Running to lose weight

Running to lose weight

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AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

167 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Hi peeps, i already have a thread in the Health forum, but thought i may get may get more relative input if i posted a new thread here.

I began jogging back in mid January, to lose weight, improve body shape. I was approx 14.5st and a bit of a porka when i started.

I loosely followed a plan based around walking for some time, then running, back to walking etc, building up the running part over a period of time.

Last week, i hit a fantastic (for me) milestone of running a full 5km without stopping for breath/walking. I say fantastic for me, because even when i was younger and quite active, distance running was never a strong point.

I'm currently weighing in at around 13.5 st, and feel a lot better. I am running 5km a minimum of 3 times per week.

My question is, where do i go from here? Do i build up longer distance, or improve my time (currently around 29m for 5km). I have a noticable improvement in the way my clothes fit, and have dropped a waist size already. Ideally i'd like to tip the scales around 12.5st and have a 32" waist.

Appreciate any input.

RizzoTheRat

25,793 posts

197 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Couch to 5k by any chance? Worked well for me too.

No idea if you're better off doing more distance or not for me it's all about the motivation to go out and run. I do 5k in around half an hour, which is a small enough investment in time for me to go out 2 or 3 times a week without getting fed up with it. Longer distances will just see me getting bored with it all I suspect.

If you're not aware of it see if there's a Parkrun near you, they're a timed 5k on saturday mornings. I find improving my parkun time gives me a goal to train for, and I now run midweek with some people I met through parkrun as well, meaning I'm a lot more likely to go out when the weather's crap than I would on my own. Of course you might not be as lazy as me and not need as much motivation biggrin

anonymous-user

59 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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TBH to seriously lose weight you need to combine exercise with diet. Myfitness pal app is a good way to do it. I started using it about 3 years ago. Lost 25lbs in a year & 5k times down from over 21 mins to 18's.

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

167 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Thanks, i'll have a look into the Parkun. I have reduced my sugar and fat intake considerably also.

KTF

9,938 posts

155 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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As already mentioned, Parkrun is a great next step.

You might also want to look for your local running club as they will have various organised runs during the week and weekend to keep your motivation up.

Or pick a 10k 6 months from now as a target.