Running for weight loss...need help.

BornToResist · 08-07-2007, 01:47 PM

I have those last 5 preggo pounds that are stuck like glue.

A month or so ago I decided I'd try jogging/running to get that last bit off. I quickly became addicted to it...I had no idea how great it could make you feel.

So I started running every day or every other day until I messed my knee up and then took a week or so off from it.

Now I'm back to running but have calmed down on it a bit because I heard you should only exercise like that a few times a week and I didn't want to screw up my knee again.

BUT it seems as though no matter how far I go or how often, I CANNOT lose those last five pounds.

What am I doing wrong?

I've completely changed my diet and do not eat any fast food (unless it's a rare occasion), cut out the soda, and eat good meals. I've been eating healthy and pretty strict for months. Still no weight loss.

This past weekend I went away and ate like TOTAL CRAP. I gave myself I weekend off. Pizza, hamburgers, cake, pancakes, chips, everything. I came home and weighed myself and hadn't gained an ounce.

What is going on? I can't seem to lose anything, but I'm not gaining anything either.

I'm not overweight by any means, I'm perfectly healthy but I am determined to lose these last 3-5 pounds.

Any advice? This is really frustrating.

redrose85 · 08-07-2007, 01:53 PM

Do you think that you will see a physical difference if you lose the last 3-5 lbs, or is it just because you know that the number on the scale is a bit higher than you'd like? It sounds like your body wants to hold on to it, or that your scale is broken. I say, let it. 5 pounds is no big deal, just don't eat like that everyday (I'm sure you know that lol) Do you do any muscle toning excercises, free weights, etc..?

BornToResist · 08-07-2007, 01:58 PM

I don't do any formal muscle toning things.

I used to dance a lot (ballet tap and jazz) so I do a lot of the stretches and excercises I learned through there...I work out with my baby a lot...I hold him while I do situps or lay on my back and lift him from my chest to straight out...lots of excercises like that and with him in his carseat (he's 18 pounds, carseat is 5 I think?).

Other than that, no.

And I really want to go down a bit further in weight but right now I just have my sights set on my pre-preggo number on the scale.

RayKay · 08-07-2007, 02:07 PM

Some weight training at least will help - not to "lose pounds" (because muscle weights more, you know!) but to tighten up if that is concern. I would go by how clothes fit, and how you feel, not weight. I can honestly say the only times I weigh myself are at my annual checkups...I don't even own a scale.

I used to be obsessive about my weight in my younger years, until I realized there is more to health and looking good than a low number on the scale

Running is great, I love it too and it is definitely an addiction of sorts for me - but you need to shake things up too. With intervals, building endurance (distance) speed training, running hills to shake the body up. Cross training is good too. It will burn calories, but it won't KEEP burning calories like building muscle does. You will get some muscle from running (in legs, and core if you run with correct form) but you probably should add some upper body - even if not with weights, at least with pushups & dips at the end of your runs - sounds like you are already doing some anyway.

Also, honey, give it time. Don't fixate so much on those 3 or 4 lbs. Go by how you feel, how healthy you are. 3-4 lbs is really nothing - it can be because you are hydrated, your body is still adjusting and finding it's comfort zone, and changes from pregnancy still. You just had a baby, and it is bound to cause some changes in your body for a while yet.

And yes, definitely take rest days, some of those rest days can be moderate cross training (ie swimming, cycling, yoga) but take a day off as well to help body recover. You build fitness in between workouts as your body recovers and repairs, not during - or else you suffer injuries and burnout at a higher rate which will have you taking more time off than you want!

ycmanvs · 08-07-2007, 02:10 PM

First of all muscle weighs more than fat, so you should really be looking at how your clothes fit, not the scale. As far as running, you can run every day, but because of your knee, you should maybe try something with less impact, like the eliptical trainer or a bike.

BornToResist · 08-07-2007, 02:14 PM

I'm liking how my body has changed, I have way better curves than I did before the baby, but I want to just be smaller overall.

