Is running 5 days a week enough to lose weight?

Author: Kennedy Turcotte  |  Last update: Saturday, July 26, 2025

Another study found that runners who burned an average of 500 calories per run and ran five days a week lost a little over seven pounds in ten months.

Will I lose weight running 5 days a week?

Running 3 miles five times a week can be an effective way to lose weight, as long as it's combined with a balanced diet and other forms of exercise. It's crucial to listen to your body, gradually increase intensity, and incorporate rest days. Find more fitness tips on my Quora Profile!

How much running should I do a week to lose weight?

That said, running for 30-45 minutes, 3-4 times a week is a great starting point. For beginners, this might be 30 minutes of slow jogging with walking intervals, which can be built up to 30 minutes of running over a few weeks.

How long does it take to lose 20 lbs by running?

If you divide 70,000 calories by 100 calories per mile, you get 700 miles. So you would have to run 700 miles to lose 20 pounds. If you divide 700 miles by 60 days (2 months), you get 11.67 miles per day that you would have to jog. Every day for two months.

Is it OK to run 5 days per week?

The Bottom Line on Running Daily

Your level of experience should dictate how frequently you decide to run. "With experience, many runners can run five, six or even seven days per week, but early on, I wouldn't recommend more than every other day," Cane says.

Running For Weight Loss! | Run Tips For Losing Weight

How long does it take to see results from running 5 times a week?

On average, a consistent, healthy rate of weight loss is about 1-2 pounds per week. With regular running and dietary adjustments, most people begin to see changes in four to six weeks. However, this is a very individual journey, and patience is key.

Does running tone your body?

Finding an effective and enjoyable exercise routine is essential when shedding extra pounds and toning your muscles. Running, a simple yet powerful form of exercise, can be a great choice to help you achieve your weight loss and toning goals.

Does running burn belly fat?

However, the good news is that running is one of the best forms of exercise to lose belly fat, and there are even a few small tweaks you can make to your regular running schedule to deliver a sustained fat burning boost.

Can I lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks?

Is is possible to lose between five to ten pounds in two weeks, although this weight loss will vary depending on each person's metabolism. Food intake should be carefully monitored and combined with regular physical activity.

Should I run faster or longer to lose weight?

Faster runners burn more fat and carbs, use more muscle fibers, and burn calories more efficiently. On the flip side, fast running requires more recovery time and is not suitable for every day. Benefits for distance runners include improved endurance and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Does running tone your butt?

Running can boost your aerobic endurance as well as power up and tone your glutes — aka your butt muscles. But getting a bigger booty depends on the kind of running you're doing.

What exercise burns the most belly fat?

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

What is the best distance to run to lose weight?

You should run at the average pace of your 5k personal best. This is followed by a recovery phase consisting of 4 minutes of slow jogging. Repeat the cycle 4 times, or in other words, run for a total of 32 minutes, 16 minutes of it at a fast pace.

Is it OK to do cardio 5 days a week?

The more you exercise, the more calories you'll burn. If you're trying to lose weight, you should aim for doing cardio at least five days per week for a total of at least 250 minutes (4 hours, 10 minutes) each week. Contrary to what many believe, you can do aerobic exercise seven days per week.

What is a good distance to run everyday?

Try to start with one to three miles per day if you are new to running. Stay closer to the one-mile end if you don't currently do much exercise. If you hike, bike, or do something similar, you may want to see how you do running three miles a day. As you gain more miles over time, your heart and lungs become stronger.

What is the best time to run for weight loss?

Among people who met the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity, those who consistently engaged in morning activity (usually between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.) had a lower risk for obesity than those who were most active in the midday or evening.

Is losing 6 pounds noticeable?

CDC further recommends that you need to lose around 5-10% of your total body weight to notice changes. For instance, if you weigh 170 pounds, you need to lose roughly 8.3-17 pounds to notice a difference.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

What is the military 3 day diet?

The 3-Day Diet, also called the Military Diet, is a fad diet that claims that by drastically cutting calories for three days, you can drop 10 pounds in a week. It also encourages you to lower the amount of calories you eat for four more days after the initial three-day plan.

Why do runners have belly fat?

Jensen says a person who runs but also eats a poor diet “could indeed keep their paunch” if their genes predispose them to carry excess fat in their midsection, and Church agrees. “In general, if you eat poorly, you tend to put weight on in your belly,” he says. (Ditto if you drink a lot of alcohol, he adds.)

How to lose a hanging belly?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Is it better to run in the morning or night?

Evening Runs: Pros & Cons

The primary benefit of running later in the day is that your body is already functioning at a higher level than it is first thing in the morning. "There is some research which indicates that running is best when your body temperature is higher, which is in the late afternoon," Owens said.

Is running good for your butt?

Walking, running, and climbing all work the glutes. Strength training that targets these muscles can help give you a tighter, more rounded look. Adding a few butt-busting moves to your routine may be enough to see a change.

How long does it take to see results from running?

In fact, progressing in running and 'getting fitter' involves lots of complex changes in the body on a cellular level. “If you follow a set running schedule or programme, you may notice results in your performance in 4-6 weeks,” says Atim, and it may take longer if you have a more sporadic running plan.

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