Did I "Run" or "Walk"....Help me please:))

lil_missfit

Hello Everyone,

I am new to running. Just a month ago I would have told you I will NEVER run. I hated running. However, I decided to try myself and give it another shot. I actually like it!!! I started out jogging 1.9 miles in 45 minutes ( I had to stop about 4 times to catch my breath), the next week I ran 3 miles in 45 minutes ( I only stopped once to use the restroom), the next week I ran 4 miles in an hour (stopped once to go to the restroom), and today, week 4, after starting from "I will NEVER run", I jogged 4 miles in an hour and fifteen minutes. I am going to run the Sham Rock 8K next Saturday. Now, I know I can do it and finish.....here is my question:

When I have researched how many calories I burned while jogging (including MFP) the consenses that I get is that if it took me longer than 12 minutes to run a mile (my average being 15 minutes) then, according to my research, I only really WALKED. This is really discouraging for me. So what is it? Can I calculate calories based on a jog or a brisk walk? This is really important because for weeks I have been adding calories back into my meal plan based on 12 minute mile calculations, which I assumed was close enough. Now I am thinking I have been adding too many calories back in. Can someone help me? Maybe someone knows a nifty jogging calculator website:)) Thanks in advance.

Keisha

Mairgheal

I would go for the lowest amount of cals, just to be on the safe side.
I use a GPS tracker for my walks and the cals on that one are always lower than the ones MFP give me. Very tempting to use the higher cals, but I use the lower amount.

I guess a HRM would be the most exact, if you want to be very precise.

lil_missfit

thank you:)) just curious and off my original topic....how did you put your weight loss under your comment?