Why havnt I lost weight running ??

[nead888]

So I've been running since last October ( 8 months now ) I run around 30k a week , I do squats , sit ups and lunges on alternative days . So why the hell havnt I lost a single pound ??? I'll be honest when I say my diet is pretty much the same ( I'm healthy and do have the occasional treat and wine etc ) but even so I havnt been eating more . I was really un fit before I took up running too . If anything my legs are chunkier and I've put on a couple pounds 😥 I'm running up loads of steep hills etc too . What's going on ?? I'm 5ft3 and 8st 4 . I know that's not heavy but I expected my thighs to tone and slim but they are still flabby 😤

Exercise for fitness, diet for weight loss.

Probably your eating slightly more to cover the exercise calories and not noticed. Your gain is probably muscle gain

Ever heard the saying 'you can't outrun a bad diet'?

Not that i'm saying you have a bad diet just that exercise has very little baring on weight loss.

I lost 30lb over 3 months with a broken foot with diet alone. its much more effective.

Also i imagine you have gained lots of muscle too right? you are fitter? weight isnt everything.

Because 30km week equates to 1900 calories which given that cardio makes most people hungry you are probably managing to eat to maintain without realising.

I was a mad keen club runner in my 30's (sadly no more)......I never lost weight by running, only by diet.

Haha aaaah it's so annoying !!! 😂 right - so I def need to make more effort eating a lot healthier . I do feel like I've built loads of muscle , but it's annoying as it's hiding under flab 😤

I'm 5ft 4" and weigh similar to you. With exercise alone, I only maintain. I run 60km a week, cycle, lift weights, walk 17,000 steps a day, do interval training and climb. I never lose weight without dieting too.

I had the same issue but have totally changed shape. Try measuring rather than focusing on the scales. Also look at your calories to make sure you are in a deficit and not overcompensating. Dont eat the calories burned during exercise if you want to lose weight.

I agree with what others have said but also probably because you are already very slim and your body doesn’t have any excess weight to lose? I’m the same height but about 10 stone, I could do with losing a stone really. I do exercise but I haven’t improved my diet (too much chocolate and daily ‘treats’ 🙄) so the exercise I’ve been doing hasn’t resulted in any weight loss. I do feel a bit more toned though. Maybe running just isn’t going to give you the tone that you want - try spinning or Pilates?

Because it is through diet you lose weight not exercise. I once took up running - for two months I ran for 1-1 1/2 hours per day 6 days per week and lost no weight.

Quit. Changed my diet, did no exercise and dropped 16lbs in 3 months (9 stone something to 8 stone 1). I used the slimming world diet. But basically just eat no junk and a lot more veg with meals.

Ok great thanks for all the good advise ! 😁 I just love chocolate 😂😂😂🤣 and wine 😭😂

When I started training in earnest for a marathon I thought I’d shed shit loads of weight but, no. I actually put on a couple of pounds despite running 30-40 miles a week, Pilates, yoga and swimming 4 times a week and 5 gym/weights sessions. I ate like a horse because I was constantly hungry but it was all healthy nutritious food.

However my entire body shape changed. I think I lost inches from all over but because I was really tubby before I had a layer of loose skin and fat covering it all. But I definitely looked better clothed

Tsk tsk No more wine and no more chocolate :P

8 stone 3 sounds fine for your height though. Maybe some weights ect for toning up rather than diet/running. You gotta do the weight lifting ect... to tone things unfortunately. Cardio isn't much use.

Yes !! Weights is a brilliant idea thanks . I'll look into getting some x

What do you mean by you run 30k a week? Does every session count?

So for example - you do four short runs, each of 6-7k, each week at 10-min mile pace. You're not going to lose any weight or tone up, as you're not pushing yourself.

Or instead, perhaps that 30k is made up of speed sessions, hill sessions, a 10k tempo...etc etc. Hard, hard stuff that leaves you on the floor afterwards. You'll notice a difference then. If you're doing hilly stuff, as you mention in the OP, chances are you've gained muscle.

You're not doing much long stuff, so you're probably not overeating to make up for the "runger", but that really is a thing too. Whenever I'm marathon training, I gain a few pounds as the long runs leave me so depleted that I wolf everything in sight

Exactly the same here. I run loads, do lots of exercise, eat a reasonably healthy diet. Absolutely no weight loss whatsoever.

Only way I've lost weight is the 5:2 diet and I can't go back to fasting - found it messed with my mind too much.

Only option is diet sadly. And I'm crap at dieting. Now trying to get to grips with the idea that I'm stuck with this lumpy body of mine, and there's no sleek tigress within

My legs got chunkier when I can as well. It was like my fat just solidified!

I've been running 15k a week for 5 months from not running at all before and i have put on 2lbs. I really hope i am getting fitter because the weight loss is non existent

You don't need to lose weight, and it's just silly to talk as if you do.

I exercise a lot, I'm 5ft4 & weigh slightly more than you (about 8st7) & I'm slim, v low body fat. I'm muscular too as I do lots of resistance/weight training as well as cardio, so maybe that's what you want, to be more toned.

It sounds like you are enjoying running, that's what matters really.

I'm doing around 3 runs a week at 10k each ( and it's taking 58mins ) I def feel loads better for it if anything !! My anxiety and panic disorder is non existent and I'm so much happier 😁 that's a good enough reason to keep me going !! Going to try harder on heating better I think tho and some weight training

Definitely a good reason to keep going! Running is about so much more than just physical health.

8st 4 sounds very slim to me for that height?? What clothes size are you?

I’m 5’4” and 10stone and I’m a size 10. Heaviest I’ve ever been! When I was 8stone I was about a size 6.

I’d judge by your inches not your weight

I'm a size 8-10 🙂

A size 8-10 and you weight 8st?

Anyway I’d measure your waist and thighs etc and check progress that way

You may not have lost any weight if you’re eating more to compensate, but I bet that other indicators of health are improved so keep it up! Things like waist measurement and resting heart rate will be getting better I’m sure.

Log your food, exercise and weight with a fitness tracker. It gives you a starting point from which you can tweak things. More/different exercise or less/different food.