Weight gain typically sneaks up on us throughout our lives. Who among us hasn't felt a spare pound or two suddenly appear on their waistline without warning? Even an extra pound can be frustrating, but what about those people who have gained 15 or even 50 pounds after their peak as a young person?

Unfortunately, weight gain is heavily linked with depression, a problem you can't afford at this point in your life. So you're determined to start jogging to burn off that extra weight. CONGRATULATIONS! That is a great decision and is one that may change your life for the better.

Why Jogging Is A Killer Decision

Jogging is a great way to burn calories: in fact, Runner's World has a calorie calculator that estimates a 240-pound person who jogs 15 miles in an hour will burn 2,723. Now obviously, most joggers aren't going to keep up a 15-mile-per-hour pace, especially if you are just starting out. Even worse, you may be putting excessive strain on your body that will cause serious health issues.

That's just one reason people who have gained 20-50 pounds should talk to a sports medicine expert about jogging. Failure to do so could lead to minor health issues that can become more serious ones. These problems include:

• Blisters
• Shin Pain
• Soft-Tissue Injuries
• Sunburns
• Bruises
• Strained Muscles

Preventing these problems requires talking to a sports medicine expert and learning more about the proactive steps that can be taken. For example, a good sports medicine expert can teach you the proper shin stretches for jogging. They can also assess your overall health and create a jogging routine that works for your unique health level.

You Can Stay Healthy And Fit With Help!

So if you are ready to burn off that spare tire, talk to a sports medical professional about how they can help you get into shape. They can get you on the right path with jogging and adjust your routine to prevent injury. These steps include wrapping the ankle to make sure it is fully supported while you run.

Then, they can increase its intensity to make it even tougher. However, they can also find another routine that works for you if you decide that jogging is just too annoying. You wouldn't be the first person to find jogging too difficult to maintain. You may find that swimming, walking, or even yoga is more suited to your skills.