When most people hear about taking a hold of their life and pursuing a life of health and fitness, the very first thing that comes to their mind is usually to start with running. And start with running they do. Some eventually quit because they fall short of self-discipline and motivation. Those who do push through are likely to stick to running as their primary choice of exercise. In fact, for most, they spend years and months with running as their only form of exercise. Running is the poster boy of cardiovascular exercise. Even fitness beginner's guide books and magazines out there push running as the go-to activity for beginners.
While there are indeed numerous other forms of cardio exercises, running takes the popularity cake. Swimming and cycling are usually considered as a safer option due to their low-impact nature. But that's really beside the point. Grinding on for hours and hours does have its health benefits. But without incorporating muscle building into a fitness routine, the health benefits aren't optimal. The truth is that there are plenty of full-time runners whose life goal is to complete as many marathons as possible; eventually losing muscle mass instead of gaining more. This is an uncomfortable truth that might offend some runners. But it's the truth nonetheless. It isn't surprising to see top marathon runners and ultramarathon runners who are waif-like thin.
However, there are exceptions to this. These are runners who took on fitness in a holistic approach, not just doing cardio exclusively. Runners who acknowledge the benefits of lifting in retaining and adding muscle mass end up with a healthier body. Sure, they may not be able to finish topmost in marathons. But running a marathon isn't the pinnacle of fitness anyway. Conversely, it's also a bad idea health-wise to exercise with the goal of bloating up to become a strongman. Some strongmen are too focused on numbers that they lose sight of the health aspect of working out.
The key to muscle building, regardless of running, is to follow a comprehensive and consistent lifting routine. But that's just one part of muscle building, really. As there are also other important details such as getting enough sleep and food. But the question really, for people who are hesitant in going to the gym to lift iron, is why fitness experts consider resistance training as an integral part of optimal fitness.
It's pretty simple, but is best addressed from two points of views. People should learn how to build more muscle because it looks great. As uncomfortable as some people might be with talking about appearances, it's undeniable how having defined musculature has its advantages. Not just with scoring points with girls, but also with boosting confidence. From a health perspective, on the other hand, having more muscles help the body in functioning better. That's a given. But what most people who are starting out with fitness may not know is that more muscles mean more calorie expenditure, which contributes to faster fat loss.
