I recently started running, maybe about 5 or so miles a week. I'm not all that big, 5'8''- 160lbs, but I have some nasty love handles that I would kill to get rid of because they don't look right being there without a gut. My problem is the more I exercise the more hungry I get so I eat more. So my question is: Is running and eating more going to do me any good or are they going to cancle each other out? Or is what I'm doing normal? Thanks for the help.

 

I would have to say that it all depends on what it is that your are eating. Are you wolfing down a couple of burgers and super-size fries after running, or do you have healthy eating habits?

 

Try South beach or similar diet. Focus on protien, get rid of carbs. South Beach is more tolerable than Atkins.

I hate diets, but the little woman made me see the light on this--her and the nutritionist we took our daughter to.

I was eating and feeding her enough carbs for an army.....

Good luck. Don't forget to do some upper body stuff, too.

 

Try eating some carbs about a half hour before you exercise, so you'll have some fuel to burn, and your body won't try to digest itself (literally, except both fat and muscle will be consumed, and cause hunger pains later). As your exercise progresses, and your muscle mass increases, your bodies digestive efficiency will increase, and you will not require (or desire) as much food to feel satiated.

 

lots of snacks daily not meals mind you just light snacks....like 6 a day...eat a wrap then some fruit then something else etc.....2 hours apart or so....that way its easier to burn the calories and carbs than if you were to wolf down alot and burn it slow so it had time to turn into fat.

 

i thought if you run alot you need carbs? I think this low/no carb thing is too squirrley to work like they say.
If you look at the new low/no carb section of foods at the grocery store it makes you wonder how in the Heck do they take "carbs" out of anything? Am I missing something or is this really legit? Does anyone know the process? Maybe the Atkins peeps are laughing all the way to the bank. They are putting junk food into boxes and labeling it for the anti carb craze knowing chunky monkeys will buy it out of desperation or the need to run with the crowd.
Just FYI they now have a low carb dog food. Atkins Dog Chow? Atkins and Bits? I ju
st dont get it.

Congrats on your will and desire to lose the love handles.

 

The basic principal is that you need to burn more calories than you take in, period. By running a few miles per day and decreasing your calorie intake you will loose weight, I dropped from 220 to 180 in a few months just by doing that. Take in to account that you do have to burn calories in day to day life. Don't cut too much calories though because you don't want to burn muscle mass.

 

Best advice above.

You must create a calorie deficit. That can be accomplished via exercise or calorie counting or, the most effecient, both.

 

The best thing I have heard is that you need to eat more times a day but smaller portions. I was told eat six times a day to speed up my metabolism.

Huey

 

Muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat. therefore, a weight training regimen, combined with a cardio type work-out is the best way to go. Also, if you cut out white bread (whole wheat is okay) and pasta and potatoes (and of course, junk food) you will lose weight.


For me, the hard part is the discipline. I really love to eat!

 

Hmmm Do any other women in here besides me think love handles and a "belly" are sexy? I would take a beefy guy over a beefed up guy any day. I would just rather see a guy fluffy around the middle than stocked up around the shoulders. I prefer a pony keg to a six pack any day.
Dont get me wrong I think there is a unhealthy point but I have always loved seeing a guy with love handles on the beach (and anywhere else) than the "muskley" ones. They look more touchable and lovable.

 

I'm not sure how old you are, but I don't think teenage girls think the same way you do qaurterhorse. If they did, then that would make my life that much easier. haha. What exactly are carb-type foods that I should be eating before a run? Also what has protein and no carbs? I'm not into this whole nutrition thing so I need all the help I can get. It's pretty sad that I can properly mix feed for a cow so its healthy but I can't eat right myself, haha. As for the weight training... I've been doing a little weight lifting at home. I have a giant weight machine in my room but I'm not sure how to use it efficiently. Should I work the upper and lower body everyday or switch off day to day? I've been doing 2 or 3 sets of 10 of everything that's available on my machine (except butterflies), so should I up the sets or up how many I do in each set? I've heard about working out 20 minutes a day but after doing everything on the machine it only take around 10, plus whatever it takes to run. Thanks alot for the help, it's much appreciated.

 

Stu73d said it, cardio and weights will produce the best results. You will find you eat a bit more, even though you are losing weight. The muscle wants to be fed 24/7, and it makes your metabolism go up. With the machine, do 3 or 4 sets of the same exercise, with as much weight as you can do 6-10 times. Try working shoulders/triceps one day, biceps/back another. Every other day would be enough. When I first started running and lifting, 22 years ago, I got addicted and worked out every day. I gradually got to the present point of 3 days a week, and it is sufficient. I work out 1.5 hours at a time. Seems good. Hang in there, the hardest part, even after all this time, is getting each workout started. After that, the whole thing just goes on cruise control.

 

As a person that lost over a 100 pounds by exercise and changing my lifestyle, I would have to say that you should focus on both exercise and weights. Start at a comfortable rate of exercise and increase it until you are at an hour of cardio. Take your time and change the way that you are doing your cardio, because you body will become resistant to doing the same exercise and it will diminish the results. I do 30 minutes on a stair mill and 30 minutes on a treadmill. Then I do 30 – 50 minutes of weights. Again do what is comfortable and make sure that you have proper from.

As far as a diet, I do not believe in the ideas of a diet. Now saying that I can say that a diet will set you up for failure, because you will not be able to have something and you will crave it. The smartest thing is to totally change what you eat and make it a life long decision. IT was hard for me to give up the burgers and chips, but I became more aware of the ingredients and calorie counts and one big thing that really works for me is when you exercise on machines they often have a calories burn meter. I use this as a tool for motivation. Example, I used to eat Bacon Ultimate Cheese Burger for Jack’s place until I discovered that they were 1,100 calories and found out that it was an hour or more of exercise to just burn that off and nothing more. Do not starve yourself and it is better if you have smaller meals more throughout the day vs. bigger meals. Also do not skip on breakfast, because that sets your day. Good luck

 

Are these runs 5 miles apiece or five 1 mile runs (it makes a big difference)? Do not believe the nonsense pushed by the "low/no carb" diet craze. If you attempt to erase carbohydrates from your diet, your body will break down...literally. Protien is good for your body, but your body also needs carbohydrates to function properly. Have you ever seen an athlete (amatuer or professional) chomping on a chicken leg or bacon strip while competing? If your body can handle it, try a banana, Power Bar, Cliff Bar, etc. half an hour before running (with a glass of water). I recommend visiting these websites for more nutritional information:

http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/...-0-0-0,00.html

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...0-5244,00.html

If you want to see how well an exercise is working, purchase a hear rate monitor (Polar is about the best) http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/default.asp

To isolate the love handles, try some abdominal-only exercises. Good luck.

Chris