Has running changed your body shape? And how much running do you do?

[losenotloose]

I'm in need of motivation! Thanks

Short answer no
I started running a few years ago. Back then I was a size 14 who had gone from 18 stone to 11 stone and they up to around 13 when I started running. Back then running made me hungry so I'd do a run and eat. I also didn't do any other exercise.
Got back into running last 2 years after having a child. Found it tough and kept getting injured thanks to weak everything. Built up strength doing weights, squats, stretches you name it but no my shape hasn't changed. I would so my legs are fairly toned, well the lower half but that's about it.
I run about 3 miles 3 times a week, previously used to run up to 10 miles a time

Running helped me lose weight, but didn't change my body shape. I had to give up running last year due to an injury and joined an online workout class (similar to Davina/Joe Wickes but a local one).
I have loads of 20/25/30 minutes sessions to choose from and a good mix of kettlebell, dumbbell, dance, boxing, core and cardio HIIT sessions, so it never gets boring. Over 6 months this has changed my body shape all over - just toned me up a bit everywhere. I've only lost about half a stone as I've not done any dieting with it, but have lost inches all over and am just a nicer shape in clothes now:-)

Running built up my calves but that’s it. Body pump changed my shape massively.

Yes and no.

I have changed shape and running has contributed to it.

I go running (2-3 times a week, up to 10K each time), I do yoga and I do Bodypump. The running keeps my weight down, tones my legs, and gets me, fitter. The body pump, twice a week, has toned me up all over. The yoga is more for stretching for the running and body pump, but it also has defined me as well because there are a lot of bodyweight exercises.

If you combine running with some toning exercises you will definitely see results.

Running has changed my body shape. Legs much thinner and shapely. Tummy is smaller/flatter. Arms more muscular.

@SchrodingersMat

Running built up my calves but that’s it. Body pump changed my shape massively.

In what way?

Yes.

I run 5-8km three times a week. Still eat the exact same amount of food (lots!), but lost a lot of weight. Not sure how much exactly (don't have scales) but enough to drop at least one dress size, from a 12/14, to a 10/12

Body shape - boobs got a lot smaller, as that's where I store most of my weight. Also lost a fair bit of my hips, but only an inch or so from my waist, so I've gone from being very hourglass shape to less so (not entirely happy about that tbh!).

I've combined running with a few strength exercises, e.g. squats, tricep dips, sit ups, which has led me to have more defined muscle in my legs and shoulders/arms as well.

No. Been running for over a year. A good week is
spin, resistance class, 5k and 10. 5k usually under 28 mins. 10k under an hour.

I was more toned when the gym offered more weights classes and I could go to pre work classes. In fact, my inner thighs are actually fatternow! Not muscle; fat.

Calves are more defined though. As are my incipient varicose veins.

But tbh, running is more about being out by myself and trying to beat my times. I know it's not going to make me lose weight or tone up by itself.

Only in terms of weight loss, although I find it harder to lose weight just doing cardio. I find running makes me hungry!

For me proper weights (deadlifts, squats, shoulder press etc…) and things like pull ups, push ups have been the only things that changed my body shape.

I run because I find it helps me clear my head but I’ll usually only do 1/2 runs a week and the rest of the week I’ll do CrossFit.

I have flatter feet, if that counts?

But I feel like I slouch less and have more interest in life.

4-5k three times a week at the moment. Sometimes I go further.

When I got into marathons I lost weight and my legs got a bit more toned but I confess to being a bit disappointed that my overall body shape did not change massively. When I took up rowing my legs and shoulders grew in siz and I had a lot more people commenting on how I looked.

I'm fatter than before I started running!! Every marathon has been detrimental to my waistline.

Yes! I lost 4 stone and started running because I had hit plateau. Since running, I have lost another 1 stone 10lbs and it's drastically changed my shape. Legs are thinner and more toned and I have a flatter stomach.

I have absolutely no boobs?!
I run ALOT 45/50 miles a week. I can eat a lot and stay pretty skinny but I’m not super toned at all.

Same as @lastqueenofscotland. I've lost weight (from around 10.5 to 9.5 stone) and find I have less impulse to eat out of boredom, but not toned in the slightest. My legs look better though.

It took me a while to get into but I'm very glad I did! I do around 10k 3x a week, and am gradually bringing it up to 4x, and the odd 15k. A few years ago I couldn't run more than a few minutes.

No, it’s just good cardio, I used to only run and it did me no favours really body shape wise, now I run max a couple of times a week for about 3 or 4 miles but I mix it in with my other workouts, for tone and body shape I do weighted and kettlebell workouts plus HIIT they really work, prefer them to running actually as you can really feel your muscles working hard. Sometimes I will just run a mile or two as fast as I can and then do a weighted workout.

Running (about 30mi a week outside mara training) really toned my core and bum, and burned body fat. And it made me feel happy and confident and energetic - so likely to be more active (cycling and swimming) and eat less garbage. Not running has also changed my body shape

Just getting back to running after a four year unplanned break from it. It slimmed me down slightly back when I first took it up. I trained for and ran a half marathon in 2017 and absolutely loved it, my legs seemed slimmer and in photos I just looked better in my clothes at the time. More than that I think I remember how it made me feel about my body shape, more than what it actually did to it aesthetically. I felt strong and made better food choices, and as a result I was way less harsh about what I saw in the mirror. I'll be interested to see if it makes the same difference to me this time round, as I put on two stone over lockdown the last four years, but I'm four years older now so there's that joy thrown in there!

Probably not that much but I'm lucky as I have good genes. Ask me if its changed my mindset then hell yes so much for the better. That reason alone is why I pound the pavements.

Yes massively. It was the only exercise I did to lose 4 stone (combined with a deficit of course) and gave me a flatter stomach, firmer thighs and a peachier bum!

Yes for me too. I run only once or twice a week and have a much flatter stomach, firm thighs.

It doesn't cost anything, you don't have travel anywhere to do it, you don't have to interact with anyone.

Yes, my arms and legs (especially thighs) are much more toned, and I lost the post-baby flabbiness from my tummy.
It took about 5 years, starting from being able to run about 40m to now running 10k.
I preferred to do it gradually, on my own for the first year and then park run and fun runs for the rest

I think it depends on your body shape and tendency to put on fat / muscle. I run 25 - 30 miles per week. Once I was over 20 miles per week consistently my body shape started changing.

My legs look strong and muscular but slimmer. My stomach is flatter. My arms are stronger. My face shape has changed and my posture is much better.

I put on muscle easily mind you - like a muscley hour glass.

Much better than that though is what it’s done to my brain. Much less anxiety.