How did/does running affect you?
 

I've read the running FAQs but didn't see anything about this really. I'm curious. For those who run/jog, how did it affect your weight loss? Did running seem to make your weight loss a little quicker? Did running help kick you out of a plateau?

Running hurts my knees so I do low impact exercising. No plateaus so far

I lost 25 pounds from jogging and walking everynight. However, I have been on a plateau now for about 2 months, so I have now started bike riding every night and I am going to start weight training.

I've lost weight running, I've gained weight running. It is one of the most efficient calorie burners in terms of pure cardio but there are other factors.

I have been doing walking/ jogging intervals this past week. It has finally busted me out of my 6 week plateau. I lost 2.5# this week.

I can't really isolate it, as I also ride a bike, swim, and weight train. To me it seems like other cardio - it helps.

My weight loss was slowing down until I started running, then it sped up again until I was running 30mins straight. Now it seems to be slowing again, but running has done so much for my weight loss, strength, toning and mind that it's so worth it.

Same here, but it is, for me, the best burning cardio by far!

right at first you might get a good weight loss....but as soon as your body because efficient at running.....well.......Its a great calorie burner though! It still all boils down to calories in/calories out. If you arent eating enough to support the intensity level of running, it can cause problems-- overtraining/undereating/fatloss stalling. On the flip side, many people OVEReat because they run, whether becasue they justify their Extra large double frappacinio becasue they ran, or because the act of running itself makes them hungrier..... If you find that running leaves you sore at first, then you might also not see a drop on the scale (water retention in muscles kind of thing). You dont HAVE to run to lose weight, but if its something you enjoy, and want to do, then you will reap PLENTY of other rewards from being a runner! :)

I really can't say that running has made me lose faster (sigh) although I don't know how fast I'd be losing or not losing if I weren't running. I'm so much LEANER though from running, and stronger, and I have better endurance.

Thanks, everybody! Last time when I lost weight, once I started running the weight started coming off real fast. Seemed like within a couple of weeks I went from nice, curvy butt to pancake butt. :o I'm just wondering if I can expect similar results this time. I definitely need something to kick my weight loss up a little. I feel like I'm doing all of this and not seeing much results. :(

I find that running is making my legs and butt look and feel tighter and nicer. (I'm 32 and have never been this fit - I look better than ever.)

But I have to be vigilant with my food intake to lose weight. (I also find that if I am under budget consistently on my calories, I feel very tired.) I am not sure how well weight loss will continue if I train for a marathon. As others have already stated, I accept the positive changes that running will bring over weight loss.

I will second this. I wouldn't say running makes me lose faster, but I love what it does to my body. I'm leaner, stronger, more empowered and there is no comparison -- not even yoga -- for what it does for my posture.

I honestly, have lost weight faster not working out at all. But the running has benefits that far outreach weight loss alone.

I've only been running a few weeks, so it's hard to determine how it will affect my weight loss on a consistent basis. But, I must say, after only a few weeks my legs and butt already feel firmer and leaner.

And, most importantly, it makes ME feel great :)

Jogging has really increased my stamina and endurance. I've noticed that my body is much more efficient when exercising and I can usually rebound after an intense workout. In the beginning, my joints took a pounding and everything hurt, especially my ankles. Now, my legs have toughened up and I can jog for an hour non-stop. This is great since I would like to play futbol (soccer) again. Each half is 45 minutes.

As far as weight loss, I've been stuck in the 230's for some time now. Occasionally, I will dip into the high 220's after an hour long jog, but that's just water weight loss. People say I look leaner, but I'm my own worst critic so I can't really say. When I jog for an hour, my stomach cries out, "FEED ME!!!" :hungry: I've learned to time my hour long jogs before a main meal.