That Running/Calorie thing explained

[Rignold]

The question of why we are running 5k three times a week and not seeing the pounds drop is a fairly frequent question here, as is mentions of the joys of cake.

Here is a handy explanation of calories in/ calories out for the cake-loving runner.

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Must work that out for Dark Chocolate Homewheat bics and plan my week then.

[useitorloseit Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

Btw am amazed 2 cupcakes is only 352 cals. They must be quite small ones - not like the giants I make

[Hidden in reply to useitorloseit]

My thoughts exactly! I'm sure one of my chocolate cupcakes topped with a layer of chocolate ganache and a big chocolate buttercream or ganache swirl are probably 352 cals each, lol!

Mmmm...hungry now...!

[Buffy007 Graduate]

Only 2 cupcakes for 5k, no wonder I'm putting on weight. I'm eating all the time atm - have put on 4 / 5 lbs since I started running. Shape has changed 'tho!

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

But this is exactly why I run! 1 parkrun = 1 guilt free bacon Sarnie or 1 piece of guilt free carrot cake!

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Oh no! It looks like I'll have to train for a marathon then!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Love it. 11cupcakes after my HM in May I think that sounds like another challenge. The longer I run the less my appetite is afterwards.

[Rignold in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Yes, I find this. After my event yesterday, in which I probably burned 2000 calories easily, I had to push myself to eat anything at all in the evening, and my wife bought me a celebratory pint of beer, which took me more than an hour to get less than half way down. In pre running days, I would order two at a time and have inhaled the first one by the time they had poured the second.

[AncientMum Graduate]

Whoops!! I'm in cupcake debt. Looks like going yo have to run a couple of marathons when my ankle heals

[AndyD Graduate]

Bu**er

[Rignold]

Butter? yes, that's calorific too. Although good calories in butter, unlike most cupcakes.

[AndyD Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Ha ha ... well I'm off for at least 2 cupcakes later.... Km's are sooo last year

[Hidden]

2 CUPCAKES for 5Ks!! I am shocked and stunned...wonder if there is a peanut m&m/km burnt option on a garmin watch.

[Hidden]

Ahah, love the comparison. Also, good to mention is that muscle weighs more than fat, so on the plus side that may be the reason why we don't lose the weight.

Why blame the cupcakes?

[Rignold]

because running does not build muscle.

[marc_read Graduate]

what would it be in lasagna slices?

[TurboTortoise Graduate]

Also if you are female and not built like an Amazon warrior the calories used are even fewer. Based on my stats my Garmin tells me I burn a measly 640 Kcals for a 10k.

S'pose one could scrape off the icing...

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to TurboTortoise]

Yup, only 580 calories for my 10k, though I guess it'd be more if I ran faster.

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

Actually here's the thing - whether you take 30mins or 90 mins to run 10k, you will use exactly the same amount of energy (assuming your mass remains constant and you are running exactly the same course in the same conditions). The time here isn't a factor. Newton's 2nd Law and all that.

(and also while I'm being a pedantic Ms Smartypants, in reply to Zebra above, muscle doesn't weigh more that fat, it has a greater mass, which corresponds to less volume...)

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to TurboTortoise]

That's interesting, I hadn't realised. Seems really counterintuitive!

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

I have never been a cake person but have always had a penchant for Mars bars (around 260kCal).

Can't give myself too many rewards based on those figures!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

That's hilarious!!! I used to measure it in glasses of wine till I gave up drinking for my marathon training!!!

[pinkangel16 Graduate]

What I didn't say in my reply to your post was, well done on the no booze business! I drink far less than I used to a few years ago, but I still do enjoy a drink and if I want a drink then I want a drink! I'm not very good at moderation in anything if I want it!

[Rignold]

Moderation in all things, and plenty of it.

[lynne7 Graduate]

Is it just me or is the calorific value of the cupcakes a bit random... For example if 1500 calories gets you 11 cupcakes then surely 3200 calories (more than double) should get you more than double the number of cupcakes (i.e. at least 22) but they say you only get 21 for a full marathon!

Not that my running would get me any more than 2 cupcakes - not yet anyway!!

[ViaM Graduate in reply to lynne7]

It's probably because you can have four cherries after a marathon and, as we all know, cherries are extremely calorific

[Dunder2004 Graduate in reply to lynne7]

Well spotted!

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Excellent poster! I think so many people are surprised by number of calories in food and the reality of their daily calorie expenditure. used to love to do cooking in schools with children just to make them think about what they're putting in their mouths when they eat cake, biscuits etc. Not that I'm not partial to a bit of a cream slice myself!