training to run a 5K

MrsDangerousCurves
MrsDangerousCurves Posts: 85 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Your advice please....My hubby wants me to run a 5k with him when he gets back. So I'm going start training this weekend. Now, how do I train and NOT lose any more weight? I'm doing a pretty good job of maintaining. Do I eat back the calories that I burn? I don't want to get any smaller than I am now. Thanks for the help. Sorry for the stupid question but I'm clueless....

Replies

  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    5k. You will be looking to lose around 250-400 calories depending on your speed so it is not a massive amount to make up hit your goal.

    You shouldnt need to do masses of training unless you are trying to be competitive. 5k is quite a nice distance.
  • MrsDangerousCurves
    MrsDangerousCurves Posts: 85 Member
    I haven't ran in years, thus the training. LOL I need to work up to running the whole distance. No competition at all. Just doing it for the fun of it
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Do I eat back the calories that I burn?

    Yes. For a 5K I'd generally burn about 400 KCals.

    All the best
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Oh yeah, if you do want to track your calories, I would a phone app such as Runkeeper or Mapmyrun. Will give you a bit more accuracy than just putting the time and speed into MFP because MFP doesnt take into account the elevation and the exact pace/speed you are going at.
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    If you want to maintain, then yes, track your calories and eat them back. Your burn will depend on a lot of things. A rule of thumb is 100 calories per mile, but in practice that may be quite different (mine is more like 90 cals/miles).

    A good equation for net calories burnt while running (that is, calories burnt over what you would burn just standing and being alive for that time) is 0.63 x your weight x miles ran.

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