Weight Loss when Starting to Run

by Mag
(CA)

Do you gain muscle and gain weight in the first few weeks of training or do you lose weight right away?

Answer by Dominique:

Hi Mag,
Thanks for your question about running and weight loss.



Impossible to answer. Depends a lot on your personal circumstances.

First of all, whether you lose weight or not is a function of not only the running you do, but also of the amount of food you eat.

As you start running, your muscles start developing, they grow and gain weight.

Working against that is that you are burning off fat.

Depending on how much you have got to burn off, how good your body is at burning fat (your metabolism) etc you will find your weight either going up, staying the same or going down.

Whatever happens you are certain of a few things:

Eventually, if you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight.

You will become a healthier and happier person in the process!

You have not mentioned what your initial experiences were, I am assuming you have not lost weight yet, or are yet to embark on a beginners running program.

Whatever the situation, do not give up, for some inspiration, check out The Chronicles of a Chubby Runner.



Hope this helps.
Best of luck with your running and weight loss goals.
Cheers,
Dominique