Your results from Running...

So I want to definately start running as part of my workout. But I was wondering what kind of results other people had. Did you see alot of weight loss from it? Did it take a while to see results? Also, I know this might sound stupid but, would the weight loss only come from your bottom half?  

 Also, what's the best way to lose belly fat?  I'm 5'6", 190lbs and my belly is probably the worst part of my body.  

 Thanks.

This actually answers both your questions: you cannot spot reduce. The weight will come from wherever your body wants it to. So running will not just take from your bottom half, and there is no exercise that targets belly fat.

Diet, weight training and cardio. You'll get there :)

I started running about 5 weeks ago, just 3 or 4 times  a week for 30 minutes. On my off days I usually do a 30 minute balance ball workout, which is pretty low intensity but it works my legs, butt, arms, and abs.  I have 2 days off a week and have been eating a well-balanced diet. I haven't been trying to lose weight, just get in shape and I have noticed that my abs are A LOT more defined. Unfortunately, my thighs are the part that I wanted to look better, but they haven't changed (from what I can tell, but my BF says he sees a difference ;)

I started running on Aug 6th, 2006 (my b-day, so it's really easy to remember). When I started, I could barely run for 10 minutes at 5.0mph on the treadmill (about a 12:00 min/mile pace). It's now 1.5 years later, and here's what running has done for me

1. I ran a 1/2 marathon in January 2008, finishing in 2:7:24 (which is about a 9:40 min/mile pace). I can run medium distances at a 9:00 min/mile pace - and that used to feel like an all out sprint!

2. My exercise induced asthma doesn't bother me at all anymore (unless I have a cold or the flu....anytime my resistance is weak, I taper my workouts a bit so I'm not suffering)

3. I've lost a total of 25lbs so far. I would say that 90% of  my loss has come from exercising because I really haven't been counting calories. That said, once you become addicted to exercising (and believe me - I'm totally in love with it now!!), you start making small changes to your diet, mostly because your body just starts rejecting things like fried foods, processed foods and things that are just not good for you.

4. I've dropped nearly 3 dress sizes - and the weight has come off all over. Even though I haven't lost that much weight, my body is much leaner looking (which is tough when you are only 5'2") - from my arms, chest and stomach down to my hips, thighs and calves. I'm pear shaped - so my butt and thighs still look "large" compared to the rest of me, but I've accepted that you can't spot reduce. I'll always be pear-shaped....but now, I'm just a smaller pear :)

Happy running!!

i started running a few times a week in november. i started out struggling to do 25 minutes at 5mph. now i can run 25 at 7mph set on random so there are some inclines (which ends up being about 3 miles).

i have noticed an over all improvement in my whole body! running doesn't just shed pounds from your lower half, it works your core. i have noticed my entire body looking better!

the other day, i walked by a mirror here at work, while wearing a skirt and stopped dead in my tracks, because i realized i can actually see definition in my calves! i noticed it in my thighs too! a first for me!

also i take the train to work, and today as i got to the station, the train was about to pull away. so i had to RUN up a big set of stairs to catch it. i jumped into the car with a few other people who had just run with me, and realized that while i was slightly winded, everybody else was WAY out of breath for much longer than me, woohoo!

I am around the same weight as you, and I began running this past summer.  I also do a lot of other exercises, but I can say that running has greatly improved my cardiovascular endurance.  Like Jules said, less situations of being out of breath after stairs and such.  But as far as my legs, they have gotten much leaner and more defined, but thats also attributed to the other exercise, too.  I've also noticed changes around my hips and butt and lower back.  I think running benefits your whole body, inside and out.  I'm doing my second 8k race at the end of March and I'm working on running the whole thing without any walking!

I started running in May 2006, like others above, I struggled in the beginning.  After a while I had some knee problems, and with the help of custom orthotics, got back on track.  6-7 days a week I run about 4 miles and use an elliptical for about 3 miles, I am completely addicted.  It has been fantastic for me..I've lost almost 55 lbs most of which happened before I started counting calories intensively.  I do eat a lot healthier now, but a lot of that is more about what my body needs to be able to do what I do every day.  My calves are frighteningly toned.  In general I lost a lot of fat from all over my body though.

 

Hi, I am 5'6" too.  This summer I decided I had to lose weight.  Between june and november I lost 20 pounds, by watching what I somewhat eat,  lifting 2 times a week and going to a kickboxing aerobics/spinning class once a week.   In January, I started running for thirty minutes a day, 3-4 times a week.  I still lift 2-3 times a week and go to an organized class 2-3 times a month.  I have lost 15 pounds since january.  180!.  I still watch what I eat, but I have added about 1/2 of what I burn running to my calorie intake.  I find that if I do not eat more, I cannot complete my workout. 

It has been a cold winter, so I have been using the treadmill, which is good to build up endurance.  At first, I could only run for about 15 minutes, but I walked/jog interval the other 15.  It probably took me about 6 weeks to start enjoying it.  I am looking forward to trying my new legs on outside. 

No one seemed to notice the first 20 pounds I lost, but they sure have noticed the last 15.  My legs and butt are less flabby and I have lost about 2 inches in my waist. 

Running is nice, because you can take it anywhere, just the shoes and the sports bra.  So that vacations or traveling do not interupt your workout too badly.

When i work out i usually run/job on the threadmill. I usually do it about 30-60 min a day, 5 days a week and i noticed my body started to get tighter, my abs, my legs, my face starts to slim. My belly is the hardest part for me to lose weight too. It's sooo hard for me, that is where the fat goes wehn i eat it seems. I see girls that have NO stoamch and im like how the heck to they do that?