Running

Schann7
Schann7 Posts: 218
in Fitness and Exercise
Has anyone lost weight through just running and watching their diet?

I am thinking about taking up jogging/running with my sister. She started a couple of weeks ago, and lost a couple of kgs already. I would like to lose 5kgs, and I just want to be fitter and have more energy! I also like the idea of running with headphones for a bit of "me time".

How far did you run and how often to see results (weightloss)?
What has running done for you? eg, changed your body in what way, improved your endurance? etc...

Thanks :drinker:
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Replies

  • sarahnull07
    sarahnull07 Posts: 18 Member
    bumping for curiosity
  • kriskris92
    kriskris92 Posts: 190 Member
    Bumping because I just started running as well so I'd like to see the replies :)
  • StephGettinFit
    StephGettinFit Posts: 43 Member
    Running is awesome for weight loss! It's excellent cardio and great for "me time".. Especially if you are able to run outdoors.

    I used to hate running and now I go on 7 mile runs on the weekend to challenge myself.. Caught the running bug for sure!

    Good luck!
  • Apicius
    Apicius Posts: 61 Member
    I did the C25K program and it has enabled me to stabilise my weight at a lower plateau (about 2kg down). So I haven't noticed a huge weight loss, but overall I feel leaner, much fitter, faster and have more muscles than I used to, all of which is a good thing!

    My heart rate also dropped from around 80bpm to 60bpm. I have never run before and find I can now (after about 6 months) run for 30 minutes, and can sprint faster. I did the whole program, and now run three times a week for 20-30 mins a time.

    I figure I will look a lot better when I finally hit target, but it still looks like diet control is the most successful way of losing weight. I was dissappointed not to see the weight fall off, but I feel better, so would recommend running anyway. It does give a clear headspace, and also more energy for doing other exercise.
  • julialla
    julialla Posts: 232 Member
    I am teaching myself to run now! I am still only beginning. This past week I have started to (seriously) watch my diet and keep track by holding myself accountable with mfp. But I have been learning to run for the past 2 months now. I could barely run a minute at first, but now I can run for up to 5 miles.

    Soo...I haven't seen any weight loss yet! But that's because I am only now starting to watch my diet. So, advice; yes, running can get you into great shape! But, you can't eat more just because you're running and "deserve it." Watch your diet, keep track of calories. I hope that I can follow my same advice and start seeing the scale go down. Have fun!
  • essaryswife73
    essaryswife73 Posts: 81 Member
    I just started C25K today. I'm hoping that along with eating healthier foods, the running will help get me in shape. I'm really looking forward to better stamina!!
  • veganlisa
    veganlisa Posts: 50 Member
    YES! It is working for me-I joined an exercise group and started run/walking & building up my intervals (more running) and distance as well. I started with 2 min walk/30 second run & now am at 30 second walk/2:30 run. I have completed two 5K's recently and have another this weekend. I am still not at the run only stage (but hope to be very soon).
    Until 2 weeks ago, I was run/walking 3 days a week and doing a long dog walk another day. Then 2 weeks ago I committed to working out another day or two during the week doing something different (spin class, elliptical, etc). I'm watching what I eat & how much too!
    If you are running and watching your food, I am sure you will be successful. It's worth a shot!
    BTW-My 'run' is not very fast- just a tad faster than my walk! :) I was a couch potato before though- so improvement!
    It has definately improved my endurance & tolerance for any type of exercise. I also had two people comment on my weight loss today which feels good.
    I started in January and have lost 25 lbs.
  • Birddog6424
    Birddog6424 Posts: 29 Member
    Running is the best calorie burner there is. But there is no way to tell you what kind of weight loss you will experience. Weight loss and fat loss is about diet. Not exercise. You can't out train bad nutrition.

    All I can tell with 100% certainty is that if your diet is dialed in, it is the best caloric consumption/ fat burner you could ask for.
  • Schann7
    Schann7 Posts: 218
    Thanks for all of the replies so far! I think I'm convinced to start running! :bigsmile:

    It sounds very successful!
  • pet1127
    pet1127 Posts: 572 Member
    bump
  • gemmaleigh1989
    gemmaleigh1989 Posts: 241 Member
    Running is one of the best cardio exercises. It's also great at toning legs and glutes when running up hill.

