Common myths about running and weight loss

▶️Many people view running as an exercise that leads to weight loss. Sadly, this isn’t always true. In fact, in most cases, it’s not true. Of course, running has its benefits, but weight loss is low on that list.

Here are some of the most common myths about running. 

Myth #1 Running will help you lose weight 

Exercise physiology and nutrition expert Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D., says “relying on running alone isn't the best way to lose weight because it burns relatively few calories for the time invested.” Without creating a daily calorie deficit, you won’t see much change on the scale. What you eat is always the main factor when it comes to fat loss. 

Myth #2 Running will improve your shape

If you’re only running and not strength training, running might cause you to lose muscle.  In turn, your figure could look soft, instead of strong and lean. 

Myth #3 Running burns a lot of calories

Although running has the potential to burn many calories, running also gives people a false sense of how many calories they burned. In other words, they can end up eating two to three times more calories after a run (than normal for them), because they feel they’ve burned the equivalent amount. Studies show that people often overestimate the number of calories burned after a run by three to four times.  

Another factor with running is the high potential for injury. I usually tell people to get in shape before running, rather than start running to get in shape. Often, people start off way too fast and that can lead to injury and other problems.