Running and weight loss

Question for runners who did or need to lose weight.  I started running in January, very slow, not long distances.  I have also lost a great deal of weight over the last year and 1/2.  I have not managed to lose anything since I started seriously running (definition, 5 times a week, about 20-25 miles a week).  I dont do goo, glue (LOL), beans or anything like that. I drink Poweraide Zero.  I am thinking about this because I saw a comment on here about losing weight being impossible or difficult while running.

Am I doing something wrong because I stopped losing weight?  LOL.  I am curious about others' thoughts and experiences.

Im 143lbs... when I run 10k's I find myself sometimes behind 200+ lb people trying to keep up with them... anyone can run.  If your trying to lose weight, its diet and exercise for best success and results.

Need more of your stats do fully answer the "why not losing weight" part. like cals a day/ weight/height/ deficit of calories.. ect

5'6", 158 lbs,  I eat about 1700-1900 calories a day.  I recently had my metabolism tested and was told I have a fast metabolism.  Great, right?  According to their info, I should be eating at least 2400 calories, before I work out to maintain. I have a  heart rate monitor and burn about 500 calories every morning ( I work it!).  SOOOOO, I increased my calorie intake to like 2200-2300 to keep my deficit running at like 700 a day.  I gained weight.  I was down to 153 last month.  I have now cut my calories back to 1700 -1800 (the way it was before when I was losing weight).  And now? I stopped losing al together. 

I think the comments about losing weight while running relate more to training for a half or full marathon.  My understanding is that it would be difficult to maintain the level of intensity required for the time/distances required if you're on a restricted diet.

Were you eating a lot less before you had your metabolism tested?  If so, how long were you eating that much?  How long did you keep your calories at 2200-2300?  Are you weighing/measuring your food, or estimating calories?  Are you taking any measurements besides your weight (waist, thighs, etc)?  How fast were you gaining weight when you were at 2200-2300?

Clint

I think you are right about those comments.  I just started using a 1/2 marathon training schedule and am only on week 2 so I dont think that's the issue.  I have always kept my calories at about 1700 -1900 a day and in the process dropped 100+ pounds.  I had my metabolism tested last month, around this time so I upped my calories for about 3 weeks.  I gained a chunk of weight the first week I upped them and it hasn't really moved since.  I measure my food with a weight scale.  I just gotta figure where I took a U-turn somewhere LOL.  I was going to blame it on running  LOL.  I went from running 3 times a week (about 3 miles each time) to completing a 10K running schedule up to a 1/2 schedule now. 

Well, I know that I gain weight when I do drastic changes to my workout (increasing intensity/duration or new activities).  That lasts about a week at times.  That's water weight, and comes off by itself.

I think if I was you and you were staying stable at your "upped" calories, I'd stay with that for awhile.  Wait for your body to adjust to the increased training schedule, and then see if you can drop your calories down a bit from there.  Or keep them the same, and see if your weight comes down as you increase your runs as part of your schedule.

I'm doing the same sort of thing as you... I've just completed a 10k training schedule (got an 8k run this weekend, and a 10k run next weekend), and I've started a half marathon schedule.  But my half won't be till the spring.  I lost most of my weight before starting to run, but I have dropped some weight while running as well.

Good luck with the training and weight loss!  And great job so far!

Clint

No running is a great way to both lose and maintain your weight. When I started running more seriously in high school with the distance team, I dropped 5-7 lbs. My dad used to be overweight and running was one of his biggest tools in helping him lose the weight and keep it off. Then you have my mother on the other hand. Was always thin, and her entire family has stick legs. She started running, and i think actually gained a few lbs, along with muscle in her legs (which she loved). That being said she's still pretty tiny, she's 40 btwn 5'2-5'3 and weighs around 118 I think. And she runs like 12-15 miles a week. The gain also could have just been the fact that she was getting older and her metabolism slowed a little (I think she gained like 10 years ago and has been the same ever since, and we're talking 5 lb gain).

Sorry one more thing. It definitely doesn't just miraculously shed the weight off you though. When I first started college, I was eating alot, and some crappy stuff and on the weekends I'd drink 6-7 shots sometimes (700 calories, I would never do that now haha) and I was running a ton and back then I didn't count calories. I thought "Oh I bet I've lost weight I've been running so much, I always lose weight when I run so much". I actually maintained, but was shocked and realized that diet is really the most important part.

What else are you doing? I would mix it up. Running is fine keep that up but try some interval training in place of the running a few days a week. Add three lifting days a week. Not consecutive. Lift  hard and heavy. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn. A lot of other health benefits to having lean muscle mass as well. Make sure you are eating the right kind of foods. Clean/balanced/nutritious eating. Stay away from fat free, sugar free, diet foods. Trans-fats, fried foods, simple carbs. Drink plenty of water and not much of anything else. Get your calories from your foods not your beverages. Eat complex carbs, whole grain breads, pastas, cereals, brown rice. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and proteins. Be sure you are getting enough healthy fats and protein.

Original Post by jennifer58:

Question for runners who did or need to lose weight.  

I am thinking about this because I saw a comment on here about losing weight being impossible or difficult while running.

As I recall, the thread was about losing weight while training for a half marathon.  That is different than losing weight while running  ...  which may be the genesis of your confusion.

When marathon training, you stress your body.  Lots of miles per week.  Long runs from 15 to 23 miles.  Issues with hydration and dehydration.  Issues with your bodies electrolytes.  It is less with training for a half  ...  but you still face the same issues  ...  it is just that you stress the body less.

Even with marathoners  ...  there will be huge differences.  Some train just to finish.  Others train to reach a time goal.  The amount of stress on your body will vary.

Yes, marathoners burn large amount of calories.  Yes, marathoners typically lose weight during training.  But I wouldn't consider it a weight loss program.

Marathoners fight lots of body issues.  Muscle pains.  Joint pains.  Lung pains.  They tend to push themselves to the point of stressing their body.  And they tend to eat healthy during this time  ...  resulting in some weight loss.  But it is not the time to go on a highly restrictive calorie diet.

I know many marathoners who are very good runners now  ...  but started with a goal of weightloss and fitness.  Often times it took a year of more.  The weight came off slowly.  More of a byproduct of increased exercise and improved diet than minimal calorie intake.  Then their goals changed  ...  and they wanted to improve their times.

That is different than "running".  Especially, the casual running to improve fitness and burn calories.  There is just a different level of stress on the body.

So if you goal is weight loss  ...  include walking, running, or even run/walks in your exercise.  It will help. 

Hi Jennifer!  I started running when I weighed 235 pounds.  With just being careful about what I ate and running three times a week, I lost thirty pounds, plateuing at around the 205 mark.  Then, I started training for my first marathon.  I basically kept the same diet, eating 5 times a day, exercised portion control, and plateaued again in the low 190s.

When I started doing triathlons, my weight dropped into the 180s, where I have been for a while, still maintaining the same diet.

I read that having a fit body is 70% what you put in your mouth, 20% exercise, 5% mental, and 5% sheer determination.  I'm heading for the 170s myself.

Good luck!!!

Original Post by pbear999:

I think the comments about losing weight while running relate more to training for a half or full marathon.  My understanding is that it would be difficult to maintain the level of intensity required for the time/distances required if you're on a restricted diet.

The key is to maintain the same deficit, not matter what your activity level is for the day.  That means carefully calculating how many calories you are burning and replacing it with the proper number of calories.

Most people don't like being this organized.