4 weeks of running and NO results?!

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Replies

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    So, I've been running (er, attempting!) 5 days a week for the past month and I've seen NO results (well, physically speaking). I started out only being able to run for only 30 seconds, and now I run for 1 n 1/2 minutes, walk for 1 n 1/2 minutes, repeat for 30 minutes.

    How far do you actually run? Fifteen minutes on a 12 minute mile is about 1.5 miles. That's going to burn a net of 1 calorie per pound of body weight.

    IE, not very much.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    You're eating very little, if your diary is correct. With so little to lose, you should set your goals to .5lb/week. It will come off slowly.

    at 5'9 145, I maintain just fine on 2200-2400 a day (this includes running about 20 miles a week, I up my calories to account for more miles). But you have to measure everything, with a scale, not by dry measure.

    Very good advice.
    Yes. This. I'm roughly your height, roughly your weight and over twice your age (therefore I "need" fewer calories). I run three or four times a week. I eat about 1000 calories MORE a day than you do if you're logging as accurately as you say. And about three or four times as much protein.

    ETA: as others have said...you have very very very very little to lose. Aim for .5LBS a week for those last FEW pounds.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Sorry but, intensity DOES have a huge factor correlating with calories being burned. Each person burns calories at a different rate.

    If you run X miles while weighing Y pounds, you are going to burn almost exactly the same number of calories regardless of how fit you are or how "hard" it feels you exerted yourself.

    What fitness allows you to do is cover more time (i.e. more calories) in less time.
    You will not burn the same calories doing the same thing over and over because your body adapts and increases aerobic capacity.

    Yep, you will, to a very high degree of accuracy.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Dump anything with sugar in it. Sugar will stop weight loss in it's tracks. Lower carbs.
    Eat more veges and lean meat or fish. It's 85% diet. Exercise is good but it really is secondary to your diet. Good luck.

    Come on. Are you kidding? Sugar will not stop weight loss.
  • WhataBroad
    WhataBroad Posts: 1,091 Member
    While you didn't say what results you are looking for, I'm guessing that you're looking to lose fat.

    If that's the case, here's an excellent site (free), and article.

    http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

    I promise that if you follow what it says, you WILL lose fat!!

    Good Luck.
    awesome article!
    /thread
  • donjessop
    donjessop Posts: 186
    To the women who are targetting "underweight" according to BMI, I only have one question: why?

    Although this is only my personal opinion, if you are in the normal weight range and you want to look smaller, build up your muscle mass. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat and takes more calories to keep it working properly than a pound of fat. When you are in the normal weight range you should be concentrating on becoming healthier, not necessarily lighter. My daughter is 5ft 5 inches tall and weighs 112 pounds. She is 12 years old. She has a lot of growing left to do and I anticipate her weight to continue to climb. Healthy wins over weight every time. Eat LOTS more protein to build that muscle and you will look smaller and feel better.
  • angie007az
    angie007az Posts: 406 Member
    Dump anything with sugar in it. Sugar will stop weight loss in it's tracks. Lower carbs.
    Eat more veges and lean meat or fish. It's 85% diet. Exercise is good but it really is secondary to your diet. Good luck.

    Come on. Are you kidding? Sugar will not stop weight loss.

    That is my experience, and research shows that if sugar is present, your body will burn that instead of the fat that you are trying to burn off. It will slow weight loss for 3 days according to what I've read.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Dump anything with sugar in it. Sugar will stop weight loss in it's tracks. Lower carbs.
    Eat more veges and lean meat or fish. It's 85% diet. Exercise is good but it really is secondary to your diet. Good luck.

    Come on. Are you kidding? Sugar will not stop weight loss.

    That is my experience, and research shows that if sugar is present, your body will burn that instead of the fat that you are trying to burn off. It will slow weight loss for 3 days according to what I've read.

    This is completely false and nonsensical. Please don't repeat this misinformation.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Dump anything with sugar in it. Sugar will stop weight loss in it's tracks. Lower carbs.
    Eat more veges and lean meat or fish. It's 85% diet. Exercise is good but it really is secondary to your diet. Good luck.

    Come on. Are you kidding? Sugar will not stop weight loss.

    That is my experience, and research shows that if sugar is present, your body will burn that instead of the fat that you are trying to burn off. It will slow weight loss for 3 days according to what I've read.
    How do you know your body is burning sugar rather than fat? And citations for this very iffy information please?
    PS: I don't eat foods with added sugar, and yet I disagree with virtually everything you've typed thus far.
  • puckertoe
    puckertoe Posts: 16 Member
    I cycled across europe this summer.... came back just as fat (200lb 5'3'')as I went! I agree its the carbs... through portugal and Spain I actually lost a bit round my middle. In France I succumbed to Carbs for every meal and paid the price. I am definitely fitter and now have just gone on a Keto low carb diet a couple of weeks ago and so far dropped 6lb.
    In the past I have been an ultr runner and triathlete even then struggled to keep the fat off, that was 20 years ago when we where told to eat high carb and low fat.... For me personally I think I would have run, cycled and swam much better on a LCHF diet.
    So don't dispair, have a crack at experimenting with what works for you.. I've gone for 80% cals from fat and feel better than I have for 15 years amd out on my mountain bike 4 times a week and you just cant hold me down now.
  • kelleybean1
    kelleybean1 Posts: 312 Member
    To the women who are targetting "underweight" according to BMI, I only have one question: why?
    When you are in the normal weight range you should be concentrating on becoming healthier, not necessarily lighter. My daughter is 5ft 5 inches tall and weighs 112 pounds. She is 12 years old.

    This^^^^ Do you really want to have the physique of a 12 yr. old? I was underweight in my early 20's (5'5" 105 lbs) and thought I was fat. Looking at pictures now, I looked horrible! Choose a healthy weight, and FGS eat some protein!
  • zipperfall
    zipperfall Posts: 45 Member
    So, I've been running (er, attempting!) 5 days a week for the past month and I've seen NO results (well, physically speaking). I started out only being able to run for only 30 seconds, and now I run for 1 n 1/2 minutes, walk for 1 n 1/2 minutes, repeat for 30 minutes.

    How far do you actually run? Fifteen minutes on a 12 minute mile is about 1.5 miles. That's going to burn a net of 1 calorie per pound of body weight.

    IE, not very much.

    I run 3 miles :)
  • zipperfall
    zipperfall Posts: 45 Member
    Thank you to all the answers. Some say I'm eating too much and just not logging it, while others say I need to eat more. I believe my college is extremely good with portion control (measuring out servings before handing them to you), although you're right, it's not scale, but dry measurement. I'll try and be more conscious about my carb intake and throw some more protein into my diet. Thank you all so much for the advice.

    I'll also work on finding some beginner weight training workouts.

    ALSO** To be fair, I looked back at some pictures I took at the beginning of working out, and now, and I do see *some* change. I do have a more clearly defined ab line, I was just bloated from shark week when I posted this. Partially discouraged by that and the weight gain, I just wanted to get some feedback from those who have experienced what I am experiencing.

    Thank you all again for taking your time to answer my question(s)!!

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