Does running actually work ?

bluntsandcoffee

I`ve been changing my life around , running daily , but does it actually work for weight loss ?
I`ve heard that it doesn't , but i`ve also heard that it does .

Whodatgirl77

It definitely burns calories which can aid in weight loss. Make sure you don't overestimate your burn so that your aren't eating back.too many calories.

scottb81

Yes, it works. It is the best calorie burner of any exercise. If you run a lot you can eat a lot and still lose weight. Get fit, lose weight, and eat.

As evidence, I lost around 30 pounds in the last year from running and diet alone. Now I have around 11% bodyfat and continue to lose weight slowly while eating close to 3000 calories per day.

porffor

Wow how far do you run that you can eat 3000 cals?

lesle1

umm... I've lost 115 pounds by running...

annie24342

Running DEFINITELY works! Any distance will help. However, I personally see a difference only if I run 40 minutes or more a day. Your legs will get firmer, your abs start building muscle, and you burn a lot of calories (just make sure you don't eat back more calories than you burn).

CaptainSwab

Running is a great weight loss tool but like anything you have to make sure you don't over eat. A lot of people will miscalculate how much they think they can eat.

porffor

umm... I've lost 115 pounds by running...

Huge congrats!

arc918

As long as you don't use it as license to eat, then you can lose weight. Then again, I managed to gain weight while running 50+ miles per week. It is just math, burn more than you eat and you will drop pounds.

Also, you need a reality check out what you are burning. Running a few miles helps the cause, but most of us only burn ~ 100 - 125 calories per mile. I've seen some petite women who are only burning 70 per mile. At 175 lbs, I burn ~ 125 per mile.

So one mile of running is enough to eat a couple Girl Scout cookies.

I think the key is sticking with the running enough so you can run long/far enough to get some big burns.

gloriashaped

Thanks to running I lost my post baby weight gain fat quickly. My long term passion for running made me truly fit and has kept me lean. However, you still need to watch your diet. You can't eat anything you want and lose weight. For example, if you run 1 mile at a moderate pace, say 12-13 minutes you will burn about 100 calories. That said, you have to run 10 miles to burn 1000 calories.

Calorie intake must be less than calorie out take even with running if you want to lose. A lot of newbie runners make the mistake "I'll just run it off" and wonder why their weight is the same when trying to lose.

Speed work is excellent too for calorie burning and strong lung capacity. You should start with a little of it during runs then graduate to sprinting.

scottb81

Wow how far do you run that you can eat 3000 cals?

Around 8 to 20 miles six days a week. Normally, between 10-12 hours per week.

DrBorkBork

it works
just ask my muscley sprinter thighs

I dropped 10 inches off each thigh when I started running last year

wear an HRM when you run, it will help with the calorie counting
personally I burn 100 cals every 10 mins of running, and about 600-700 cals during a 5k race

BobbyDaniel

Nearly 70 pounds lost here, 50 of which came after I started running.

jrdennis13

It has definitely been working for me. SInce 1 Jan, I've logged 152 miles running and dropped 17 pounds. Also been watching my diet focusing on eating clean foods.

lilsassymom

bump

Abbey70

I lost the majority of my weight by running and walking. I was doing this about 4-5 times a week plus watching what I eat.

MellyMartinson

umm... I've lost 115 pounds by running...

Great Job! I have that much to loose. Makes me feel like I am running in the right direction because I just started running again. I have lost 13 lbs so far!!

LorinaLynn

Running helped me lose weight. Running plus a small calorie deficit plus strength training made my legs and butt look better.

GoreWhore72

From what previous trainers told me:
Too much cardio will burn muscle.
Limit to 20 minutes of running.
Once it burns your fat, if you do too much cardio, and no strength training it will burn your muscle.
More muscle burns fat.
Therefore, strength training is ultimately important.
Regular combination of both will assist in appropriate weight loss.
Such as warm up, strength training, then cool down.
Even up to 40 minutes of cardio per day with strength training, is good.
When I was an athlete, we ran for warm up only.
I remember the long distance runners had a hard time putting on muscle and weight, so they burned a lot of
fat, and were forced to do strength building ,but were not as strong as the short distance 100 m runners, who
did more strength training than running.
If that makes sense, when you think of body physique.

KimertRuns13_1

It has worked for me! -81 lbs so far. I started running 3 years ago.
However, I didn't only run. I changed how I eat and do a lot more things in the gym.

Giantess

The heavier you are, the more calories you burn running, too. Just something to keep in mind. For me, about two miles takes twenty to thirty minutes, and burns around 600 calories. But I'm not only fat, I'm tall.

When I lost the 18 lbs I lost--due to running--I noticed that I wasn't burning as many calories for the same distance run. Because I'm physically lugging 18 fewer pounds up that last...hill....

