Running Plan for Weight Loss

So you hopped on the scale and realized it's time to lose some wait, huh? Well running, combined with a healthy diet, can help you lose that weight and keep it off.

This running plan will help you get started running, and it will then maintain enough mileage to chip away at your weight. You'll be running for weight loss in no time.

Running by itself will probably not help you lose weight. To do that, you need to maintain a calorie deficit. Your diet has the biggest impact on that, but running can play a small role. And over time, that small role can lead to significant weight loss.

An optimal amount of running for weight loss is about 10 to 20 miles per week. Less than that probably won't have much impact. And much more than that, you risk injuring yourself because you're not eating enough for your body to recover.

This running plan starts off with the assumption that you don't run, but you can "skip ahead" several weeks if you do. Simply find the week that fits your overall mileage and start there.

Keep in mind, also, that the emphasis is on covering miles - not on how fast you cover them. You can run as fast as you can comfortably run, but don't try and push yourself. Running a mile at a fast pace won't burn significantly more calories than running a mile at a moderate pace, but it will prevent you from running more miles. And in the long run, that means you'll burn fewer calories and lose less weight.

This running plan is brought to you by Running with Rock. Check out the blog for additional tips about running, weight loss, and general wellness.