Running can be a good workout for people who want to lose weight. It allows the body to burn a great deal of calories, it improves the health of the cardiovascular tissues, and it helps in developing good body coordination. But before you go out on the streets or step on your treadmill, you need to do some essential preparations.

You owe it to yourself to learn some of the top running slip-ups that newbie, and even veteran, runners commit. Doing so will minimize, if not totally eliminate, the risks that you can have while discovering the health benefits and the joys of running. So here they are:

1.  Wearing The Wrong Pair Of Shoes

Running is an exercise that involves your whole body, but it obviously puts more strain on your lower limbs, particularly your feet. Wearing worn out running shoes or, worse, the wrong type of shoes can seriously impair the muscles on your legs and feet. And apart from degrading your overall running experience, wearing shoes that are not designed for running can increase your risk to injuries while you are on the go.

So, if you are really considering running as an important component of your weight loss program, the first thing that you should do is visit your nearest sports pro-shop. Better yet, try to find a specialty shop that caters exclusively to runners. Here, you will be able to talk with sales guys who really know a lot about running, they can give you excellent recommendations as to what type of running shoes are good for you.

After you get hold of the perfect running shoes, make sure to buy a new pair after using them for about 350 miles. Replacing old pairs often will help you avoid injuries caused by poor shoe cushions. You can also choose to buy two pairs that you can use in rotation, this way, your shoes will give you longer mileage.

2.  Doing The Extra Miles Too Fast

Many people who are new to running get over-excited and try to push their limits right during their first run. Running experts consider this as the most terrible mistake for a newbie runner. Thinking that running more miles is good for your body and overall weight loss program can be your folly which can easily end up in injuries like runner's knee and shin splints.

To avoid committing this mistake, you should be more cautious about the frequency and the distance of your running. In fact, if you are just a beginner, you should start your running with walking first. Experts also advise that you take a break from running for one day each week. This alone will help you avoid injuries by allowing your muscles, tendons and other tissues to recover.

So how would you know if you are running too far and too fast already? Well, if you are feeling muscle pains on your legs or feet, it is a good bet that you have already reached your limits, at least for the day. Often, your body will try to tell you when to stop, so listen to it.

3.  Poor Nutrition

Many runners, especially the ones who are bent on losing weight, miscalculate the role that good diet plays in increasing one's performance. Try to think of your body as a car that needs the right amounts of fuel before it can hit the road. Believe it or not, the amount and the kind of food that you eat before and after running can significantly affect your body's recovery and your running performance next time.

So, before you even tie your shoe laces, try to eat a light meal consist of carbohydrates, fiber and protein. Since running is a strenuous activity, you need to constantly replenish the carbohydrates that you burn along the way. Experts say that you should avoid low-carbohydrate diets if you want to perform better at running.

Truly, running can help you get back in shape. It can be a big part of your weight loss efforts. And if you want to enhance the weight-loss effects that running can do for your body, you can also use products like Phenocal. Visit http://www.phenocal.com/  for more details.