Running Won't Help You Lose Weight?

245

Replies

  • LuHox
    LuHox Posts: 136
    Hmm... In defense of cardio:

    I started out at 240 lbs and did nothing but interval running to lose the first 25 lbs.
    Lost 10 more after modifying my diet as well.
    Got stuck at 205 for a long time & quit like a whiney baby and just kept complaining about my "plateau".
    I tried everything: eating more, modifying macro ratios, strength training like crazy, and...

    ....started toning down the cardio & doing very little of it based on advice from people on MFP forums who swear cardio is almost worthless and you should just do a bunch of strength training...

    Stayed at 205 a long time. Body composition may have improved slightly, but I wasn't losing anything.

    Recently started interval running again and BOOM I'm losing again. Thank goodness.

    Personally, I'm for it.
  • liliawodna
    liliawodna Posts: 31 Member
    The good exercise does for physical and mental health is much more important than just simply losing weight alone, which you can do with lowering your calorie intake. Exercise (including running/walking) has helped my depression and self esteem.
  • lisahewitt22
    lisahewitt22 Posts: 102
    Weight loss is mostly calorie deficit but without exercise and trying to tone muscles and all that whats the point? Without exercise you'll be losing weight but eventually you could just end up as a flabby person with a low number on the scale. With exercise, especially running, your weight will drop and your body will look completely transformed in all the best ways.
  • SteelySunshine
    SteelySunshine Posts: 1,092 Member
    I am not going to read the article. I can already tell it's stupid. It may have some valid points but there is this. If you don't exercise no matter what your weight is you are at a greater risk for developing diabetes. Exercise burns off glucose /end rant.

    It's also stupid because it sets up people to just read the title and think "see I don't need to exercise". Sure running isn't for everyone. It certainly isn't for me, I have bad knees and I have arthritis. But, I can walk and I will do that for as long as I can.

    Now for a personal story. I had a job about 7 years ago. I was on my feet all day long. My TDEE was around 4000 calories a day. I did manage to eat over that even lots of times. But, that isn't my point. My point is that it is nearly impossible to cut enough calories from anyone's diet that would equal what I could burn in a day just by being on my feet all day and running around a warehouse picking orders. It was a very physical job and I did stuff after work and on weekends as well. There is no freaking way I can possible drop enough calories from my diet now to equal that burn. As a matter of fact I can't even exercise enough due to my health issues to equal that burn. But, I can cut some calories and I can walk enough to get a decent deficit and exercise will definitely contribute to a bigger deficit even if the exercise I can do is walking and not running. I am a big advocate of the slow burn, it's more sustainable and it does lead to deficits when combined with not eating a large amount of calories.
  • broscientist
    broscientist Posts: 102 Member
    Runners are going to defend to the death that running is going to help you lose weight.

    Running will make you better at running.
    Running will make you more fit.


    Running will do little to help you lose weight.

    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.
  • runfatmanrun
    runfatmanrun Posts: 1,090 Member
    It's fairly widely accepted now that the man factor in weight loss is diet, not exercise.

    I love running but this is pretty much right on.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.

    Bwaaa ha ha!

    Qx0pTb0NtccYiwSfD6qv.jpeg
  • scoutbelly
    scoutbelly Posts: 8 Member
    If marathon runners are "anorexic looking", that seems to support the argument that running does help you lose weight...
  • liliawodna
    liliawodna Posts: 31 Member
    If marathon runners are "anorexic looking", that seems to support the argument that running does help you lose weight...

    THIS

    Being a runner doesn't mean you're anorexic looking.
  • marie_2454
    marie_2454 Posts: 881 Member
    I've always hear that diet is 80-90% of weight loss, but they've also done studies showing that you lose more fat compared to muscle (you retain more lean muscle mass) when you combine exercise (especially some form of weight/ strength training) with eating less. For me personally, I lost 8 pounds the first month I started running. I was still eating the same as before, and still lifting weights, I just also added running 3-5 times a week 1-3 miles (most days it was closer to 1.7 miles). I didn't keep losing that fast, but I do lose slightly faster when I'm running.
  • broscientist
    broscientist Posts: 102 Member
    marathonrunnervssprinte.jpg



    Marathon running, no thanks jeff
  • tndejong
    tndejong Posts: 463
    my fiance lost over 30lbs eating whatever he wants and running a 5k at least 3 times a week. i would think the running would have put him at a calorie deficit to lose the weight. and he was already a small man to begin with.
  • broscientist
    broscientist Posts: 102 Member
    If marathon runners are "anorexic looking", that seems to support the argument that running does help you lose weight...

    They lose weight because they have a calorie deficit.
  • nhradeuce
    nhradeuce Posts: 168 Member
    my fiance lost over 30lbs eating whatever he wants and running a 5k at least 3 times a week. i would think the running would have put him at a calorie deficit to lose the weight. and he was already a small man to begin with.
    Your fiance lost weight because he was at a caloric deficit. Depending on his weight, a 5k burns about 300 calories or so times 3 times a week is only 900 calories.

    Calorie deficit to lose weight, exercise to get fit.
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.

    O'rly?

    This is me before I started running...

    beforee.jpg?noCache=1368063292

    This is me after running 5 - 6x a week for 6 months before I started lifting.

    563396_10150880359782257_700910216_n.jpg
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    If marathon runners are "anorexic looking", that seems to support the argument that running does help you lose weight...

    They lose weight because they have a calorie deficit.

