Running to lose

graciesmommy18
graciesmommy18 Posts: 9 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Who else is running and counting calories to lose? I'm only running 2 miles at a time currently but used to be a runner so I know how my body builds up. My goal is to be able to run 7 without stopping by November 15th. Does anyone else want to join in?

Replies

  • mandabeth34
    mandabeth34 Posts: 158 Member
    Hi there, I'm also building up running mileage and calorie counting. I stopped running while I was pregnant (high risk) and am back up to 2.5 miles. I'm running a casual 5k Wednesday. I'm also at the beginning of the postpartum weight loss journey. Looking for motivation if you want to send me an invite!
  • sophieguerin3
    sophieguerin3 Posts: 1 Member
    Same here! I'm working up to run a 5k in 30min or under as well a build up long distance stamina. After months of running lightly 3 days a week, I've finally been able to kick it up to 5 days. Now I'm at 5k in 37:30 and the longest run is 7.51k in 58min. I never knew that running could make you feel so good or that I could actually run without wanting to collapse in a pile on the floor. Yay for minor accomplishments! Happy to connect with you as well for mutual encouragement and support! We can do this!
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    Keep in mind that while it is true that running burns more calories than just about any other exercise, diet is still the key to weight loss. Running burns about 100 calories per mile (more if you are heavier, less if you are light). So 2 miles will allow 2 or 3 extra Oreos.

    Today I burned over 1600 calories on my run and I can guarantee you that I can gain weight if I do not watch what I eat (yes, I have gained during marathon training).
  • Lovemybody75
    Lovemybody75 Posts: 44 Member
    I just saw this post. I am too run/jogging to lose weight. I finished c25k in August and now finished week 3 of 10k. I average about 11 miles a week. Pace 13-14 min/mi. It's slow but I'm
    4'9" is my excuse! My weight loss is slow though.
  • Lovemybody75
    Lovemybody75 Posts: 44 Member
    Is this a group or a discussion?
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    While counting calories I found that running accelerated my loss and gave me more calories to eat and drink. I started walking and gradually moved to running. Before I knew it I was running 30 miles a week. I came home on a Friday and opened the paper to see a half marathon scheduled for the next morning. I thought what the heck and went. I remember one of my customers saying I didn't know you run? I said I saw it in the paper and thought I would give it a try. He replied your going to die. I never walked and came in third in my age bracket. I am trying to get in shape for a full marathon as my next goal. I need to get 20 miles a week to maintain if I drink wine and beer.
  • mgalovic01
    mgalovic01 Posts: 388 Member
    Running is probably the most fun workout I've done, but I find it hard on the knees. Now, I try to land on my toes to absorb more impact with my calves. That saved my knees, but gets my calves really sore. I can only run about 3 days a week at the most. Therefore, I don pull- ups, push-ups, crunches and squats on days I'm too sore to run. I also weights I lift.
    Diet is huge part of achieving your goals. I don't know where you are at now. I've never counted calories. I just try to eat clean, like a bodybuilder. Simple changes that can make a huge difference include switching from enriched wheat flower to whole grains, cutting back on sugar, preparing your own meals, cutting back on junk food and processed food, and fried and greasy food. Pinterest has lots of recipes.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i'm a runner... doesn't always help with weight loss though, long runs make me rungry! didn't lose a single pound during 4 months of half marathon training!
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited September 2016
    I am a runner.. really never helps me with weight loss though.. It did briefly when I started. Longs runs make me hangry too like @TavistockToad said.. it can be brutal as you learn to deal with this part of it.

    eta: someone mentioned 100 calories per mile and racking up 1600 calories in one run.. I wish I still had calorie burns like that, but even then I would have to very very very far.
  • JoeCWV
    JoeCWV Posts: 213 Member
    I only run in nice weather. I don't run in the rain, cold, snow, or gloom of night. In the winter I turn into a gym rat. Rarely hit the gym in the summer. I tend to lift and do elliptical in winter, then run once the weather gets nice. I am at maintenance so I don't run to lose.