    Running is even better for fat loss when done in intervals (power walk-run-power walk-run etc) in say 5:1 ratio (5 minutes run, 1 minute walk). It's meant to be more effective than just running at the same pace the entire time because your heart rate is going up then down and back up again etc.

    Definitely give it a go! Try and stick with it for at least 3 weeks before you think about giving up as after about 3 weeks it will stop being a "chore" or a work out you have to do, and you'll start loving it!
  • SquidgySquidge
    SquidgySquidge Posts: 239 Member
    Running is a fantastic way to burn calories however it's important to remember that it's your diet that will mostly dictate your weightloss.

    I haven't personally seen any toning from running, I plan to start lifting soon for this reason.
  • skinnyme444
    skinnyme444 Posts: 86
    Last year when I started running at intervals, I lost 4lbs in a week but that's because I did like no exercise before hand. I have now started to run, can only run 1.5 miles but a few weeks ago I struggled to run 1/2 a mile so i'm builiding it up slowly. You have nothing to lose, set yourself goals and you never know, you may start to love it! Good luck :-D
  • EmilyGMcK
    EmilyGMcK Posts: 37 Member
    Running is poss the best thing I have ever taken up. I am doing 10k Training currently and running around 3 times a week and I am now adding the cross trainer in too!

    I am healthy eat (bar the last week because that was a disaster!) and I have really noticed a difference. I have lost just under 2 stone since Jan!

    Most of all I have noticed a change in my body, when I was this weight before I was a basicly flab. Now my legs are toning up, my arms also.

    I agree with the above ^ Running is deffo good "me time". You can clear your head and think about how much you want to change yourself and discover how hard you can push yourself! Although you can become a bit of a fitness bore :P

    I hope you enjoy running as much as I have! and you see good results!

    x
  • czmmom
    czmmom Posts: 236 Member
    I have lost weight by running and watching what I eat. Anytime you have a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. Any form of exercise will help with creating a deficit.
  • prium01
    prium01 Posts: 306 Member
    I love running, I have lost around 28 pounds in 3 months all because of running and checking on my food.You need to start really slow and then build up endurance.Also buy nice fitted running shoes else it would lead to injury.Proper form is also important.Stay well hydrated and get going!!!
  • bashomatsuo
    bashomatsuo Posts: 2
    Yes - lots (10kg running 3 times a week - 5k to gym, short gym, 5k back home) and I also (eventually) started to get "runners high" every time.

    Try this: http://www.outsidecontext.com/2012/05/29/zombies-run-a-running-game-with-bite/

    For motivation!

    Regards,

    Basho
  • 7631282
    7631282 Posts: 29 Member
    I to, began with the C25K app on my phone. I had a difficult time running for a full minute the first week. I have now completed the program and beginning it again. Concentrating on my form and time this go round. Since January, I am down 35 pounds. This was by diet and exercise. Do I enjoy running? Am I one of those that misses not getting out there and doing it when I miss a day? NOT YET, but it burns the most calories in the shortest amount of time and I am seeing results, so I keep at it. That in itself is motivating me at this point.

    Give it a go, what have you got to lose, other than weight.
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    Your main factor for weightloss is calorie deficit - so watching your diet is the key. Adding any exercise is a brilliant idea. Running is my main form of exercise, but I've added in other things I enjoy over time too.

    C25 is great, if you're starting out. And get some decent shoes.
  • anubhavsharma18
    anubhavsharma18 Posts: 63 Member
    I have been running since January 2013 and have lost 16 pounds. I run around 5 miles everyday on average. I run outdoor and not on treadmill as that gets boring. Using Endomondo also helps tracking my run. Having good playlist and listening to songs via headset also keep my mood up while running. A good stretching routine after running keeps Muscle stiffness away for next day and taking protein shake helps in recovery. Also tracking food intake and maintaining calorie deficit of minimum 500 calories a day is helping me achieve my goal.
    It has changed my lifestyle as now i remain active whole day and have more energy. Frequent Migraine pains seems to have gone away.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Has anyone lost weight through just running and watching their diet?