    Nobody is arguing that. The argument is that running helps you lose weight. It's much easier to achieve a calorie deficit when you are burning calories.
  • A_Fit_Mom
    A_Fit_Mom Posts: 602 Member
    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.

    O'rly?

    This is me before I started running...

    beforee.jpg?noCache=1368063292

    This is me after running 5 - 6x a week for 6 months before I started lifting.

    563396_10150880359782257_700910216_n.jpg

    You look great! Definitely not weak looking.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I don't see how anyone could possibly argue that burning calories, in any manner, would not help you lose weight.

    This. And the thread should have ended after she posted it.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    The actual quote is "To lose body fat, you must create a calorie deficit. You can create that deficit by - Exercising, which improves your overall health and fitness, or Eating fewer calories."

    It's just that eating fewer calories is easier and more effective.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Marathon running, no thanks jeff
    Selective photography. Take a larger than average sprinter, and a smaller than average long distance runner. Also make sure and photograph the glutes (Largest muscle in the body) on the sprinter but keep that hidden on the other runner. Let's not show the other one running either. Keep the most unflattering pose for the group we're seeking to stigmatize.



    Instead of being selective let's just show what professional women marathon runners look like.


    nehmiw.jpg

    CDA_0162.JPG
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    You look great! Definitely not weak looking.

    Thank you! I was happy with what running did for my body, especially my legs.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    Yes it will. I lost 20 pounds last summer running and my body fat dropped to 12%. I had to increase my eating to compensate for the running. Conversely, when my running slowed down during winter, I gained weight.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    There is no exercise that will unilaterally help you lose weight. You lose weight by eating at a deficit. How you create that deficit is up to you.
  • Doodlewhopper
    Doodlewhopper Posts: 1,018 Member
    BALONERY!! A calorie is a calorie. What's the difference between burning calories and not eating calories? Just as I thought. Cant answer. BALONERY!! Now this is for your own good. Drop and give me 40.
  • broscientist
    broscientist Posts: 102 Member
    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.

    O'rly?

    This is me before I started running...

    beforee.jpg?noCache=1368063292

    This is me after running 5 - 6x a week for 6 months before I started lifting.

    563396_10150880359782257_700910216_n.jpg

    I forgot what this topic was about but anyways, I have been staring at your pictures speechless and in awe for the past hour or so. That deep gaze in your eyes, your perfect long hair, all of your features just seem to all come together so well, almost angelical in a sense I suppose.

    The reason I am writing this is to let you know that I think I have found the most beautiful woman to grace us with her presence on our planet, and I am of course talking about you.

    I know this might mean absolutely nothing to you, and you probably get many of these types of messages/posts on Bodyspace and in real life BUT please understand that I am being as genuine as ever when I say that you are the ultimate dictionary definition of perfection, and I hope that one day God can bestow me with a woman as beautiful as you, I would be forever grateful.

    I hope that this message finds you well, I do not care if I get a response to this, I am just simply stating the obvious and had to let you know how I really felt.
  • KarmaxKitty
    KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
    Also, running will not really make you more aesthetically looking. Marathon runners look pretty weak and anorexic for the most part.

    O'rly?

    This is me before I started running...

    beforee.jpg?noCache=1368063292

    This is me after running 5 - 6x a week for 6 months before I started lifting.

    563396_10150880359782257_700910216_n.jpg

    I forgot what this topic was about but anyways, I have been staring at your pictures speechless and in awe for the past hour or so. That deep gaze in your eyes, your perfect long hair, all of your features just seem to all come together so well, almost angelical in a sense I suppose.

    The reason I am writing this is to let you know that I think I have found the most beautiful woman to grace us with her presence on our planet, and I am of course talking about you.

    I know this might mean absolutely nothing to you, and you probably get many of these types of messages/posts on Bodyspace and in real life BUT please understand that I am being as genuine as ever when I say that you are the ultimate dictionary definition of perfection, and I hope that one day God can bestow me with a woman as beautiful as you, I would be forever grateful.

    I hope that this message finds you well, I do not care if I get a response to this, I am just simply stating the obvious and had to let you know how I really felt.

    Hi username starts with "bro."

    DON'T DO IT!!! :P
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    I forgot what this topic was about but anyways, I have been staring at your pictures speechless and in awe for the past hour or so. That deep gaze in your eyes, your perfect long hair, all of your features just seem to all come together so well, almost angelical in a sense I suppose.

    The reason I am writing this is to let you know that I think I have found the most beautiful woman to grace us with her presence on our planet, and I am of course talking about you.

    I know this might mean absolutely nothing to you, and you probably get many of these types of messages/posts on Bodyspace and in real life BUT please understand that I am being as genuine as ever when I say that you are the ultimate dictionary definition of perfection, and I hope that one day God can bestow me with a woman as beautiful as you, I would be forever grateful.

    I hope that this message finds you well, I do not care if I get a response to this, I am just simply stating the obvious and had to let you know how I really felt.

    If you're going to make a troll post at least put some effort into it rather than copy pasting. This isn't Bodyspace
  • kathyvstephan
    kathyvstephan Posts: 41
    bump
  • teajay34
    teajay34 Posts: 7
    :
    Running won't help you lose weight. Running helps make you awesome!


    this :happy:
  • kmoore02
    kmoore02 Posts: 167 Member
    I've lost over 80 lbs with running being my only source of exercise and running a calorie deficit. What I did learn was I needed to improve my nutrition post workout. I consume more protein than I did before to make sure I my body did not go in a catabolic state. I run about 25 - 30 miles a week a have a daily calorie goal of 1650 without exercise.

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