Running makes you fat??? Really?
moonbaby12
Posts: 89 Member
Just saw this when I went to check my email on yahoo this morning: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/yahoo-spotlight/why-your-cardio-routine-making-you-fat
I really get annoyed with gimmicky stuff like this. Running burns tons of calories and boosts your metabolism. This was the line that irked me the most: "There truly is only one reason to exercise: To increase your metabolism in order to burn more calories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "
Really? Since when is that the only reason to exercise? Running or any cardio for that matter has enormous health benefits, both physical and mental. I am not saying to throw weights out the door, but I hate misleading stuff like this.
I really get annoyed with gimmicky stuff like this. Running burns tons of calories and boosts your metabolism. This was the line that irked me the most: "There truly is only one reason to exercise: To increase your metabolism in order to burn more calories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "
Really? Since when is that the only reason to exercise? Running or any cardio for that matter has enormous health benefits, both physical and mental. I am not saying to throw weights out the door, but I hate misleading stuff like this.
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I read this article a few weeks ago and had the same reaction as you. When I started running my main motivation was to do it for exercise. Now that's the last reason on the list why I do it.0
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I think one problem with many who start any kind of exercise program is the attitude that "i exercise so i can eat anything i want". I have seen so many runners over the years prove that wrong, and sadly i have to say i was one of them. Fortunately i have fugured out how to balance and get the right nutrients in my net calories for my particular sport. I get emails from certain groups of trainers who have good weight and eating plans if you want to " look good". We can not mention those people and programs on here. But i see the same message over and over....weight training is better....you should not even do cardio.....bunch of garbage.
It all comes down to what you are trying to achieve. I want to perform better in marathons....i don't need to " look good", i just need optimal performance. And @ 52 years old, i have the blood work of a 30 year old with matching cardiac capacity! So i am very happy with my health. I am not over weight, i feel good, i can do so much more than my peers who do nothing for fitness.
So if you want ripped abs and compete weight lifting, good for you! Do what it takes to make you happy. I am a runner, leave running to the runners!0 -
It really irks me too. Not to say weight lifting isn't great and doesn't have major benefits. But, most or at least a huge portion of us runners run because we love it, because it makes us super healthy and to keep bettering our performance in races. Is that so hard to understand? Like anything else you do, you just can't eat more than you burn. Duh.0
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Exactly. Choosing to run instead of choosing aesthetics and strength is some how disordered these days in the fitness community. But but, running will make you weak! No. Just no, you can still do resistance training and be relatively strong. But but, running will make you skinny fat! No, you won't wake up looking like an elite marathoner overnight it takes serious dedication and training (with a high carb based diet) to get to that low of a body weight and fat level. I have always been a runner, always, since the age of 11 out on the trails, in the running club in high school, relay marathons, xcountry etc. It's been a passion that's never died. I've also lifted weights since high school. I wish people would stop with the black and white thinking in regards to fitness. Running is my therapy, it just makes life better. Lifting is for my ego/vanity. If I had to choose one over the other, it'd be running in a heart beat.0
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Well put!0
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I haven't read the article. But, I know from my own personal experience, that I gain weight marathon training. The increase is stresses, cortisol, hormones, and I track my food and KNOW that I'm not overeating or giving myself the ability to eat anything. I gain weight. As soon as I back off training, I generally can lose the weight. This year I haven't been able to. I know this is not the first time I've heard this theory in weight gain and running. NO, I do not believe it make the normal person, who is seeking general fitness and running for fitness fat. But I do think there is some validity in intensity and workouts that do have a negative effect on your body, too much of anything can always cause harm.0
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It really irks me too. Not to say weight lifting isn't great and doesn't have major benefits. But, most or at least a huge portion of us runners run because we love it, because it makes us super healthy and to keep bettering our performance in races. Is that so hard to understand? Like anything else you do, you just can't eat more than you burn. Duh.
Yes yes yes! This is why I run. I love it!! This right here. And no, it doesn't mean I can go eat an entire pizza by myself, which I use to do when I first started:)0 -
yes, i feel exactly the same way.0
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I have noticed that when I have 2 rest days in a row I drop a substantial amount of water and I see better definition. Water weight is a bish on a good day for most people, add the stress hormones from hard training as mentioned that causes further retention and you can lose your mind when stepping onto the scale or looking at your abs from higher carb eating. LOL.
I read on a www.letsrun.com thread discussing how much people gained while off training, and some people experienced weight loss when they backed off training like what you mentioned mlb929, but they were a very small %, most of the people stated gaining 5-15 lbs on average when they lowered volume.0 -
A few years ago I thought running was a license to eat whatever I wanted - I went from 165 up to about high 170s/low 180s. Tracking here has helped my game immensely - dropped 30lbs (down to 152) and am finally able to properly track my intake. When I load for a long run, I'll gain 3-5lbs of water weight through insane carb consumption, but I'll burn it all within 48hrs of finishing. Articles like this breathe new life into "magic cure" shakes, pills, and fad diets.0
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Well, running made me fat. I gained -32 lbs increasing from 210 to 178.
AND
Since its on the Internet, it must be true.0 -
I love running. I do it because I love it. I'm injured right now and was looking for cardio ideas that I could do with the upper body only and someone started in on this whole "you shouldn't run to lose weight" thing. I never said that's why I run! I just want to keep my heart in shape while I'm laid up!
Running doesn't make me gain weight. Eating more calories than I burn makes me gain weight.0 -
I have moved my weigh-in day from Monday to Tuesday because after a weekend of long runs my body tends to take a day to stop retaining so much water. As others have said running is not an excuse to eat anything no matter what you may think. I regularly burn over 4000 calories a week but I still track everything I eat; any extra weight is just going to slow me down.I have noticed that when I have 2 rest days in a row I drop a substantial amount of water and I see better definition. Water weight is a bish on a good day for most people, add the stress hormones from hard training as mentioned that causes further retention and you can lose your mind when stepping onto the scale or looking at your abs from higher carb eating. LOL.0 -
Running hasn't made me fat. The fact that I am still fat just means I had a long way to go and haven't achieved my final goals yet but I can attribute most of the last 100 pounds I lost to running. So my general health my mental health and most of my fitness is running. I do a mens fitness class 3x a week as well lite lifting and toning but it is secondary.
I just changed Doctors and the new Doctor kept looking at my HDL levels over 80 and repeating " at 65 years of age your levels blow mine away and it is the running that does it" must have said it 4 times so I will stick to running Thank You very much0
