Has anyone done calorie counting along side C25k?

[chaosisaladder]

If so, how has it been for you?

I’ve got two stone to lose and I’m on week 5 of C25k - I’ve been doing it for my mental health more than anything and it’s working wonderfully so far.

I haven’t lost any weight but I’ve only started calorie counting again this week after 5 months off!

Any success stories or advice gratefully received!

I did. I graduated C25k last week and was dieting using mfp same time. It was absolutely fine - as far as I can tell from reading at a 5k or less distance you really don’t need anything special in terms of fuel. You can eat less or even fast and be fine.
I’ve lost 18lb out of 21 I wanted to lose

The c25k won't have much impact on weight loss (but it's an amazing thing to do!) so if you want to lose weight the calorie counting is the most important element.

I found it had a big psychological impact for me - I didn’t want to waste all the hard work of the runs so I ate less! But I know some people have the opposite reaction

Thank you for these responses - I’ve just finished week 5 this morning (20 min run - euphoric!) and stepped on the scale for the first time in a week and it says a 5lb loss, but I know that’s water weight and I’ve got a long way to go.

Thank you for being honest - it’s so easy for me to assume that running means I can indulge.

I'm doing both but I've discovered not to count exercise points. Certainly on MFP they seem to be massively over generous. It's best to just pretend exercise points don't exist.

I definitely find it aids the whole enterprise on a psychological level. You feel much more empowered and postive, even after Week 1 when you've barely broken into a trot!

Well done so far. I did c2 5k 2 years ago alongside WW. I have lost just under 4 st and maintained for over 18 months. I now run regularly and do at least 1 10K race a month. I am completely unrecognisable physically but mentally is the biggest change. I don’t know who you are using as your voice coach on the c2 5 k but the moment Sarah Millican told me I was a now a runner, I think on week 7, was the best moment ever.
As previously said don’t count the exercise as points to eat.

elspeth no quite right, I don’t put my runs into MFP. Though it would be lovely to have some more calories! And at trot... some of my run this morning was definitely a gentle trot

mild ooh that made me feel a bit emotional - desperately after a mental makeover. Nothing major as such, just sick of feeling unhappy in myself which leads to stress and on and on... biggest thing when I’m doing these runs is shutting down that part of me that automatically wants to give up when the going gets tough. Congratulations on your weight loss!

Ohh I'm glad to read this.
I'm going to start c25k today.
I normally wear my Fitbit and eat my calories but that's not working so I'm going to just stick to my daily calories for sedentary and ignore the exercise ones.

treacle good luck! I need to get a Fitbit actually. I’m on week 7 of C25k and I can’t recommend it enough - I’m running 25 mins non stop now which is crazy! It really does work if you stick at it

Thanks chaosisaladder!
I'm not sure running will be good for my knees (seem to have some weakness) but I'm going to give it a go.
The thought that I could run anywhere is laughable 😂