How soon did you start seeing results from running?

If by toning up you mean firming up your body, then you need to build some muscle as well as burning off some fat. You would benefit from lifting weights as well as running.

Also, don't expect any changes in 2 weeks - you are looking at 2 months or more before any big visible changes kick in.

I started c25k on May 29th, am now up to running 1.5 miles straight, and I'm just now starting to see results. I think 2 weeks is too soon to expect to see any major results.

Honestly. with all my running I don't think it really helped me loose any weight.

It made me more active, stronger, more endurance, and wanted to do more!!
It was the best thing I could have done to get my fat behind off the couch. I love it.

After I run I'm not as hungry and I don't binge at night. All my weight loss has been due to my calorie deficit. So keep up the running, if anything its going to make you retain more water as you put on some leg muscle. Then you will get to the point were the number on your stop watch means more than the number on your scale.


also, get on the couch 2 5k program if you need some running schedule. I loved it.

It will take months to see changes, I have been running for over a month and my husband says he can see changes, but I can't yet. I know I'm getting smaller though because when I started, I bought size large running shorts, and last week I had to go out and buy some size medium because the large ones were too big!

Try the Couch-to-5K program: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Along with calorie counting and healthy foods, running for this program and then following it with the Bridge to 10K helped me lose 20 pounds two years ago, most of which I have kept off.

So it's okay to do what I'm doing then? But just make sure I push mysef to run more and more each time then?sorry new to this running thing. I used to train horses. I know how to get HORSES in shape and from doing that I would get in shape as well. I don't know how to train myself to become a runner though. lol

You can go by how you feel and try to increase the distance a little each week which is how I did it. Don't increase by more than 10% is a good rule of thumb. Alternatively you could follow a structured program like couch to 5K and then bridge to 10K.

Yeah my diet is pretty good. We were vegan, but now are going to a 90% raw food diet. And what is a good caloric intake? I have been eating around 1200? Is that good? I've also heard that you should eat MORE calories to loose weight? How do I know if I am eating enough calories but also not eating too much?

I'm going to just guess that you need to eat more. Did you see what mfp tells you to eat for a 1lbs per week loss?
And when you run, say you are eating 1500 normally. you run and burn say 500 calories. You should eat a total of 2000 for the day. Your an athlete now, not some sickly thing. So get on board with the gravy train and eat up.

Someone once told me: it takes 3 months to get in shape, 3 weeks to get out of shape. I think it's pretty accurate ;-)

I've been a runner for 3+ years now, and currently training for a half-marathon.

Running will tone up your leg muscles, especially the calves and harmstrings. But it will take a few months for you to see a difference muscle-wise.

I also advise running no more than 5 days a week. It is a difficult, high-impact sport, and is hard on the muscles. To avoid injury, I suggest doing some non-impact crosstraining on the days you do not run (swimming, walking, weights, elliptical trainer, cycling).

Also, do not increase mileage by more than 10% every week - again, to avoid injury.

Running is the best (or one of the best) calorie-burning exercises out there, but to get max benefits, it should be completed with other kinds of exercises.

Just my 2 cents! HTH!

Good luck and keep up the great work!

My husband and I training for half marathons half marathons 3 years ago. We have now done 5 of them and are training for our 6th. I had never ran more than 3 miles before I started training but I found a good training schedule that made reaching the goal of 13.1 miles more obtainable. I didn't really need to lose weight (although I definitely didn't mind and felt better about myself after) but I did end up losing several pounds without even trying while training for the first half marathon and a couple more during the next. With the schedule we were able to run the whole 13.1 miles in about 10 minute miles while carrying on conversation most of the way. We would definitely recommend a training schedule. It increases the distances slowly with a longer run on the weekend and it allows for rest days. They say it is ok to walk some if you need to but complete the whole distance. Here is a link to the website that we used for our training schedule. It also has a schedule for 8k training. The links for the schedules are near the middle to end of the page.

http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/marathon/training.htm

I also recommend signing up for a race of any length. Knowing that we spent money on a race and wanting to be able to run the whole thing without walking really helped to keep us motivated.


BTW after a few weeks of training I really began to feel better about myself and more in shape. I ended up with legs that are more toned and a flatter stomach without really doing any other exercises. Some weight/strength training does help you to tone and burn more calories though. Hope this helps! Good luck!

I've been running for a month and have started to see results already.

My plan:

* Running 3-4 times a week using the C25K podcasts (http://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx). I've just started Week 5.

* Eating fewer calories so losing a pound a week at the same time (I'm eating to my BMR - http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ - and think that 1200 is generally too low for most people).

* Eat back as many exercise calories as I need to stop feeling hungry (some days I eat all of them back, some days none)

* Get other exercise in on some of my days off from running (hiking and Jillian Michaels DVD No More Trouble Zones - great for strength training and getting your arms in shape)

Results after a month:

* Five pounds lost

* One inch off my waist

* Posture much better - noticeably standing up straighter and not slouching as much

* Legs are starting to take shape, getting more defined muscles (weight loss will be explosing what is underneath too)

* Feeling much stronger overall and recovering from exercise faster (the main reason for me doing the running)

* Skin is glowing and really clear

My advice would be - download a C25K programme (Google it for loads of options), do it three times a week, get in some other exercise (preferably strength training with weights) and reduce your calorie intake.

Oh, and come and join our group!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/30-couch-to-5k-running-program-c25k

I'm curious as well. I start week four of a 12 week running for beginners program (which is easier than c25k... sadly I couldn't keep up with c25k) on Tuesday. I'm not necessarily discouraged, but we live in a world of instant gratification, and it's odd that I don't see much of a difference. I know I'm making progress because I was (still kind of am) in horrible shape. I couldn't keep a running/jogging pace for more than around thirty seconds. This next week has me running 1 minute and walking 1 minute for twenty minutes. So far, so good. I haven't had too much of a problem keeping up (it IS difficult, but I push myself)