Advice

[Monica1969]

Hi everyone, as I am embarking on my new journey on the C25K, can anyone help me with regards to weight loss whilst doing this. I am following SW, but will the running slow my weight loss down? 💪

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

This plan in itself wouldn’t definitely produce weight loss. It does tend to tone people up though and so they tend to lose inches round the waist and thighs especially. We only burn on average 100 calories per mile run, so running doesn’t make up for bad nutrition.

Not sure what slimming world do these days. The weight loss nhs forum on here is excellent though. The nhs BMI calculator online also gives a calorie range for slow, sustainable weight loss.

Couple the power of the two forums together and weight loss and body shaping and toning complement each other really well, and C25K makes you much fitter.

Edit: running may slow your weight loss, especially in the early weeks when muscle build starts. That’s no bad thing, the slower you lose weight the easier it is to maintain the loss.

[Monica1969 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Hi UnfitNoMore many thanks for this, I’ll have a look at the forum 😃

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Monica1969]

No worries... my other advice is to weigh yourself less and measure yourself more. They may disagree with me over there, but they do promote measuring too. I threw my scales out about half way through my journey.

[Monica1969 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Ha ha ha I’ve not measured myself which I will do, thank you.

I’m not bothered about weight really it just shows us we are losing I guess

[Bandit14 Graduate]

Hi and welcome😊

I was told by sw consultant that starting exercise can slow down your weight loss at first as your body stores water to help muscle repair. As long as you keep eating right though it does kick back in after a few weeks - don't be disappointed at the scales - you'll be surprised at how much doing C25K alters your body shape. I've gained a much better figure even though I didn't always see the weight loss I would have liked.

Good luck x

[Monica1969 in reply to Bandit14]

Oh thank you Bandit14, if anything that’s what I want to achieve 😃

[steviej99 Graduate]

I agree with the replies you have received. But the more you run the better you will feel and this will motivate you to eat healthily. The main benefit weight wise comes when you complete the C25k and keep running! You'll have the bug and be burning calories regularly 😊

[SeaJay87]

You could try MyFitneesPal or another calorie counting app.

MFP will give you target for each time of nutrition.

Losing weight is as much about eating enough as it is about not eating too much. If you are running, for example, your legs will be burning energy, I'd you don't have enough food in your belly, your body will burn your stored energy. That will be fat if you have enough protein, but it will be muslce if you don't. Your body will prioritise fat over muscle.

To lose weight you need to burn more then you eat.

[Monica1969]

I am eating a well balanced diet ie: this morning I ran W1D1 again on an empty stomach, I was up at 5:30am and out, I hate bananas so they are a no go, I then had scrambled egg with spinach, mushrooms and tinned tomatoes, my lunch is chicken salad. This is the kind of food I am now eating x

[misswobble Graduate]

SW and running should work well,providing you stick with both 💪👍😃🏃‍♀️

I am a WW Gold member and have kept the lard at bay for almost 8 years Running and eating healthily. I walk a lot too!

[Monica1969 in reply to misswobble]

Oh lovely thankyou, I want to loose 2 dress sizes so I’ll keep sticking to both and listen to advice on here. Everyone is so supportive, it’s amazing

[misswobble Graduate]

Go for it then. Don’t eat any extra for doing Couch to 5k. That’s the main thing to say 🙂

[pinkaardvark Graduate]

I started SW last year in May and lost approx 2st before starting C25k in Oct last year. In May this year I hit target at 3.5st loss. So no it didn't slow my weight loss.

I would say it didn't really help much either. A 5k run burns about 300calories and most of the runs in c25k will be far less, so as long as you don't fall into the trap of "I have done some exercise, now I can eat cake" you will be fine.