So it takes less energy.

So run! Run run run, and the more you run, the lighter you get, the more you can run...

coraspiece

I turned to running last spring and lost around 30 lbs due to it and felt myself feeling better. Then during the summer some personal problems happened and I quit, which was the dumbest thing ever but we all make mistakes and obviously there was a good reason because I am doing the learn to run program I used last year and now my brother is running with me. I really love it.... I wouldn't mind having some running buddies on here that I can encourage and also to help critique and encourage me to keep moving forward.... Thanks :-)

kcather

YES!!

Swimming is also great, too! I swim 500-600 meters and run ~5 miles 3 times a week and I'm burning an extra 4000 calories every week!

mum23boys

Running ABSOLUTELY works! I lost 83lbs running(55lbs of it in 7 months). What started out as an activity has changed my life. I was surprised (& happy) to see that running helped change my body to be lean muscle, instead of getting bulky. Make sure you still eat within your calories and you WILL see results (and it makes you feel great too!)

Tubby2Toned

As long as you don't use it as license to eat, then you can lose weight. Then again, I managed to gain weight while running 50+ miles per week. It is just math, burn more than you eat and you will drop pounds.

Also, you need a reality check out what you are burning. Running a few miles helps the cause, but most of us only burn ~ 100 - 125 calories per mile. I've seen some petite women who are only burning 70 per mile. At 175 lbs, I burn ~ 125 per mile.

So one mile of running is enough to eat a couple Girl Scout cookies.

I think the key is sticking with the running enough so you can run long/far enough to get some big burns.

I agree with this. Most of us, at a moderate jogging pace, burn about 100 calories every ten minutes. The harder you run, the more you burn. There are some calorie burning calculators out there that will credit you way more calories burned than actually burned. Just keep it realistic.

I credit myself one beer for every ten minutes I run.

Tubby2Toned

From what previous trainers told me:
Too much cardio will burn muscle.
Limit to 20 minutes of running.
Once it burns your fat, if you do too much cardio, and no strength training it will burn your muscle.
More muscle burns fat.
Therefore, strength training is ultimately important.
Regular combination of both will assist in appropriate weight loss.
Such as warm up, strength training, then cool down.
Even up to 40 minutes of cardio per day with strength training, is good.
When I was an athlete, we ran for warm up only.
I remember the long distance runners had a hard time putting on muscle and weight, so they burned a lot of
fat, and were forced to do strength building ,but were not as strong as the short distance 100 m runners, who
did more strength training than running.
If that makes sense, when you think of body physique.

Yes!
It's telling that body builders can get ripped and shredded while running only 20 minutes a workout. The weight lifting is a huge fat burner. But a interval style 20 minutes of running can burn a lot also. I head just to be careful with longer running because the body begins tapping into muscle mass for energy at that point.

JeSuisPrest

I`ve been changing my life around , running daily , but does it actually work for weight loss ?
I`ve heard that it doesn't , but i`ve also heard that it does .

it's a cardio workout, so yes.

TNoire

Any type of cardio works



here is what ive learned

females no less than 1200 cals a day
males no less than 1800 cals a day

why?

if you eat less your body goes into starvation mode which causes it to store which causes weight gain

3500 burned cals = loss on 1lb of fat
3500 cals = 1lb of fat put on

low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day is a pretty good amount

Don't call it a diet just be wise on what you put into your body and treat yourself when you meet your goals

lean meats, red meat and taters 3-4 times in a 2 week period, whole grains keep you fuller longer, heavier meals in the morning, sodium no more than 2400mg a day, fresh fruit and veggies, don't drink you calories, 8+ glasses of water a day, stay away from junk food/fast food/processed food, treat it when you meet your goals, don't eat the samethings daily or do the same workouts or your body will plateau

you can do it! promise!

trust me ive gained 195lbs when I quit smoking 12yrs ago at high school grad i was 135lbs with the quitting smoking I got up to 330lbs replacing food with the smoking habit
March 09 i got off my butt and did something about it
19 months dropped 156lbs
buying/selling houses came gained some back
this year is MY year to lose the rest

we got this!

loverunning11

I believe it does! I have lost most of my weight from running! Check out my pictures!

abbigail_r

I am at an interesting place right now. I love running/jogging. It is easiest for me to have motivation to do and its something I want to continue doing. It burns great calories. And I know for some they lose weight. But I was thinking this same thing today. Previously in my history of weight loss efforts Ive done one program and stuck to it and even if I dont do it every day within a couple mths Ive seen results. I have been running for about 4/5 mths now and have made good changes in my diet etc but I havent lost one lb or any inches. Are my legs stronger, probably. But thats just me. As you can see from above it works for some.

ShannanLaNae

This was awesome advice everyone....:flowerforyou: