Is walking, jogging or running outside better than the treadmill for weight loss?

If climbing upstairs or a short walk makes you feel out of breath, you should start worrying about your fitness. If you are worried about weight and fitness, not only should you hit the gym, you should also step out into your garden (if you have one) or the nearby park for a quick jog or some exercise.

Most fitness conscious people resort to running on the treadmill, walking on the elliptical or simply cycling at home.

However, fitness experts say these artificial methods of losing weight are not recommended since they miss the natural light and oxygen that one would find on a jogging track. ‘Natural fitness methods such as early morning jogging or a brisk walk in the evening is the best way to lose weight. Whenever someone asks me for weight loss advice, I always suggest them natural fitness methods,’ said Akash Prabhu, fitness expert from Seawoods. (Read: 8 reasons to start running)

Shrikant Rane, who was a fitness trainer with a reputed gymnasium in Vashi, also said, ‘Running on the treadmill will only make you mechanically lose weight. One can never compare the results of natural ways — running on grass or performing yoga in open air places — to a machine. The natural way is always the best.’ 

In fact, some exercise enthusiasts say exercise is something that cannot be done on machines. ‘In today’s jet age, everyone is in a hurry. I have seen young people mechanically running on the treadmill or cycling on the stationary gym cycles. This is the reason their bodies are so stiff. People who exercise on these machines look stiff, do not have any natural glow on their skin, neither do they look healthy,’ said Ashok Gupta, a resident of Vashi. (Read: Walk your way to a healthier you!)

Many of us are of an opinion that these machines make our life easier as they can help us lose weight within the comforts of our living room, however, these machines can surely make you lose weight mechanically, but will definitely take away the natural nutrients from your body.

Dr Sudha Narayanan, a nutritionist as well as a fitness expert from Sanpada mentioned that in spite of the newest exercise equipment being introduced, the natural ways of exercising are the best. ‘The reason being that running on a stiff surface like that of a treadmill damages your body internally, the repercussions of which can be noticed only after a certain age. Hence, one must always choose a grassy surface to jog.’

‘Moreover, the fresh oxygen that can be availed in the morning in an open garden or jogging track cannot be replaced with anything; this fresh air is what keeps you healthy.’ She also added that exercising on elliptical can lead to pulled muscles and ligament injuries, as that movement is not natural and one never trails a mountain or hill in that particular manner.

Running for a healthy life

Most fitness conscious people resort to running on the treadmill, walking on the elliptical or simply cycling at home. However, fitness experts say that these artificial methods of losing weight are not recommended since they miss the natural light and oxygen that one would find on a jogging track

In today’s jet age, everyone is in a hurry. There are young people mechanically running on the treadmill or cycling on the stationary gym cycles. This is the reason their bodies are so stiff. People who exercise on these machines look stiff, do not have any natural glow on their skin, neither do they look healthy.

Many of us are of an opinion that these machines make our life easier as they can help us lose weight within the comforts of our living room, however these machines can surely make you lose weight mechanically, but will definitely take away the natural nutrients from your body. (Read:  Get a health check-up before you decide to take up running: Dr Aashish Contractor)

The reason being that running on a stiff surface like that of a treadmill damages your body internally, the repercussions of which can be noticed only after a certain age. Hence, one must always choose a grassy surface to jog. Moreover, the fresh oxygen that can be availed in the morning cannot be replaced with anything. 

Experts say natural methods score over artificial weight loss methods such as treadmills.

Source: DNA

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• Why is high intensity interval training better (HIIT) for weight loss?
• 4 sexy and unusual ways to lose weight    

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