I am now running upto HM distance and that does seem to have a good impact on maintaining a healthy weight

[Monica1969 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Luckily I don’t have a sweet tooth, it’s those damn crisps lol

[pinkaardvark Graduate in reply to Monica1969]

I like crisps too, but have a sweet tooth so dip them in chocolate

[Monica1969 in reply to pinkaardvark]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 now that does sound good but noooooooooooooo lol

[pinkaardvark Graduate in reply to Monica1969]

running will make you feel better about your body and physique than simple weight loss alone, so as long as you are in it for the long run(pardon the pun) then running is excellent. And once you finish c25k you will feel so much better about yourself you will then start to think, how can I improve my running, by maybe going to the gym.. and so on up the pyramid of success until it is all just life. Slimmer life

[Monica1969 in reply to pinkaardvark]

This has all started because I packed up smoking 4 months ago due to seeing dad die of lung cancer, I feel like I’m on a mission at 48, maybe mid life crisis lol

[pinkaardvark Graduate in reply to Monica1969]

That's a very powerful motivator. Sorry to hear that though. If it helps I started c25k after stoptober a few years back. I completed it by xmas but then fell off the wagon(I stopped running, I never had a cig again). I then redid c25k for the second time last year and also lost lots of weight :). SO you definitely can do this

[Monica1969 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Awww thank you, I am determined, it’s strange, I’ve never been into fitness apart from having my horses, I don’t have them now though

[hudsondoglets Graduate in reply to pinkaardvark]

So agree with your post. I’ve lost just over 2 stone so far with SW with one more to go. Am in the middle of week 5 of the running program which I am loving. I didn’t do it to speed up weight loss at all, I wanted to improve my cardiovascular and biomechanical health. It is working well on both fronts for me 😊

[Suziruns Graduate]

I am doing week 5 of Couch to 5k, along with 2 sessions of 1hour of kettlercise, and consuming 1800 calories on average per day - I have lost only 2lb in all that time, but have lost 14 inches all over, I gave up on SW as I felt that I was being discouraged to exercise by the consultant at SW as when the weight loss dropped to being negligible it was like I was failing - something which I can say I am definitely not. So if your not losing weight, look at the positive side - your shape will be changing and your health will be improving. One thing this past couple of month has taught me is that there's too much emphasis made on stones and pounds rather than fitness. Good luck!

[Monica1969 in reply to Suziruns]

Hi Suziruns, thank you so much, you have just clarified everything for me there. I am going to measure myself tonight and ignore the scales completely xx

[Taffywasawelshman Graduate]

As I was overweight (technically obese) I decided to lose some excess blubber before I started C25K. I had read an article on BBC News app about cutting beige carbs- bread, potatoes, pasta, rice- which had been the bulk of my diet. I cut them out and focused on protein, the results were fantastic. After a couple of months I had lost enough to start C25K, weight loss slowed down but I read that's because instead of just losing fat, you are toning up and replacing it with muscle, which is denser than fat. That explains the slower weight loss. But it's also visibly made a difference to my appearance, the love handles are now almost gone. I guess the point is, don't be surprised if your weight reduction varies week on week. Go with it, it will give you results. For me an added benefit is my blood pressure has reduced and my asthma less problematic. I'm dreaming of wehere I will be in twelve months time!

[Monica1969 in reply to Taffywasawelshman]

Hi Taffy, that’s good to hear, I ideally want to lose 2 stone and I am following low carb as well as SW, I only started eating this way a couple of weeks ago though.

Do you think I should have lost weight first?

I too have high blood pressure, it’s a family thing, I’m on meds for it though so it’s controlled.

[Taffywasawelshman Graduate]

I don't think it matters too much if you can cope with it right now. As you progress your appetite will change and you will want to eat healthily anyway. If you progress beyond C25K, on to 10k, even half marathons, carbs will be an essential part of your diet as you prepare for a race- what's called 'carb loading'. You can learn more about that on this forum and as you progress- shouldn't be too much of an issue for you now.

[Monica1969 in reply to Taffywasawelshman]

Oh I’m only on week 1 lol, I am loving it though. Im gonna be really careful

[Taffywasawelshman Graduate]

good for you- you can do it!

[hudsondoglets Graduate]

I am doing SW too. I lost a good deal before I was confident to run but my weight loss has stayed steady in the five weeks that I have been running. Both have been life changing for me 😊