My new YouTube video this week was titled “Stop Running For Weight Loss.”
It’s wasn’t STOP RUNNING.
It was simply, stop running for weight loss…
Sure the headline may be a little sensationalized but here is are my personal observations reasoning:
- The leanest I have ever been was when I was strength training more and running less. This doesn’t mean I didn’t run but my main focus was on either lifting heavy or HIIT workouts that combined strength and plyometric work.
- The few times I’ve really trained for races like marathons and half marathons, instead of losing weight, I’ve actually gained weight.
- When I run a lot, I’m starving. I’m not one to enjoy feeling hungry and limiting myself so this was always a challenging balance between feeling hungry, eating for satiety and balancing calories in/out.
Let’s clear up a few things though before you watch the video:
I still love to run. I only run about 3-4 miles a coupe times a week. With Tommy, it’s challenging to get in a strength training workout while he is awake because he wants me to pick him up, climb on me in a push up position or play weight the weights. To be able to put him in the stroller and go for a run is easy for me, and fun for him.
I use it as time for mental clarity, stress relief, endorphins, burn off the wine I had last night but not for weight loss. I use it as weight maintenance.
If I wanted to use it for weight loss, I would do intervals that really challenged my body which can be hard to do pushing a stroller. <- You can lose weight with running but I find that most people on their own do not do challenging intervals! Most people just do steady state at a comfortable pace which is what we call “junk miles.”
Junk miles are the ones you run that don’t produce a specific physiological benefit. It could be argued that tempo runs—middle-distance training runs at a “comfortably hard” pace—are junk miles.
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Watch the video below to see why else I think you should stop running for weight loss.
** Again, I don’t think you need to stop running or even really stop running if you want to lose weight, I just think you should do strength training and do more of it if you really want to lose weight! **
Interesting post, I too gained a bit when I trained for a full marathon, now with a 19 month old I only have time for 5 and 10ks- hoping these shorter runs with lifting with help reduce body fat…
Agreed! My favorite -- when I have time -- is to run 1- 2 miles before a HIIT class. (If living in the city, you can run to class!) Heart rate is elevated going in, and you get the strength + plyo benefits. Biggest calorie burner and awesome results! (Just sweaty partner work… 😉 )
Thanks for sharing this awesome post Sarah! I often preach to people I know and workout with that I get my best results for cutting and getting shredded and I contribute it mostly to not doing long endurance exercises. Thanks for sharing the info really enjoed the read!