Only running works!!!!

I have tried all types of exercises from Zumba, Pilates, p90x, insanity, biking etc. You name it and the quickest and almost only way I lose weight and drop inches is by running. I put just as much effort in all the exercises. Is this normal?
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Replies

  • rempejeff
    rempejeff Posts: 46 Member
    Your not eating right.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Running has a different calorie expenditure then the other exercise routines you mentioned.

    Also, when you switch programs it is completely normal to hold onto water weight for a few weeks for muscle repair.

    Another thing to consider, is your appetite when you switch routines. I know that lifting always leaves me feeling like I'm starving so I usually have a protein bar handy for when I leave the gym, but with running I don't feel the same intense hunger and can usually go a couple hours without feeling the need to reach for a snack.
  • spkout2005
    spkout2005 Posts: 24 Member
    Wow lol
  • Serendipity0913
    Serendipity0913 Posts: 385 Member
    I'm completely with you on this @sammyre12!! I also have done everything. The only thing I've been able to do that I can see results is running! I've wanted to be a runner and recently I started the C25K program and for the first time ever I'm seeing results. The only thing I've ever done that even comes close to it is Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Oddly enough I was a runner in my 20's and never had a weight problem then.
  • Graphene1961
    Graphene1961 Posts: 2 Member
    1. Try eating healthy low glycemic index carbohydrates like delicious blue berries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries. Mix them up in a spinach salad or eat them as a snack. If salad avoid oil based dressings. You can sprinkle a few good nuts like raw almonds for a treat. Stay away from high glycemic index carbohydrates. Eat good proteins eggs (whites only), white fish (baked or broiled) with a little bit olive oil (cod, halibut ) stay away from trashy Talpia. Roast an organic turkey breast roast another lean good source of protein. stay away from red meats and "the other white meat" as the National Pork Board calls it.
    2. Exercise with consistency everyday for one hour.
    3. Limit alcohol - but don't eliminate if you have a problem with going without, only in moderation and as a reward when you have a good week or a particularly good work out ( like a 60 mile bike ride = one or at most two drinks).

    Stick with this for 5 to six weeks and you will see the results (i.e. your weight and fitness level improve decisively). I have done this before and lost 30 lbs in six weeks. But you must stick with the exercise and diet.

    Stay away from processed foods and high glycemic foods/ additives especially colored sugar/corn syrup beverages and the diet POPS. Try refreshing Seltzer water (soda water) and avoid at all these "Sports" drinks like Gatorade and there ilk they will really mess up your diet and your over all health. Drink water with fruits (types presented above) this will give you energy with a slow even burn not a insulin spiking response and crash that G-ades give you.

    I am starting this diet again as of today, May Day. Give it a try and let me know how it works.

    If you are interested to know how the diet progresses for me during this month of may let me know.

  • chsberthelot
    chsberthelot Posts: 76 Member
    It's all about diet mostly but different types of exercises work better on diff people. It's all about finding what works best for you
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    I have run beofre and it has helped with weightloss.

    This time I am walking and 30 lbs are gone.
    So for me walking can work too

    The big key is watching what I eat.
  • giomarine13
    giomarine13 Posts: 10 Member
    I've lost more wait by long distance and vigorous swimming combined with running
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited May 2016
    Clearly you aren't putting the same effort in terms of calorie burns when doing the other activities.
    These would be really hard to get a reasonable calorie estimate for: Zumba, Pilates, p90x, insanity.

    But if you can't match your running burns when cycling you weren't cycling far enough/fast enough!

    But we all have a favourite exercise that we enjoy and will push ourselves with so it's good you have found yours.
  • BodyByBex
    BodyByBex Posts: 3,685 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Clearly you aren't putting the same effort in terms of calorie burns when doing the other activities.
    These would be really hard to get a reasonable calorie estimate for: Zumba, Pilates, p90x, insanity.

    But if you can't match your running burns when cycling you weren't cycling far enough/fast enough!

    But we all have a favourite exercise that we enjoy and are will push ourselves with so it's good you have found yours.

    This.
    I'm lucky enough that I enjoy all forms of exercise! Well...almost all. (Every elliptical on earth can go die in a fire)
  • 2015Jason
    2015Jason Posts: 34 Member
    +1. I hate running. A lot of people hate it, but do it anyway. If you like it, consider yourself lucky and go for it!
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    sammyre12 wrote: »
    I have tried all types of exercises from Zumba, Pilates, p90x, insanity, biking etc. You name it and the quickest and almost only way I lose weight and drop inches is by running. I put just as much effort in all the exercises. Is this normal?

    It sounds like you didn't appropriately adjust your calorie intake to match the calorie burn from the non-running exercise.

    You aren't expending as many calories with the other exercises so you can't eat as many calories.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    + 1 on the running. I don't like feeling hungry and running allows me to snack & drink wine while losing. I think running is a very efficient way to burn calories. Yes I possibly do this by deficit alone but if running works and I enjoy it, why not. I also put on about twenty pounds when I slacked off my running so I am working back up to my 30 miles a week....and losing again.
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    rsclause wrote: »
    + 1 on the running. I don't like feeling hungry and running allows me to snack & drink wine while losing. I think running is a very efficient way to burn calories. Yes I possibly do this by deficit alone but if running works and I enjoy it, why not. I also put on about twenty pounds when I slacked off my running so I am working back up to my 30 miles a week....and losing again.

