The Nest

weight loss is about 80% eating, 20% exercising.

that being said, i think i lost a whopping 2lbs running.  i typically lose during the summer (july-august) though, so i'm not even sure it was attributed to running.  FWIW this is when i first started running and was doing 3-4x/week for 30 minutes training for a 5k.

I lost some weight by running, but didn't really see results until I cut out sodas, HFCS, and a bunch of other processed foods. Running and eating better go hand-in-hand for me; I want to fuel my body well so I can run well. I don't want to eat crap and junk and think I can just "run it off." Doesn't work that way.

 

 

I think weight loss & running can be tricky for some people.  Food plays such a huge roll in weight loss, its not all about exercise.  The calorie burn for running can easily allow you to think you are ok to eat whatever, thus why I GAINED weight while training for my first marathon..... despite logging 40-50 miles a week I was gaining weight as I was not eating right.

That said, I LOVE running!  I do 2-3 marathons a year, plus tons of other races.  It keeps me in great shape, combined with weight lifting of course too.  After my first marathon I really took a look at how I was fueling my body and dropped 20lbs over about 9 months.... this of course involved food, running and weight training.

Ditto what everyone else has said.  I have been running consistently since October and only noticed a drop in weight when I started really focusing on what I was eating. I actually gained a couple pounds because I thought that I needed to eat more because I was burning it off.  Even though I was eating healthy -- I was still eating way too much.  Portion control and healthy choices are the name of the game when trying to drop the pounds.

If you want to start your weight loss journey that way, it's a good way to get you pumped, stronger, and motivated.  After you see some positive results from that, you'll probably want to modify your eating a bit as well.

for me, it really is all about the running. I know that is not the case for most people, but for me... I eat healthy normally, and even with counting calories etc, I didnt lose weight at all unless I was resticting more than I should/could maintain. Other workouts didnt make a difference in the scale either. Nothing else really works for me. Running, though, makes a huge difference. I eat healthy but I dont count calories or restrict myself. I allow myself treats sometimes, I eat red meat, etc. But I still (slowly) lose. So far, I have lost about 12 pounds (in about 4 months, so yes, slowly) just from running. You cant eat whatever the heck you want and lose weight, or even maintain, regardless of running of course! But, for me, as long as Im running I can eat a healthy balanced intuitive diet wtihout restricting myself and with occasional treats etc and still lose weight (and Id imagine eventually when I get to my ideal weight, maintain)

 For most people, changes in diet are what make a difference in size and weight, though.

It takes a while but once you get going your metabolism will speed up. I noticed it still stayed this way even if I stopped for a little while.  It will not happen right away, but after a few months it will start to help. Running alone will not do it though, you'll have to try to change your eating a little.

I used to think that as long as I ran a lot, I would lose weight or keep it off.  Not so true.  Running does not equal weight loss in and of itself.

Running = health, activity, enjoyment, stress relief, competition

Weight loss = eating less calories then you burn

Thanks for all the great responses, ladies.  Not the answer I wanted but certainly the answer I expected!  I agree with some of the PP's in that running just makes me inclined to eat healthier.  If I have a big ole calorific meal after a run, I feel like it was a waste of a run, not earned.

I was running diligently and training for a half marathon and a few other small races for about a year,  I did not change my eating or drinking habits and lost 15 lbs over the course of the year.  

I've been walking/running for probably around 2 months now and have lost 10 pounds.  At the same time I changed my eating habits and even reduced my appetite without starving myself.  I just eat more often and stop myself before I get full (that was really hard in the beginning).  I really haven't given up the things I love like ice cream, but am much more able to eat it in moderation and am really not craving the bad stuff as much.  Working in fruits and veggies more often is the next step.

Hey, you can add up proper sleep with (exercise and healthy diet) to make it perfect.

                        

                                        

I agree that much of weight loss is diet, not exercise, but that being said:

 Cardio ups your resting metabolism for a few hours after you do it.  It can burn a couple of extra calories a day.  Not alot, but any will help.  Same with doing the actual exercise.  You may be suprised by how little you burn if you look on a website like exrx.net, but every little bit counts.

Hands down, the best way to get the BEST results for running is interval training.  On a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the hardest, do about 2 or 3 minutes working at like a 5 or 6, and 2 or 3 minutes at an 8 or 9.  Try this for 30 minutes, 5 times a day.

THey did research on running and it turns out that the positive training effect really minimizes if you do any more than 5 times a day, and the chance of injury goes up dramatically.  But to be healthy, you need to do at least 3 times a day.  I'd say your best bet is 4-5 days/week for AT LEAST 30 minutes a day!

Also, as far as that "fat burning zone" thing they talk about on treadmills. That's a myth.  Work as hard and as long as you can.  That's the best result. 

for the first 2 weeks you should cut out all (or the majority if you can't cut all) of your sugars (creamer in coffee, ice cream, soda, juices, candy...etc) then you can eat more in moderation the things that we all love! I actually want to eat better after my runs...I feel like it is a waste of time if I come home and eat Ring Dings or a big glass of soda. Plus I don't feel satisfied from the sugar, just makes me more thirsty!

GL

The way I look at it (and I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian who's eliminated most of my sugar intake, so definitely not the norm) - running/jogging/moving beyond the couch enables you to build muscle.  That's why it sucks so bad.  The pain is the muscle ripping/tearing and ultimately strengthening and growing.  With increased activity, you will eventually have increased muscle tone.  Sure, not a lot.  But your legs are gonna look HOT. 

With the increased muscle, you burn more calories doing the same activity.  That's why my Zumba instructor is burning twice the calories I am, even though we're both busting our butts to the same song.

The short of it is - no, you can't eat what you want.  Not yet.  In time (who knows how long?) you'll have built up sufficient resources that the second helping of icecream isn't going to break you. 

(Ps. DH is the PA - not me.  Just what I've gleened from our many conversations about weightloss.)