That Running/Calorie thing explained - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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That Running/Calorie thing explained

Rignold profile image
28 Replies

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.

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Rignold profile image
Rignold
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28 Replies
useitorloseit profile image
useitorloseitGraduate

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

useitorloseit profile image
useitorloseitGraduate 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 :)

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 profile image
Buffy007Graduate

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 profile image
agedsnailspaceGraduate

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

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

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

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

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 profile image
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 profile image
AncientMumGraduate

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

AndyD profile image
AndyDGraduate

Bu**er :-)

Rignold profile image
Rignold

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

AndyD profile image
AndyDGraduate in reply to Rignold

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

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

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 profile image
Rignold

because running does not build muscle.

marc_read profile image
marc_readGraduate

what would it be in lasagna slices?

TurboTortoise profile image
TurboTortoiseGraduate

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 profile image
the_tea_fairyGraduate in reply to TurboTortoise

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

TurboTortoise profile image
TurboTortoiseGraduate 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 profile image
the_tea_fairyGraduate in reply to TurboTortoise

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

Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate

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- profile image
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 profile image
pinkangel16Graduate

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 profile image
Rignold

Moderation in all things, and plenty of it.

lynne7 profile image
lynne7Graduate

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 profile image
ViaMGraduate 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 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate in reply to lynne7

Well spotted!

flossieflyblow profile image
flossieflyblowGraduate

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!

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