If you've lost weight by running...

CubbyMama

...at what point (how much running) did you start seeing weight come off?

I did C25K and then, after finishing the 9 weeks, got up to jogging 35 minutes at a time, 3-4x a week. I did take a few weeks off last month and am now backtracking a little to get back into it, but at no point since I started in March or April have I seen any weight loss.

I know, I know: start tracking calories. Try not eating like a cow. These are things I know...but I haven't eaten any MORE or WORSE since I started running, so I was hoping to see at least a slow loss on the scale. Instead, I've gained a couple of pounds.

So, when people say running is such a great way to lose weight, how much running are they talking about? 5 miles a day? 10? (Please don't say 10.) Gimme some specifics here on what worked for you.

CTFandme

I think it depends on how much weight you have to lose.  I work with someone who had 100lbs+ to lose and she did c25k and lost 20 lbs during the program. I don't have that much to lose these days, but for me when I run it tightens me.  Tightens my legs, my a$$, my core.  I don't actually lose lbs, but sizes and feel so good for doing the cardio.  I would think you'd notice something after 9 weeks.  I hate to echo your thoughts, but maybe it is your diet.  keepit up and don't get discouraged.  One day it'll just come off.

Zenya

Running is awesome because it's a half hour that you can't eat  But really calories burnt you can easily offset by eating a couple of oreos.  Time Magazine did a thing about how exercise makes you gain weight because you are hungrier and psychologically you feel like you're 'earned' the extra food.

Have you ever used sparkpeople or livestrong?  Then you track every in and output.  it's great. 

eta:  exercise makes me feel great, helps with anxiety and all the eating related to that, helps with sleep and the eating that comes with that etc.  I am all for exercise! I just think it's way overhyped as a weight loss tool. 

LenMont

Track your calories.  I run marathons and even when I'm running 40+ miles per week, I have to track my calories or I gain weight. 

r9stedt

Keep track of your calories!!  That is the BEST thing you can do.

And start strength training, too.   It will boost your metabolism.

tammy79

I honestly do not loose any weight by working out until I start either ww or changing my eating habit to 6 small meals/day.

MichMomofGirls

same thing happened to me.. I quit!

Ciarrai

Like everyone said, you can't lose much (if anything) running. It's a good work out and makes you feel good, but my understanding is that weight loss is 90% diet and 10% exercise ar best (and usually even more diet). I've only lost when i count calories. Sorry!

CubbyMama

Rats. I could swear I always hear people talking about how their weight just fell off when they started running. Too good to be true, I guess! I'm 5'4" and 135 (size 8, 6 in vanity sized NY&Co!) so not huge, but I def have belly rolls and flabby...well, everything. The least I've weighed as an adult is 132, which was right before I started running. Guess I'm gonna have to work on the diet thing. Ugh.

hikerbeth

I haven't been running much for a couple years, but started back up because I got motivated by the Warrior Dash and signed up for some more races.  I haven't lost any weight, but I feel skinnier. . . less bloated, more toned.  I've just been running 4-6 miles 3x per week.

I also teach a lot of classes including strength training and core strength classes, so that definitely helps.

And all the exercise makes me much more aware of what I'm putting in my mouth.

grja

Running for me keeps me strong and toned. When I stop for a while I don't gain weight, but I go up a size and get rolly polly.

Just keep it up and you'll see results eventually. At the very least you're getting healthy.

MelandJeff

For me, running to lose weight wouldn't work. Granted, I have lost weight and toned up, but I have also decreased my eating drastically. I combined my running with Jillian workouts and that is when I noticed the biggest difference.

You have to remember, you are really only burning about 300 calories or so on a 30 minute run. It feels like you ran your ass off (literally) but all that burned was a bowl of cereal.

Running for me is mental. It is only about the mental achievement and empowerment. The feeling of running 10 miles is insane. If I ran to lose weight I would have quit after 30 days. It is just too hard on the mind for it to be about losing weight, imo.

CubbyMama

Ah...reality check! I've been wanting to add in Jillian workouts again, but am so afraid it'll keep me from running (she's HARD on the knees, even with modifications!) because I'll be too sore. I love the feeling of accomplishment from running longer each time, and don't want to lose that...but I bet some Jillian would definitely help in the calorie burn department!

MelandJeff

She is hard on the knees! LOL!

But, I don't do the modifications and after the first week I noticed that I was no longer sore. I think her workouts have helped my runs, and she gets all of the credit for the cool grooves starting to form on my shoulders. :-)

 I have a hard time running when it is really hot out, so I will do her more often during the week then. It is starting to get cooler out so I have been able to run more consistently outside (the treadmill kills me and I just cant do it anymore-- again, the damn mind!)