    I am thinking about taking up jogging/running with my sister. She started a couple of weeks ago, and lost a couple of kgs already. I would like to lose 5kgs, and I just want to be fitter and have more energy! I also like the idea of running with headphones for a bit of "me time".

    How far did you run and how often to see results (weightloss)?
    What has running done for you? eg, changed your body in what way, improved your endurance? etc...

    Thanks :drinker:

    Hi..If you eat at a calorie deficit, you will lose weight with running or any other exercise. Your finiteness levels improve and general health when you combine a calorie deficit for weight loss with exercise. Running will certainly help you become fit and totally energise you!

    Since I have started running, I have happily maintained my weight, I am not looking to lose more weight.
  • archie1964
    archie1964 Posts: 34 Member
    I started out walking around 5km a day then progressed to jogging when I knew my knees could handle it.

    Weekdays I jog 3km (1.6miles) in the morning or afternoon. Then on the weekends I jog around 6km (3.2 miles) on the Saturday and back to around 3km (1.6miles) on the Sunday.

    I have just recently started a 30 minute workout on a boxing bag, followed by a 3km (1.6miles) jog each day. Cardio workout is around 450 calories for about 50 minutes.

    I am losing around 1kg (2.2lbs) per week. In saying this I am only 1kg off my target weight and now will go into maintain mode.

    17kg (37.5lbs) lost in 83 days
  • fittertanme
    fittertanme Posts: 259 Member
    I only started running a few years ago and the last time I did any sort of running even cross country was at school every thursday afternoon and I hated every mile of it and was so glad to get back then after leaving school things got the better of me and soon the weight came on but who cared not me as I was ok with that but then started at the gym and found that I was doing more on the treadmill then started a few outside runs and then before you know it I was doing my first 5k park run and what a killer that was but still doing it today and who what have known I would have started running and enjoying it not me and thats for sure as for the weight loss you will lose weight as with any exercise but it all comes down to what and how much you eat and yes drink but you will get fitter/stronger and better each time and if your in a group its even better
  • nobleammonite
    nobleammonite Posts: 64 Member
    I lost about 10-15 lbs over a year and a half of running, but that was with my pre-calorie restriction food intake. I was ~35 lbs from my goal weight when I started running. I don't know how much weight I would have lost if I were eating less! I haven't done much running since signing up here because of an ankle problem, but I'm going to be getting back into it very soon. (Also new shoes yay!)

    I did C25K in two weeks or so over the "recommended" timeframe (I repeated a few days), then ran ~30 minutes every other day for a few months, then switched to doing 5k which for me ended up on average 36 minutes, although I got it down to around 34:50 before my ankle started hurting me. My runs are actually really long intervals - 9 min run / 1 min fast walk. I can run the whole 5k, but I'm generally 2 minutes slower than when I walk! I did "no walk" days every other week or so, but the long interval thing worked for me, especially since I run on HILLS and walk breaks feel really nice after a killer hill. After I feel comfortable running again I'm going to add more distance too.

    Oh, I also noticed that while I didn't lose a huge amount of weight with the running, it did redistribute and parts of me became leaner. Not nearly as lean as I'd like! But still, less squishy.
  • ukgirly01
    ukgirly01 Posts: 523 Member
    I lost my first 35lbs through running and watching my diet, it was bloody hard I wont lie, but then I was totally unfit, started running 1 minute and walking 2 ten times and built from there. Unfortunately, I was, as I said, very unfit and very over weight and while the running worked I kept getting injured, I eventually went to a strength and conditioning coach who wrote me a personalised strength program and I have to say it really helped my running, I no longer get injured and it helped my speed a massive amount. I'd thoroughly recommend running but I'd really think about doing it alongside a strength prog too. good luck
  • Schann7
    Schann7 Posts: 218
    Yes - lots (10kg running 3 times a week - 5k to gym, short gym, 5k back home) and I also (eventually) started to get "runners high" every time.

    Try this: http://www.outsidecontext.com/2012/05/29/zombies-run-a-running-game-with-bite/

    For motivation!

