No. Just No.
Running and Weight-Loss
I am starting to lose count of the number of people who have voiced their concern that I am running as an alternative form of weight loss.
On a blog that discusses running, and given that I have decided to support the Butterfly Foundation, I think it’s worth addressing this here.
Q. Are you just running to lose weight?
A. It had crossed my mind. I wondered if this was just another manifestation of me being crazy. But after a lot of thought, I’ve realised it’s not.
Because…
1. I’m on it – consider it dealt with.
2. Running has replaced a lot of old activity (doubles of Body Attack and Pump, Aerobics, Yoga, Elliptical…) – I do 90 mins of running-related activity, rather than 2 hour gym sessions
3. Runners often put on weight when they start training. I have to eat to run well, so dieting is virtually impossible.
4. I have been open enough about my disastrous eating habits that no-one is going to let me lose a stack of weight. Between the video, my friends, and Mr The Rake, there is no way you guys are going to let me lose 5kg. It’s just not going to happen.
Running makes me happy! Here I am ready for a quick beach run in Florida…
By all means, keep an eye on me – I’m really lucky you care so much! But I’ve got enough safety nets in place to prevent myself from going down that road. And you know what? I’m over it.
Running is goal-oriented. I love a big, fat, juicy goal.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s much healthier than going to the gym for the sake of counting calories.
And, oh yeah – I like exercise. And that’s OK!
Which leads me to my next rant -
Stop Bombarding me with your Weight Loss Articles/Goals/Rules
It is totally acceptable for people to blog about their weight-loss journey. Plenty of people do have weight to lose in order to be healthier, and these people deserve our support and respect.
On the other end of the scale however, I am tired of the barrage of weight-loss strategies, tips and tricks. I’m not talking about ’5 tips to lose belly fat fast’ ads.
For example:
Last week, I was invited to join Anytime Health when I joined my new gym. Great idea – a place to track your goals, connect with the fitness community, and get some online advice.
Except everything there relates to weight loss.
This comes from a gym. Where people go to get fit.
Just to get a profile, I had to log my weight (I don’t weigh myself, so it was a wild guess) and whether I wanted to lose or maintain it.
I got a big yellow hazard sign next to each measurement I hadn’t filled out.
So my health score looked like this:
What is that?
Why is it not acceptable to get fit for fitness’ sake – rather than to lose the baby weight/last 5kg/holiday flab etc.
What happened to living well and eating in moderation?
I went so far as to query them, and this was the response:
Thank you for raising this, at this stage we don’t have a fitness goal section, however, if you like you can use the workout planners to keep you motivated. Also check out the blogs for some great info on a variety of topics (not just weight loss!
Kudos to them for responding. But no fitness goals? On a gym-goers site?
In sum, if you want to lose weight, great. I will not be using the site. It offends me, and makes me feel like I over-eat.
I think I’ll just go to the gym instead. And then eat what I want.
I gained 10 pounds my first marathon. If I had to choose I would do it all again – yes, gaining 10 pounds is worth running 26.2
So many outlets out there are so weight obsessed I think it sends the wrong message. Would I mind losing a bit of weight to get rid of my spare tire, that’d be fabulous. However, I would still be a super healthy, normal, double digit sized person even if I lost a few pounds. I’d like to lose it because I know having the stomach fat is not healthy not because I have any end desire to be skinny or wear a certain size. I’d much rather be fit. I think that is the model we all have to set for each other. Be healthy, be fit, be happy.
Rant over:)
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted Asheville Trip & Vega Contest Results
Love it – and I will totally support you in your weight loss efforts if that’s your path!
Be healthy, be fit, be happy – damn straight.
I love that running gives me goals too and it was never about weight loss. It drives me crazy that so many ‘fitness’ sites/places/etc focus on weight loss and not fitness for the sake of being fit. I’ve never been offended, but sometimes I think it sends the wrong message. Be fit for a way of life, and you’ll be healthier. That’s how I like to think of it!
Paulette recently posted Weekly Recap – July Week Three
Such a great outlook Paulette!Glad to know I’m not the only one who finds it odd that these places don’t care about our fitness as much a they want us to buy their fat loss shakes