I still have a little "pooch" on my tummy (people say I don't but I've always had washboard stomach) but I can tell that it's just taking time to go back to normal. I was HUGE (47 inches around before having him!) so I'm trying to be patient.

How do I know I'm running in correct form? My knee started hurting so I think this might be a problem. I try running up hills occasionally but pretty much just run til I feel like I'm gonna die, then "power" walk to catch my breath and run again. I really didn't know there was so much to it.

Oh and one of the reasons I chose running is because it's convenient. Being a new mommy I can't really take time to go to the gym so I just pop the kid into my jogging stroller when I can and go. I don't have access to any equipment, just basically what's there at the bike path or laying around my house.

RayKay · 08-07-2007, 02:17 PM

The best way would be to go to a running store or a running clinic (ie check out Running Room) so they can look at your stride, and make sure you are in proper shoes as well for your gait/foot. The wrong shoes can easily make running hell for people.

It could also be a muscle imbalance or inflexibility. Many runners get knee problems due to underdeveloped quads, or tight hamstrings, or rigid IT bands....again, a running clinic/group would be good to tap some people with this kind of knowledge. A few running sites (ie Runners World) are good sources for information too.

BornToResist · 08-07-2007, 02:27 PM

Okay well I need some better shoes. Next paycheck will take care of that...that's what's wrong with my knee. (thanks for the website raykay!)

Any other excercise tips for outside of the gym??

And my clothes fit okay, I just want a smaller size. I like my shape though.

I used to be really, really active but now I don't have the time to lead the lifestyle I used to and can't do most of that stuff with a baby so I'm trying to find other ways to be active...any hints??

RayKay · 08-07-2007, 02:34 PM

Glad to hear you are going to get better shoes...too many people are running around in terrible shoes when they start - no wonder they get turned off!

You know, I hate being in the gym in the summer. I am such an outside person...I just cannot stand it. I'll try and get my strength training in other ways - like stopping by the playground on way home from a run or a bike ride and doing pullups on the monkey bars or something.

Try finding other new young mommies to go on walks with;or a like-minded mommy whom would be eager to trade sitting duties so the other can go get a workout in. Or take the baby & me swim classes when baby is a bit older (different programs start at different ages..check around!). When they are old enough to support self fully, you can look into a jog stroller/bike buggy (they really must be old enough to fully support self and have strong neck first though). If you can run with the baby when older, that is a double workout (running and the strength training of pushing!). Again when old enough to support head, take baby on hikes with them on a hiking carrier on your back (another great double workout!).

There is going to be an adjustment period, but I can swear to you I know several mommies with babies and small children whom are just as active as they were before, they just had to find new ways to manage it and involve the children in their active lives.

sddeaston · 08-07-2007, 02:49 PM

running builds muscle, muscle weighs more than fat. For this reason I hate it when people are trying to "lose weight" and watch the scale closely. Its not about the number, its about how your body responds and how much fat you lose, which does not directly translate into losing weight because, again, running adds muscle. Just continue to run and feel good and stop worrying about the scale. You should honestly get rid of that thing

08-07-2007, 01:47 PM	#1
BornToResist Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 1,844	Running for weight loss...need help. I have those last 5 preggo pounds that are stuck like glue. A month or so ago I decided I'd try jogging/running to get that last bit off. I quickly became addicted to it...I had no idea how great it could make you feel. So I started running every day or every other day until I messed my knee up and then took a week or so off from it. Now I'm back to running but have calmed down on it a bit because I heard you should only exercise like that a few times a week and I didn't want to screw up my knee again. BUT it seems as though no matter how far I go or how often, I CANNOT lose those last five pounds. What am I doing wrong? I've completely changed my diet and do not eat any fast food (unless it's a rare occasion), cut out the soda, and eat good meals. I've been eating healthy and pretty strict for months. Still no weight loss. This past weekend I went away and ate like TOTAL CRAP. I gave myself I weekend off. Pizza, hamburgers, cake, pancakes, chips, everything. I came home and weighed myself and hadn't gained an ounce. What is going on? I can't seem to lose anything, but I'm not gaining anything either. I'm not overweight by any means, I'm perfectly healthy but I am determined to lose these last 3-5 pounds. Any advice? This is really frustrating. __________________ “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” - Robert Gary Lee

