Running for a month - no weightloss

mhotch

2 comments I have used through out my wt loss :

1} You eat to lose weight, you exercise for good health.

2} Wt loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise.

I suggest logging your food, measure/weigh everything!!!!! {what looks like a decent portion and what actually is, can mean the difference of several hundred calories on a daily basis.} Eating healthy is great, but you can still be overeating.

If you don't use a heart rate monitor, be careful with eating exercise calories. I think a lot of online calorie charts overestimate actual burn.

Add some strength training into your program. It will help with wt loss. Lean body tissue {muscle} burns more calories at rest, than fat tissue.

Water is essential if you are running. In a dehydrated state , your metabolism does slow down, thus slowing any wt loss.

Good luck

unusualyoux

Such great responses!

I do hope that you all are right and that it is the fact that I am a new runner and that my body is simply adjusting.
I have noticed a small change in my legs toning up a little - (always a plus)!

Oh, I forgot to mention I will also try the stretching a lot more. One person posted that this helped them considerably! I think this is something I will try for sure!

Did many others first experience this problem though when they started running or am I in the small minority?
How long did it take you before you started seeing changes?

Thanks for all your support guys!

unusualyoux

2 comments I have used through out my wt loss :

1} You eat to lose weight, you exercise for good health.

2} Wt loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Water is essential if you are running. In a dehydrated state , your metabolism does slow down, thus slowing any wt loss.

Good luck

Love these pieces of info!
Didn't know that about water before! Will make sure to get my 8 glasses in a day! Is this the amount you should be taking even on a run day?

MinnieInMaine

It wouldn't hurt to drink more water on the days you run...add at least 2 cups to help rehydrate.

Add my vote for NO suppliments, they're really not necessary...

And yes, it's very common when someone starts a new workout routine that they'll retain water due to muscle damage. if you're sore, you're likely retaining water - it's just part of the healing process. The thing with the C25K program is that you're challenging yourself constantly so it wouldn't be unheard of for this kind of weight plateau to last this long.

Are you eating back the calories earned through exercise?

FindingTimeForMe

Hey, lots of good advise from everyone. Last night my trainer said "INTERVAL" training. Two minutes of normal speed than one minute of as hard as you can go - back and forth until you get your 30 minutes done. Someone posted -- keep giving your body something else to think about -- when you get up to thirty minutes and you feel good, then start doing 2 and 2 or reverse. Kind of like the hill recommendation - same principal. The interval training changes the heart rate (I am not an expert at this) from aerobic to anaerobic (sp?) -- maybe someone can chime in on the technical side of this. I understand one burns fat and one is cardio.

Anyway -- I have the same issue (I dont' see immediate changes on the scale) -- I bet a dollar though if you took your measurements a month ago and took them now you would be pleased (this of course if the diet this is good as you have indicated). Look at this loss as a great success.

Good luck and keep up the great work!! Just moving......you are better than most Americans. How sad is that????

unusualyoux

Hey, lots of good advise from everyone. Last night my trainer said "INTERVAL" training. Two minutes of normal speed than one minute of as hard as you can go - back and forth until you get your 30 minutes done. Someone posted -- keep giving your body something else to think about -- when you get up to thirty minutes and you feel good, then start doing 2 and 2 or reverse. Kind of like the hill recommendation - same principal. The interval training changes the heart rate (I am not an expert at this) from aerobic to anaerobic (sp?) -- maybe someone can chime in on the technical side of this. I understand one burns fat and one is cardio.

Anyway -- I have the same issue (I dont' see immediate changes on the scale) -- I bet a dollar though if you took your measurements a month ago and took them now you would be pleased (this of course if the diet this is good as you have indicated). Look at this loss as a great success.

Good luck and keep up the great work!! Just moving......you are better than most Americans. How sad is that????

Will give the interval training a go!
I think these pieces of advice seem to be great for anyone who may be in the same situation as me!
Thanks all!

Your last point made me laugh! That's very funny! I'm Irish! We're meant to be in the fields cutting potatoes and the likes :P
Thanks a mill everyone for all your suggestions! Keep them coming if you've more Very much appreciated!

unusualyoux

It wouldn't hurt to drink more water on the days you run...add at least 2 cups to help rehydrate.

I will definitely try this tip thank you!

Are you eating back the calories earned through exercise?

I am not eating any more calories than I had previously done (prior to my proper month's diet and exercise regime) and I am actually eating plenty more fruits and veggies and tracking my calories - they're usually around 1200 a day.

babystepsforward

It would be more beneficial for you to look at inches i think. Chances are your getting fitter and BUILDING MUSCLE! the fact that you have not lost weight may be a good thing as it means you are putting on muscle and burning off fat. If you measure your waist, thighs etc.. you may find you ar eloosing inches and toning up but muscle is heavier than fat. You will be getting results from the running, don't worry what the numbers say !

nosey_rosey

Hi Everyone!

Wow! What a great number of replies and so much support! Thank you everyone!

My eating habits are pretty good (well, so I thought) and I have been tracking calories for a good while now too.
I will try and cut out coffee, etc. and incorporate more water into my diet however instead - (thanks for all the tips on the water everyone).

I will also add a hill/incline into my runs. This seems like a very good idea and should definitely burn a few extra calories.
Oh, and I will attempt to not look at the scales for a full month and keep at it and continue to count my calories.
One thing I may be doing wrong is not getting enough protein into my diet. I'm not a vegetarian, however, I don't really enjoy eating too much meat so I tend not to get that much protein into my diet. Could this be an issue?

I may start on supplements next month, I would be quite open to trying these if they have worked for others - might need a good kickstart on the metabolism!
Thank you again!

I drink a ton of coffee... doesn't seem to be hurting my weight loss at all