    It is nice though to go on a nice run then account for the burned calories with a few craft beers.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I count calories to lose weight and run to improve my fitness.

    Having said that, exercising on a regular basis has been demonstrated to increase the probability of losing weight and keeping it off in the long term.

    Depending on what your long term goals are (beyond the 7 continuous miles this fall) you may find that you may actually put on a little weight training for a marathon. Part of it will be increased glycogen storage (1 g glycogen bonds with 3g water) and part of will just be that have to fuel those runs, it's hard to maintain a deficit while putting in high training volumes.

  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    JoeCWV wrote: »
    I only run in nice weather. I don't run in the rain, cold, snow, or gloom of night. In the winter I turn into a gym rat. Rarely hit the gym in the summer. I tend to lift and do elliptical in winter, then run once the weather gets nice. I am at maintenance so I don't run to lose.

    It is nice though to go on a nice run then account for the burned calories with a few craft beers.

    Gosh a runner has to love running in the rain? Isn't that a prerequisite if you call yourself a "runner"? :)
  • Calimama123
    Calimama123 Posts: 128 Member
    Me
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I lost 50 pounds over 8 months after I first started running. I've been on maintenance after that, though I think I'll knock another 10 off.

    Running was a great way for me to lose weight. As long as Caloried Burned > Calories Consumed, then you lose weight. You can focus on either side of the equation, or both. Either side has an equal effect.

    I increased both side of the equations, but increased the caloried burned more than the calories consumed, so yes, running certainly helped me lose weight.
  • ChelzFit
    ChelzFit Posts: 292 Member
    I'm maintaining weight, but I am working on my running. Up to three days a week, two of those days 4 miles and one of those days a longer run being 6 miles. I have to be careful because I have meniscus issues, cross training on my other workout days helps!
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Time for a reality check.
    dewd2 wrote: »
    Keep in mind that while it is true that running burns more calories than just about any other exercise, diet is still the key to weight loss. [1] Running burns about 100 calories per mile (more if you are heavier, less if you are light). [2] So 2 miles will allow 2 or 3 extra Oreos.

    [1] How many calories you burn running depends on your form and your weight. We don't know either of those for the OP. (The last run I did, I had an average of 8.3 cm upward motion and 0.525 m forward motion per step. This is bad, I'm wasting way too much energy bouncing up and down, and your estimate doesn't capture that.)

    [2] An oreo is 53 and 1/3 kCal, normal variety. (Source) You're short-changing the OP by a lot.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    Time for a reality check.
    dewd2 wrote: »
    Keep in mind that while it is true that running burns more calories than just about any other exercise, diet is still the key to weight loss. [1] Running burns about 100 calories per mile (more if you are heavier, less if you are light). [2] So 2 miles will allow 2 or 3 extra Oreos.

    [1] How many calories you burn running depends on your form and your weight. We don't know either of those for the OP. (The last run I did, I had an average of 8.3 cm upward motion and 0.525 m forward motion per step. This is bad, I'm wasting way too much energy bouncing up and down, and your estimate doesn't capture that.).

    Hence the use of the word, 'about'

  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    Time for a reality check.
    dewd2 wrote: »
    Keep in mind that while it is true that running burns more calories than just about any other exercise, diet is still the key to weight loss. [1] Running burns about 100 calories per mile (more if you are heavier, less if you are light). [2] So 2 miles will allow 2 or 3 extra Oreos.



    [2] An oreo is 53 and 1/3 kCal, normal variety. (Source) You're short-changing the OP by a lot.

    I was actually looking at the bag of Double Stuff Halloween Oreos I had sitting beside me. It looks like they count 2 cookies as a serving (140 calories).

    I guess you know what I am going to eat tonight (and I didn't even run today :smile: ).
  • Sharpiejasspring
    Sharpiejasspring Posts: 6 Member
    I have started running 3 days a week to help the weight loss - 6/7k on weekdays with a park run on Saturdays. I am still trying to keep to the 1500 calories and have had a couple of bad days on nights out but kept below for the rest. My weight has stayed the same for two weeks now but I am definitely feeling slimmer. Should of taken the body measurements at the start.

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