08-07-2007, 01:58 PM	#3
BornToResist Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 1,844	I don't do any formal muscle toning things. I used to dance a lot (ballet tap and jazz) so I do a lot of the stretches and excercises I learned through there...I work out with my baby a lot...I hold him while I do situps or lay on my back and lift him from my chest to straight out...lots of excercises like that and with him in his carseat (he's 18 pounds, carseat is 5 I think?). Other than that, no. And I really want to go down a bit further in weight but right now I just have my sights set on my pre-preggo number on the scale. __________________ “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” - Robert Gary Lee

08-07-2007, 02:07 PM	#4
RayKay Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Middle of Canada Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 13,270	Some weight training at least will help - not to "lose pounds" (because muscle weights more, you know!) but to tighten up if that is concern. I would go by how clothes fit, and how you feel, not weight. I can honestly say the only times I weigh myself are at my annual checkups...I don't even own a scale. I used to be obsessive about my weight in my younger years, until I realized there is more to health and looking good than a low number on the scale Running is great, I love it too and it is definitely an addiction of sorts for me - but you need to shake things up too. With intervals, building endurance (distance) speed training, running hills to shake the body up. Cross training is good too. It will burn calories, but it won't KEEP burning calories like building muscle does. You will get some muscle from running (in legs, and core if you run with correct form) but you probably should add some upper body - even if not with weights, at least with pushups & dips at the end of your runs - sounds like you are already doing some anyway. Also, honey, give it time. Don't fixate so much on those 3 or 4 lbs. Go by how you feel, how healthy you are. 3-4 lbs is really nothing - it can be because you are hydrated, your body is still adjusting and finding it's comfort zone, and changes from pregnancy still. You just had a baby, and it is bound to cause some changes in your body for a while yet. And yes, definitely take rest days, some of those rest days can be moderate cross training (ie swimming, cycling, yoga) but take a day off as well to help body recover. You build fitness in between workouts as your body recovers and repairs, not during - or else you suffer injuries and burnout at a higher rate which will have you taking more time off than you want! __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]<--- [COLOR=sienna]Carbun the Super-Bunny[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/FONT] [B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#556b2f][/COLOR][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]At the end of the day, how you imprinted on someones life and heart is the only true mark any of us leave on this earth and is what we are most proud of... [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- My Biggest Hero and Mentor: My Mum.[/SIZE][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=orange][B]Il faut d'abord durer [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- Ernest Hemingway[/SIZE][/I] Last edited by RayKay; 08-07-2007 at 02:11 PM.

08-07-2007, 02:14 PM	#6
BornToResist Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 1,844	I'm liking how my body has changed, I have way better curves than I did before the baby, but I want to just be smaller overall. I still have a little "pooch" on my tummy (people say I don't but I've always had washboard stomach) but I can tell that it's just taking time to go back to normal. I was HUGE (47 inches around before having him!) so I'm trying to be patient. How do I know I'm running in correct form? My knee started hurting so I think this might be a problem. I try running up hills occasionally but pretty much just run til I feel like I'm gonna die, then "power" walk to catch my breath and run again. I really didn't know there was so much to it. Oh and one of the reasons I chose running is because it's convenient. Being a new mommy I can't really take time to go to the gym so I just pop the kid into my jogging stroller when I can and go. I don't have access to any equipment, just basically what's there at the bike path or laying around my house. __________________ “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” - Robert Gary Lee

