Running Miles Per Week

Running is a great way to lose weight! I've always been told that you can lose 100 calories per mile, no matter how fast or slow you go (this is average of course) but it is a great cardio regardless!

I do one long run per week and a few short runs during. I also do cycle, step, and body pump. I also recently started swimming for practices for my triathalon training.

I only run 12 to 17 miles a week and I have had great success with losing weight.

Of course, eating right, keeping my body fueled and trying to eat cleaner probably had a lot to do with that too...

I average about 25 miles a week.

Well, mathematically speaking, if you run 28 miles per week, and burn about 100 calories per mile, you'll be burning approximately 2800 calories per week with running.

Assuming you are eating at or below maintenance, yes, that may/should result in weight loss.

Yes and no...It's also an excuse to eat more. Since I started increasing my running to train for a marathon...I've actually gained weight. No, not just muscle. I have been eating more. My size small scrub pants are getting pretty snug.

I'm up to 50 miles and not losing. Unfortunately it's not a license to eat. On the positive side I'm not gaining.

No amount of exercise will outburn a crappy diet.

If you truly intend to run that many miles per week, I really think you should :

- Get fitted for running shoes.
- Start with controlling your nutrition and sleep. You will need plenty of fuel to do this consistently.
- Start VERY easy. Try a program like C25K, or an adaptation and see how it goes.
- When you try to ramp up mileage, do it by no more than ~10% per week, and step down a little every 3-4 weeks
- And really rethink why exactly you are doing this...

Running that much is not the easiest, nor the most efficient way to lose weight, but if what you want to do is endurance running, well this is great! Start easy, be very careful with nutrition and especially rest, and you'll do fine.

Before I joined MFP, I was running 50 to 70 miles per week and wasn't losing the last 10 pounds that I wanted to lose. I joined, started logging my calories and eating what I was told while eating back my exercise calories and I lost 12 pounds in about 12 weeks. My mileage didn't change, what I put into my body did. Maintaining a caloric deficit is what did it, not the miles.

I can't see where 28 miles per week would be any kind of magical number, you can lose weight walking, running, swimming, lifting weights, spinning etc etc etc (or not even exercising at all) as long as you are consistently eating at a caloric deficit. The rate of weight loss is dependent on the size of the deficit (eg avg 500 cal per day will, over time, avg 1 lb lost per week barring any metabolic disorders).

Personally I aim for between 40 and 50km (25 to 430 miles) per week spread over 4 runs. I also row, lift weights and ride my bike; and am more interested in the beneficial effect exercise has on my overall health and well-being than just weight loss.

Yah, this is my approach too, except for the 40-50km a week part. I just hit a personal high with nearly nine miles in a week.

That said, wow...28 miles a week...maybe someday...but right now, just the mere thought makes my legs turn to jelly.

I'm running 2 x 6 mile, 2 x 4 and 1 x long run (12ish) at the moment. So about 32 miles.

It takes a fair bit of effort to get yourself to a place where you're running that kind of distance, and a gradual build up is very important. It's also best to support running like this with some cross training and strength and flexibility training.

I lose weight ok. My body comp has changed a lot. (yes, lifters, running can indeed help you shift your body composition.... I even have muscles and stuff.... )

But I agree with Brian - there's no magic number. And to be entirely honest, I suspect I was losing more when I was running a little bit less.