthier food
According to a study published in the Journal of American College Nutritian, it was found that voluntarily adopting a regular exercise routine may naturally improve fruit and vegetable consumption. What does this mean? Well basically by exercising and long term, you’re more likely to naturally crave healthier foods like fruits and vegetables.
What bizarrely unexpected changes after becoming a runner! Isn’t that great?!
8. You will feel stronger and have more energy
With the increase in exercise, there will be an increase in muscle building. Not only does an increase in muscle mass make you feel stronger (because you are stronger) but seeing your body tone up and that muscle definition can definitely feel very rewarding! Not only will you have way more energy and strength but you’ll feel much more energized and willing to go on about with your day to day activities!
9. Better brain function
Yeah that’s right as much as your brain convinces you that you hate it, it actually works wonders for that fantastic organ up in your skull.
According to Johns Hopkins Medical school professor of neuroscience David J. Linden, PhD, running can help new nutrient-transporting blood vessels grow, blunt the brain’s response to physical and emotional stress, and even promote neurogenesis, the process of creating new brain cells.
I mean, this makes a lot of sense. Running = more blood flow = more oxygen for the brain.
In result of this running can have phenomenal and long-term effects on the hippocampus. That is the part of your brain that does all the remembering and learning).
According to a Mayo Clinic study on the effects of running on the brain, high fitness improves total brain volume, including gray matter. This in turn gives you protection from the kinds of brain plaques linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease.
So long story short, running also helps you remember things better, learn things faster and prevents cognitive decline long term. What great changes to see after becoming a runner!
become a runner today to see all these changes come into your life! Read our article on beginner’s guide on how to become a proper runner in no time!
