Running is the only way for me to lose weight

[Anonymous]

I had been lifting weights but extra pounds kept creeping on. I lifted for about 1.5 years and now switched back to running and have lost around 5lbs and my clothes feel much better. Is it bad to stop lifting and just focus on running? I am 40 years old and weigh about 148lbs. I would like to try and get back down to 135lbs (am 5'7" tall). My sister (same height) is able to but she runs close to 50-60 miles a week.

[Anonymous]

I’ve bounced back and forth. Currently I run 3 days (6-7 miles each day) and lift 2 days (one push day one pull day). Seems about right for me for weight maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Don't do just one or the other - do both. You can do both for less time.

[Anonymous]

The only way to lose weight is to eat less. If you think that a run, which burns a lot of calories, will allow you to eat more, than great. But it's definitely not the ONLY way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only way to lose weight is to eat less. If you think that a run, which burns a lot of calories, will allow you to eat more, than great. But it's definitely not the ONLY way.

OP - sorry what I meant is for MY body it seems to be the only way I can lose measurable weight. No other type of exercise (in my adult life) has done the same for losing weight as running. I have gained and lost 180 pounds over 5 years with my 3 pregnancies. Only way for me to do it is running, while maintaining my normal eating.

[Anonymous]

You are going to really shorten and stiffen your muscles with all that running, which will lead to injury. How about trying smaller portion sizes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are going to really shorten and stiffen your muscles with all that running, which will lead to injury. How about trying smaller portion sizes?

This is me - https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1226825.page

I am going to try and cut down to closer to 1200 calories a day. Hopefully that helps too.

[Anonymous]

Don't quit lifting, because lifting increases your bone density which will be increasingly beneficial as you age. Simplify your workout to just the 4 big lifts, squat, dead lift, bench and overhead press and cut your reps down to 5's or even 3's. Look at the starting strength or strong lifts 5x5 programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had been lifting weights but extra pounds kept creeping on. I lifted for about 1.5 years and now switched back to running and have lost around 5lbs and my clothes feel much better. Is it bad to stop lifting and just focus on running? I am 40 years old and weigh about 148lbs. I would like to try and get back down to 135lbs (am 5'7" tall). My sister (same height) is able to but she runs close to 50-60 miles a week.

What do you mean by lifting? Need specifics. Because either you weren't lifting enough for a metabolic boost/calorie burn OR you were and you were gaining muscle. Which means you are now losing muscle weight and all its benefits in exchange for a random number on the scale.

My shirts and pants better after I stopped lifting (post surgery three months) because my shoulder muscles and quads lost muscle mass. I was not happy with that.

[Anonymous]

Do both. Running is good for burning carbs/calories but not so much for burning FAT. For that you need to be in a calorie deficit and build more muscle. Running only will only make you look soft and untoned in the long run. You may lose weight but you won't necessarily look fit/toned. To change the shape of your body you need to build strength by lifting weights. On top of that too much running burns muscle as well if you aren't lifting and keeping up your protein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only way to lose weight is to eat less. If you think that a run, which burns a lot of calories, will allow you to eat more, than great. But it's definitely not the ONLY way.

OP - sorry what I meant is for MY body it seems to be the only way I can lose measurable weight. No other type of exercise (in my adult life) has done the same for losing weight as running. I have gained and lost 180 pounds over 5 years with my 3 pregnancies. Only way for me to do it is running, while maintaining my normal eating.

That makes no sense. It's a high calorie burner so if you don't want to run you can find another exercise that burns a lot of calories. Or eat less.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of what Sting did - he ran 6-7 miles per day and thought that was the only way to keep in shape. Then he switched to Yoga and became a poster child.

https://www.whitelotus.org/interviews/ganga-speaks-sting-about-yoga-his-life

"All those years of running must have taken their toll. I’m told that stiffness in the gluteus is about stubbornness--bloody-mindedness. So I’m working on that! You know, the intention, the long term goal, is to become completely fluid, completely liquid and sinuous. As I get older I’d like to be that. I’d like to have explored the entire range of my body’s abilities. It’s not that I am afraid of getting old. I just want to get old in a certain way."


"I hope my legs don't break - Walking on the Moon - We could walk forever - Walking on the Moon"

[Anonymous]

Can you do lift x 2-3 and run for shorter distance? I have the same issue. Weight training alone isn’t going to be enough at this age.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, do what's working. Obviously some strength training would be good for injury prevention and bone density too but overall focus on your personal formula.

I find it exhausting how many rules we've created. The most recent being social media yammering about women in their 40s and cortisol.

Same for food. While some people thrive with a plant based diet others thrive with high protein. Just figure out what your body wants.

[Anonymous]

You'll get max results doing both. Don't overthink it. Just do some weights or core on days when running doesn't sound compelling or your legs hurt. Once or twice per week actually is enough to benefit from. Strength training (obviously twice is better).