Running

[MutantDisco]

I'm determined to lose a stone but I want to do it through exercise/burning calories - I find going for a run staves off hunger pangs for a good few hours.

At the moment I can only run early on a weekend morning, as I work every day and the boys have to be at childminder's for 7.30am. I'm hoping to sneak out on a weekday morning at 5am when it's lighter.

I'm doing about 20 minutes which - at my varying/slow speed - is 3.5k. I'm going to attempt the full 5k tomorrow.

If I did 5k four times per week, would it have any impact on my weight/appearance? Is running toning, or do I need to do weights etc. too?

[JellyTeapot]

It's generally quite toning, although personally I haven't lost a single pound even though I'm training for a marathon. I also found when I started running longer distances I developed calf muscles like a soviet shot putter - skinny jeans and knee high boots are a bit of a challenge!!

[MutantDisco]

Uh-oh, that's not the look I'm going for!!

I used to have quite toned abs etc so I'd like them back, post-babies...I'm also looking a bit chubby and could do with slimming down arms especially.

[LaPufalina]

I went out at lunch and did a similar pace 5k (just under 30 mins). I'm 39/9st7 and strava said I burned 257 calories I was really going for it on the fifth kilometre too!

[MutantDisco]

@LaPufalina I'm (just) 38, 10st7lb, ideal weight is probably 8st7 maybe I'm not as slow as I thought?? Tried some sit-ups earlier, my stomach muscles have had their day

[MutantDisco]

I read somewhere it should be about 100 calories per mile, so yours is about right...

[LaPufalina]

Hopefully it was more like 300 then! My DH is (much) younger, taller and faster and his says he burns 1000 kcal on a 45 min run, that'd be about 8/9 miles for him but I guess more weight to shift (13.5st) and more muscle mass?

[LaPufalina]

I was hoping it'd be time running rather than miles covered

[Redcrayons]

I run about 20 miles per week and don't think it helps me lose weight. My legs and bum look pretty toned though. Doesn't have any effect on my arms or stomach.
Rule number one, don't eat your exercise calories. This is the hard bit because I'm always starving after a long run.

[MutantDisco]

I actually feel less hungry than usual after running, so I stand a good chance of shifting some pounds then maybe?

[lastqueenofscotland]

Regardless of speed it’s about 100 cals per mile.

I’ve running and it makes me incredibly happy but the runners you see that look ripped spend a lot of time in the gym.
I once heard the phrase if you want to change your body lift weights if you want to change your life try running

[OddestSock]

I've done c25k and over the past 3 months have lost about 20lb (even with Christmas in there!) through running and being more mindful about what I eat. I started at 12 stone 3

[MutantDisco]

oddest well done!! I hope I'm able to do the same. I did C25k years ago so just got straight back into one long run as I knew I had the stamina somewhere along the line!