    Regards,

    Basho

    Thanks for the link! That app looks like a lot of fun!
  • jeets888
    jeets888 Posts: 2,237 Member
    Started running last year and have kept on, absolutely love running and spinning (cardio freak but i am making a concerted effort to train other parts of my body). i read various running mags/articles and that coupled with my own experience i can say the following:

    Running alone will not make you lose weight as with anything else, DIET is 60-70% of the battle ...
    Nutrition is key to improving your running goals
    ***Interval training as well as ***hill training will strengthen your running as well as aid weight loss (need to get that heart rate up)
    Musts for runners:
    1. Cross training
    2. Core training
    3. Stretching
    4. Down time
    Dont overtrain as running is joint intensive so injuries occur easily.
    Increase your training in 10% increments weekly

    Running is AWESOME, never thought i would get into it but now that i enjoy it, i want to improve upon it and if you improve your running i guarantee your health and weight will improve but thats a loaded statement as per above.

    I'm from South Africa and the popular and goal race for many is a 89km race called gthe Comrades marathon. One of the winners and a running guru in South Africa (Bruce Fordyce) said that improvement must be noted not in running better times in marathons but the 5km and 10km races (ties to why interval training is so important).

    Also finally to demonstrate my points above i will give an example of my running and a friends running (he actually got me into running - lets call him Bob). Last year April (weighing in around 90kgs) i attempted a 21km after like a month or 2 months training (if you can even call it training) - I did 2hrs53mins and Bob did 2hr20mins ...... 10km around that time i did 1hr20mins, Bob was averaging an hour then for a 10km. I Continued training (running and spinning mainly) and by June (weighing in around 88/87kgs) I started seeing some improvements, my 10km time dropped to 1hr01min and Bob came in on that particular race at 59mins .... remember Bob is a runner who ran 3 or 4 of those 89km marathons. All the while upping my hill training and interval training - i attempted another 21km end July .... i improved to run a 2hr19min race and Bob came in at 2hr16 .... injury hit me thereafter (ITBS), Saw a biokinetist, could not run for like 3 or 4 months but went hardcore into stretching, leg excercises and core conditioning as well as a much bigger focus on my diet .... End October or November i started slowly getting into my running (was stronger and lighter as weight decreased to 82/83kgs mainly with diet as could not run remember) .... so one fine evening at a friends birthday, took a bet with Bob that said he can choose a race this year february (bet taken in November 12 - gave me almost 3 months to improve further), 10km race, winner is the person finishing ahead of the other. Low and behold, weighing in at 80 odd kgs on race day i did my best 10km time of 54mins and Bob did 55mins .... just bear in mind that Bob is a marathon runner. So i hope you can draw the conclusions i stated initially from my lil story. Running alone does NOTHING .... you gotta keep pushing yourself and therein lies the difference.

    So - my goal now is to complete a 21km in sub 2hrs around mid year this year and then im moving on to compete with Bobs brother who is quite a strong runner :):)

    Keep re-inventing yourself and your goals! If you want it bad enough, you will get it ... whose to stop yolu but yourself!

    Oh and btw .... running with headphones outdoors is not a good thing and frowned upon by the running fraternity/purists lol (this i picked up after a few months), its fine on the treadmill though :)

    Happy running if you made it to the end of this and dont forget to enjoy yourself
  • Schann7
    Schann7 Posts: 218
    Wow! Thank you everyone for your great responses! :happy: I really appreciate it! Congrats to everyone who has suceeded so far with running! I hope to be there one day too :smile:

    It sounds like striving to improve is the key to running, so now I just have to find my starting point I guess! I llive in a very hilly area with great footpaths, but I'm also a short driving distance to a pretty flat bike track (maybe a slight slant here and there). Which would be better to start with?
  • lindylamey
    lindylamey Posts: 9
    I highly recommend the couch to 5k program!!! I only run and watch my calories and so far have lost 28 pounds, however my body is changing dramatically for the better!! I finished that program, adn am now on the 5k to 10k program, these are apps right on your phone!!! I love the me time, and making music playlists, and sometimes I let my sons follow in their bikes. Running has changed everything from my health, to the fact I feel like I a can accomplish anything I set my mind to :) Happy running!! Feel free to add me :)
  • 1mstrishy
    1mstrishy Posts: 4 Member
    good luck...I am not into running but I certainly enjoy a brisk walk or wog.

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