 

 

 

shopgirl78

I haven't lost anything either (we were doing the C25K pretty close together).  However, I do feel more toned esp my legs.  

wellfleet04

I agree with everyone else that it's more about what you're putting in your body than exercise.  I mean, a 30 minute run might burn 300 calories, but some of those you burn just by breathing/walking/being alive, you know?  So it's not like if you burn those 300 you can eat 300 extra and maintain.  It's not really one-to-one like that.

 I ran a marathon this year and didn't lose any weight at all.  But, I've gotten much stronger, much better endurance, and more toned.  So, there are changes, but not in terms of weight loss.   

luckyluvr

I could never understand people wanting to run for pleasure until I did the couch-2-5K, and then I was hooked. I lost 10 lbs. quickly and slimmed like never before, but I also lost my butt. I quit when the time changed and it got dark earlier. Everything was great for about 4 months. I'd always worked out until this point. After that 4 months, my metabolism crashed like I could never have imagined. All of a sudden, exercise didn't help, diet didn't help, and now I can't seem to lose any of my baby weight like I always did before. That's why I'll never run again. Whether or not it was the cause (likely not), in my mind it was, so it's my scapegoat

 

buffalo_buckeye

I wish I could tell you running does it all...it used to when I was in hs. Now, I have to watch calories. Sparkpeople is awesome. That coupled with 3xs at the gym and I'm down about 18lbs. I'm about the same build as you...I'm 5'4, and was as high as 143, now I'm down to 125-126. It took about 5 months but I never felt hungry or deprived. I splurge on weekends (pizza, ice-cream, alcohol), but during the week I try to eat within my 1700 calories. I love the tone that I get from running but really the key to exercise is to vary it. Seriously. You do the same thing for 9 weeks your body expects it and doesn't change. Try adding squats, do Jilian 1x a week, take the stairs, buy some free weights and lift 2xs a week. And one other thing, you ARE building muscle and replacing the fat. Muscle is heavier and even though the scale shows the same number I bet you have lost body fat. I did a 8 week checkup at my gym and I lost 3% body fat, and 13 lbs but my measurements were exactly the same. I know I dropped 2 sizes so i know i really gained muscle. Keep up the good work and remember to vary your workout!

r9stedt

MelandJeff:

For me, running to lose weight wouldn't work. Granted, I have lost weight and toned up, but I have also decreased my eating drastically. I combined my running with Jillian workouts and that is when I noticed the biggest difference.

You have to remember, you are really only burning about 300 calories or so on a 30 minute run. It feels like you ran your ass off (literally) but all that burned was a bowl of cereal.

Running for me is mental. It is only about the mental achievement and empowerment. The feeling of running 10 miles is insane. If I ran to lose weight I would have quit after 30 days. It is just too hard on the mind for it to be about losing weight, imo.

 

You say everything better.

 

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r9stedt:

MelandJeff:

For me, running to lose weight wouldn't work. Granted, I have lost weight and toned up, but I have also decreased my eating drastically. I combined my running with Jillian workouts and that is when I noticed the biggest difference.

You have to remember, you are really only burning about 300 calories or so on a 30 minute run. It feels like you ran your ass off (literally) but all that burned was a bowl of cereal.

Running for me is mental. It is only about the mental achievement and empowerment. The feeling of running 10 miles is insane. If I ran to lose weight I would have quit after 30 days. It is just too hard on the mind for it to be about losing weight, imo.

 

You say everything better.

 

My favorite running friends said it best!  These ladies inspire me!

Angela814

r9stedt:

Keep track of your calories!!  That is the BEST thing you can do.

And start strength training, too.   It will boost your metabolism.

This!

CubbyMama:

Rats. I could swear I always hear people talking about how their weight just fell off when they started running. Too good to be true, I guess! I'm 5'4" and 135 (size 8, 6 in vanity sized NY&Co!) so not huge, but I def have belly rolls and flabby...well, everything. The least I've weighed as an adult is 132, which was right before I started running. Guess I'm gonna have to work on the diet thing. Ugh.

I'm 5'4", and 135 is my ideal weight. That's as low as I could get while working out 5 days/week, doing heavy weight lifting and cardio, and keeping track of calories so I was eating 1500-1800/day. I was a size 6 at that point, probably a size 4 at NY&Co.

I think to lose more weight and really tone up, especially now as we get older, then we really need to work hard to do it.

When you start weight lifting, make sure to really push yourself. Use heavy weights! Building muscle doesn't bulk you up. Women just don't have enough testosterone to really bulk up.

DandelionMom

The only reason I've lost weight while running regularly is because I'm better about eating better when I know I have to run in the morning.  When I eat too much it is harder to run so I don't enjoy it as much.  And I never want to "undo" the hard work by eating like crap after a run.