    Nobody said not to run, keep doing it because it is great for cardio health. And since you enjoy it, even better.

    The bolded part explains why running is not a weight loss technique. You have to understand portion control and calorie expenditure so when you aren't running you don't put on 20 lbs.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Loosing weight and dropping inches is not attributed to exercise, you will loose weight in a calorie deficit regardless of what exercise you choose.

    ^^^
  • Graphene1961
    Graphene1961 Posts: 2 Member
    1. Try eating healthy low glycemic index carbohydrates like delicious blue berries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries. Mix them up in a spinach salad or eat them as a snack. If salad avoid oil based dressings. You can sprinkle a few good nuts like raw almonds for a treat. Stay away from high glycemic index carbohydrates. Eat good proteins eggs (whites only), white fish (baked or broiled) with a little bit olive oil (cod, halibut ) stay away from trashy Talpia. Roast an organic turkey breast roast another lean good source of protein. stay away from red meats and "the other white meat" as the National Pork Board calls it.
    2. Exercise with consistency everyday for one hour.
    3. Limit alcohol - but don't eliminate if you have a problem with going without, only in moderation and as a reward when you have a good week or a particularly good work out ( like a 60 mile bike ride = one or at most two drinks).

    Stick with this for 5 to six weeks and you will see the results (i.e. your weight and fitness level improve decisively). I have done this before and lost 30 lbs in six weeks. But you must stick with the exercise and diet.

    Stay away from processed foods and high glycemic foods/ additives especially colored sugar/corn syrup beverages and the diet POPS. Try refreshing Seltzer water (soda water) and avoid at all these "Sports" drinks like Gatorade and there ilk they will really mess up your diet and your over all health. Drink water with fruits (types presented above) this will give you energy with a slow even burn not a insulin spiking response and crash that G-ades give you.

    I am starting this diet again as of today, May Day. Give it a try and let me know how it works.

    If you are interested to know how the diet progresses for me during this month of may let me know.

    So you have done this diet before but here you are again doing it.


    Yes, I am back on it again, The Wisconsin winter took its toll and I am a little heavier than I would like to be to ride my bike up hills. This diet works along with exercise. A nutritionist friend of mine designed a study around this diet and was part of his masters thesis.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    Running is a great calorie burn, so if you aren't carefully tracking calories you may see a difference. I also find that it helps me cut even while carefully tracking because it burns enough calories that I don't get ragey from hunger. Your results may vary. It's great that you've found an approach that works for you.
  • FatMomRun
    FatMomRun Posts: 28 Member
    I know I have more success with running only because I enjoy running more than any fitness class I have been too.

    Zumba, Jazzerize, Kickboxing, etc... I feel uncomfortable in a class setting so I'm not doing the exercises correctly or working at the same effort (way to self conscious).
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Eat the amount of calories that fit your lifestyle. The end.


    Run if you want. Running is fun but totally unnecessary.
  • llUndecidedll
    llUndecidedll Posts: 724 Member
    edited May 2016
    I had similar feelings in the past. I would always see a quick reduction in my size once I started jogging (can't run) again. I would jog 60- 90 minutes at my local park daily and the inches would just melt away. I wonder how many calories I was burning at my slow pace.
  • sammyre12
    sammyre12 Posts: 29 Member
    I log most of my days and stick to my calorie deficit. I also wear my Fitbit so I know that I do put the same amount of effort and time into other exercises. I make sure that my heart rate is over 145 for my age height and weight ratio. I can lose weight with other exercises but it is much muucchhhh slower. Inches also come off slower but running seems to work. I eat pretty healthy. I could cut out more carbs but I eat the same on all exercise plans. I'm glad there is at least one other person out their like me
  • SarahPeters3
    SarahPeters3 Posts: 100 Member
    sammyre12 wrote: »
    I log most of my days and stick to my calorie deficit. I also wear my Fitbit so I know that I do put the same amount of effort and time into other exercises. I make sure that my heart rate is over 145 for my age height and weight ratio. I can lose weight with other exercises but it is much muucchhhh slower. Inches also come off slower but running seems to work. I eat pretty healthy. I could cut out more carbs but I eat the same on all exercise plans. I'm glad there is at least one other person out their like me

    There's your problem. The other exercises don't burn as many calories hence why you don't lose weight as fast with them....
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I think it's so funny how people love to jump on threads like this and say you can't outrun/outexercise a bad diet (which I happen to agree with). Then on other threads when people talk about cheats, treats, and restriction, people say eat what you want to and exercise more to burn it off. HUH?
  • Marycycles
    Marycycles Posts: 48 Member
    I lost 105lbs running, it suppressed my appetite and I had lots of calories to eat never felt hungry. Knee injury has me biking and yes I can burn 2000 calories easily with biking, but it leaves me starving and I know all to well how to binge eat! Have gained 60lbs back! Even doing 6325 road miles! Calories verses deficit does count, but running is magic for weight loss!
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    sounds like running is the only solution until you get hurt. then its cico all the way