Hey Guys/Gals,

My name is Daniel and I am 15 years old and I am trying to loose some weight by doing running/ proper diet, what I wanted to know is how long do you think I should run for and how many calories could I burn?

Hi Daniel,

How many calories you burn is dependant on lots of different factors, such as your current weight, so thats not an easy question to answer!! You'll be able to find various (crude) guidelines on the internet or if you a pulse meter loads of those will be able to give a slightly more accurate calorie count as they are personalised to your weight/height and your heart rate throughout your workout. Though to be honest, for various reasons I dont keep track of the calories I burn, and for me its not that important - I run coz i find it fun and it destresses me!! And I think even if your running to loose weight counting exact calories isn't the best plan, lots of people can get quite obsessive! If you are eating healthier the chances are you are prob cutting out some calories consumed and if thats coupled with taking up more exercise youll be using more too - so you'll loose weight! As long as thats happening at a healthy rate what do teh exact figures matter!!! But thats just me!

As for how far to run - again thats a personal thing as well, dependant on how far you are currently running and how fit you are!! All Id say is be careful not to push yourself too far too soon - I am the worst for doing that!! I start to feel like I'm indestructable or the running equivilant of wonder woman - which is good for the old self esteem and motivation - until I inevitably end up injured or dead on my feet! just listen to your body and dont take on too much too soon!
Hmm,,hope something in that waffle makes sense!!!
Kat

All very good advice from Kat!

As a simple answer, to find out calories burnt weigh yourself and search google, loads of places that'll work out roughly how many calories you burn doing various exercises.

As for how far to run, for burning calories, the further the better, but just do what you can manage! If you head out the door everyday trying to run as far as possible I'd be suprised if you lasted much more than a week. Again, if you search the net for a 'beginners training plan' you'll find loads and then you can choose one that suits ya

RunWithTheWind

I started running on the 4th Jan this year. Primarily to lose weight. I also adopted a bit of healthier diet.

For me I worked out a run that was convenient to gauge myself against. I ran to the end of a certain road and back. I drove the distance and it worked out at 2.4 miles.

The first time I ran it I think I got about 100 meters before stopping and walking for a bit. I then, got my breath back and ran a bit further. I made sure I completed the distance (even if I had walked three quarters - or more - of the way round!).

I did this every other day... it didn't take long at all before I was running further and further... today I did the whole distance without stopping once and I've already started the same technique on a new run that's 3.1 miles long...

Even if you just walk out of your front door and around the block then that is more exercise than you used to do and, assuming you are taking in the same or less calories in your diet, you'll be losing some weight.

Don't try and bite off more than you can chew or you'll just end up hating it (you'll probably hate it anyway for the first week or so). Then you'll start to see big differences and you'll be enthused to carry on..

Good luck mate...

Thanks you all for your comments, I today ran to my local shops and back, I am not sure how long it takes but I ran first and then my legs ached a bit so I got my breath back and ran again and done the same back, hopefully after the first week I will be able to run for the full distance without stopping. Also, I feel alot more happier and less angry after the run.

Good effort.

The feeling of acomplishment when you do a new "longest ever without stopping" is great. Interesting comments about feeling happier and less angry after the run. Did you feel unhappy and angry before? I know I find it a lot easier to concentrate at work etc since doing running. Been through a fair bit in the last 12 months one way and another and I'm not sure how I'd have coped with it all in my mental state of 12 months ago. Far too much and

Most days when I come home from School I feel annoyed and angry but after the run I feel more relaxed so not only is it helping me physically but it is also helping me mentally.

I think the mental benefits of running are probably just as every bit importnat and benfical as the physical ones. I too find it helps me clear my head and perks me up when Im feeling low - like others here its helped me loads through some pretty yucky stages in life!

So keep on running if its making you feel better and helps you deal with the stresses of life!!

Well done, Daniel.Attachment 62 Seems like you've discovered some of the great benefits of running already. Keep it up, and good luck.
Hopefully you have a long and rewarding (running) road ahead of you.

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GONE RUNNING

Sounds ok to me. I started running a few months ago and measured out two miles, I ran as far as I could, walked, ran as far as I could, walked and repeated until I'd covered the two miles. Each time I did the route I tried to beat the first distance before stopping; it worked.

Keep it up!

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"There is a great advantage in training under unfavorable conditions. It is better to train under bad conditions, for the difference is then a tremendous relief in a race."
Emil Zatopek

Do any of you know where I can buy a cheap stopwatch from?

I think that most digital watches have a basic stopwatch function on them; so you won't necessarily have to go to a specialist sports shop for a fancy "all-singing-all-dancing-whistles-and-bells" type of thing(!) . Maybe somewhere like Argos would be as good a place as any to start.

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GONE RUNNING