Can you really lose weight running 3 times a week?

[Nat26]

I want to get fit of course but also tone up and lose some weight. Do you think couch to 5k can really help...with good diet too...but no time for exercise on rest days.

[Hidden]

Not on its own, but with a healthy diet, of course. It is calories in and calories out. What you will notice very soon is that, even if you don’t lose weight, your body shape changes and you become slimmer and more toned. Measure your waist and thighs now and again in a few weeks time. You will be amazed!

[Jay66UK Graduate]

I’m hoping so. But I have been eating more than I should (and too much of it rubbish nutritionally) for some time, so it is as much what you eat as what exercise you take.

[Hidden]

I'm the same. I'm not exercising on rest days except walking to work which is about a 10 minute walk! I'm doing it all on a treadmill-so I'm doing other gym exercise while I'm there. I'm hoping to lose weight. You do have to combine it with healthy diet though. I think they say it's80%diet & 20%exercise to lose weight . I'm no expert though. I'm sure there are people on here more knowledgeable than me.

[davelinks Graduate]

you won't lose much weight if any on c25k, it can vary from person to person, I lost about half a stone, but I really watch the fats and sugars, and it toned me up. Weight loss comes more when running constantly 3 times a week..

[Jullaly Graduate]

I had lost 3 stone before starting C25K but I needed something to boost my weight lost as I had plateaued, I had secretly always wanted to run but never thought I could with this body! But here I am week 4, I have lost another 6lbs but I'm trying hard with the diet too because I want to eat to be healthy to run better rather than eat to slim, if that makes sense.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Jullaly]

Well done. And that completely makes sense.