The Skinny on Running

When I began my adventures in running last year, many reasons played into it. The main reason of course was for overall health and longevity. Certainly, the idea that I might shed a few pounds in the process was in the back of my mind, after all, who doesn’t want to shed a few pounds? As it happened, I did not shed a few pounds…in my first 8 months of running I actually gained 5 pounds! Keep in mind that I had no real change in diet, I just started running.

Now, I am a reader, and when I begin a new adventure, know that I am reading everything I can about it; I want to know all about the subject! Running was no different, I had been reading about the changes that happen to a person who begins to run. Therefore, I learned that my body was producing more blood, storing more water (to have available when exertion kicked in), gaining bone mass and muscle mass. I did not become alarmed with the weight gain for a couple reasons, firstly because of the internal changes that were occurring in me because of running, and secondly because my clothing did not become too tight with the change, my clothes actually began to fit better! So, I took it in stride knowing that my goal of becoming healthier was being achieved even though the scale did not say what I really wanted it to.

Then, something changed…in the last 3 months I have shed 9 pounds! This too, began to occur with no real diet change. This also has included losing 3 of those 9 pounds in the midst of Christmas baking and indulging! And, of course, I had been reading in Jeff Galloway’s book “Marathon” about running and fat burning. Jeff theorized that a runner will turn their muscles into “fat burners” even while sleeping if the runner is running a nice “long” run every week. What does that mean? Jeff says that if a person runs a long run every week that is equal to about 7 or 8 miles at a slow pace, the muscles will become “fat burners”. Interestingly enough, I have begun to “up” my distance on my Saturday long run and my “shorter” runs during the week. So, I am thinking that my muscles may be at the point where they have become fat burning machines all day long! I tend to believe this theory because otherwise I do not know how to account for the recent weight loss. It certainly took me many months to build up to the longer mileage, but the results are well worth it!

So, here is the word of encouragement to those on running adventures that also want to lose weight; don’t give up! Running will change the way your body functions from the inside out. If you stick to it, the results will follow. The running life-style is not a “quick fix” to weight reduction, but results will come, the kind of results that can last a lifetime.

I love running and I keep loving it more the more I run! =)