08-07-2007, 02:17 PM	#7
RayKay Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Middle of Canada Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 13,270	The best way would be to go to a running store or a running clinic (ie check out Running Room) so they can look at your stride, and make sure you are in proper shoes as well for your gait/foot. The wrong shoes can easily make running hell for people. It could also be a muscle imbalance or inflexibility. Many runners get knee problems due to underdeveloped quads, or tight hamstrings, or rigid IT bands....again, a running clinic/group would be good to tap some people with this kind of knowledge. A few running sites (ie Runners World) are good sources for information too. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]<--- [COLOR=sienna]Carbun the Super-Bunny[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/FONT] [B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#556b2f][/COLOR][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]At the end of the day, how you imprinted on someones life and heart is the only true mark any of us leave on this earth and is what we are most proud of... [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- My Biggest Hero and Mentor: My Mum.[/SIZE][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=orange][B]Il faut d'abord durer [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- Ernest Hemingway[/SIZE][/I]

08-07-2007, 01:53 PM	#2
redrose85 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 2,362	Do you think that you will see a physical difference if you lose the last 3-5 lbs, or is it just because you know that the number on the scale is a bit higher than you'd like? It sounds like your body wants to hold on to it, or that your scale is broken. I say, let it. 5 pounds is no big deal, just don't eat like that everyday (I'm sure you know that lol) Do you do any muscle toning excercises, free weights, etc..?

08-07-2007, 02:10 PM	#5
ycmanvs Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Gender: None Specified Posts: 2,836	First of all muscle weighs more than fat, so you should really be looking at how your clothes fit, not the scale. As far as running, you can run every day, but because of your knee, you should maybe try something with less impact, like the eliptical trainer or a bike.

08-07-2007, 02:27 PM	#8
BornToResist Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 1,844	Okay well I need some better shoes. Next paycheck will take care of that...that's what's wrong with my knee. (thanks for the website raykay!) Any other excercise tips for outside of the gym?? And my clothes fit okay, I just want a smaller size. I like my shape though. I used to be really, really active but now I don't have the time to lead the lifestyle I used to and can't do most of that stuff with a baby so I'm trying to find other ways to be active...any hints?? __________________ “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” - Robert Gary Lee

08-07-2007, 02:34 PM	#9
RayKay Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Middle of Canada Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 13,270	Glad to hear you are going to get better shoes...too many people are running around in terrible shoes when they start - no wonder they get turned off! You know, I hate being in the gym in the summer. I am such an outside person...I just cannot stand it. I'll try and get my strength training in other ways - like stopping by the playground on way home from a run or a bike ride and doing pullups on the monkey bars or something. Try finding other new young mommies to go on walks with;or a like-minded mommy whom would be eager to trade sitting duties so the other can go get a workout in. Or take the baby & me swim classes when baby is a bit older (different programs start at different ages..check around!). When they are old enough to support self fully, you can look into a jog stroller/bike buggy (they really must be old enough to fully support self and have strong neck first though). If you can run with the baby when older, that is a double workout (running and the strength training of pushing!). Again when old enough to support head, take baby on hikes with them on a hiking carrier on your back (another great double workout!). There is going to be an adjustment period, but I can swear to you I know several mommies with babies and small children whom are just as active as they were before, they just had to find new ways to manage it and involve the children in their active lives. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]<--- [COLOR=sienna]Carbun the Super-Bunny[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/FONT] [B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#556b2f][/COLOR][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]At the end of the day, how you imprinted on someones life and heart is the only true mark any of us leave on this earth and is what we are most proud of... [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- My Biggest Hero and Mentor: My Mum.[/SIZE][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=orange][B]Il faut d'abord durer [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- Ernest Hemingway[/SIZE][/I]

08-07-2007, 02:49 PM	#10
sddeaston Offline Join Date: Feb 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 411	running builds muscle, muscle weighs more than fat. For this reason I hate it when people are trying to "lose weight" and watch the scale closely. Its not about the number, its about how your body responds and how much fat you lose, which does not directly translate into losing weight because, again, running adds muscle. Just continue to run and feel good and stop worrying about the scale. You should honestly get rid of that thing