Running to Lose Weight
Running has become a way of life. It keeps me sane. It is part of my social activity. I get to be outside and moving. Its my anger management program. Plus my travel and adventure package. (I run marathons and events around the world.) And sure, it keeps my weight in check. If you plan to start running to lose weight then you need to know the truth. You will either need to keep running after you have lost the weight, or find another form of exercise, because just starting running to lose weight without falling in love with running will not keep the weight off. Most runners I know admit that they love that running keeps the weight off. And most long term, fit runners, talk about food all the time. It is part of the enjoyment of running. What we love to eat, what we are going to eat when we get home...we love our food. All the runners I know eat mostly healthy food, following, for the most part, the 80/20 rule. 80% healthy food, 20% whatever we love to eat. Long term runners find it very hard to stay feeling good running if they live on junk food. In fact most long term runners take very good care of their health. If you want to start running to lose weight, be very realistic about it. If you have never run, you need to build your fitness slowly and with care. You must get a full medical, including, ideally, a stress ECG. From zero running fitness it will take about 8 to 10 weeks to build up to a 45 to 60 minute run, where you are feeling comfortable. (Depending on your age.) Then you need to run consistently three times a week to maintain your fitness. The first part of becoming run fit hurts. Its not pretty. This is the part that requires perseverance. Plus running is NOT for everyone. Some of us have bodies designed to run, some of us do not. I always recommend that your success will be more likely assured if you run with people. There are running groups and clubs all over the place. Many people avoid running with people at the beginning because they are embarrassed by their lack of fitness. They do not feel good enough. However any runners I know are very supportive of new runners. Find some people who also want to get run fit, and start with them. Join a running session where your fitness and speed is not so important. For example, one of our run sessions is track. No matter how fit you are, you can’t get lost on a track. If you keep showing up and running the session, your fitness will improve. Unless you are a super introvert, running on your own is unlikely to last long term. Don’t wait until you are fit enough to join with others. You will quickly find that runners are really great people. They come from all walks of life, literally. Yet when we meet for a run, we are all dressed in similar clothing, with similar ambitions. The playing field is different. The status and hierarchy, if it exists, is about experience and running skill, not who you are and what car you drive, or where you live. Even most elite runners I know are delighted to support the novice with encouragement. Most runners do not care how fast you are, how big or small you are, what you do in the world away from running. They are simply glad to see you run. Be clear that running to lose weight must also be backed with less food intake. Running on its own, without reducing your calories/kilojoules will work if you are very consistent, and do not increase calorie intake. But you will shift weight faster if you cut the calories and eat a healthy diet. Many people make the false assumption that they can eat more food because they are running. If you do this, you will not lose weight by running. I know if I ever put on a kilo or so, I do not diet, I simply cut back on my 20% of “not so good for you” food, and that is about it. After 16 years of running, the consistency in my running is bankable. Its the calories in I have to cut. In summary, running to lose weight works. But only if you; *eat healthy food (fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, nuts etc) and less of it *are very consistent with your running *fall in love with running so that it becomes a way of life * have fun in the process To Return from Running to Lose Weight to Born to Run
|
