If running is not supposed to be a good fat burning activity, Why do I have a 7% body fat reading?

For most people looking to lose fat, it would take them a long time getting to the mileage that would actually do that. And they'd probably get hurt.

I always thought and heard that running actually is the best weight loss activity. Paired with a healthy diet, extra pounds melt off.

Your body fat is low because you don't eat much

doubterrr wrote:

Your body fat is low because you don't eat much

3400kcal a day.

Skinny ripped wrote:

doubterrr wrote:

Your body fat is low because you don't eat much

3400kcal a day.

How did you measure your bodyfat? The RunnersWorld online calculator?

Skinny ripped wrote:

doubterrr wrote:

Your body fat is low because you don't eat much

3400kcal a day.

Of fat? And how much do you weigh?

Skinny ripped wrote:

Running is not supposed to be a good weight loss activity but my body fat percentage is 7% which has came down from 12% last year.

False premise = false conclusion.

Troll.

Piano_Man87 wrote:

Skinny ripped wrote:

3400kcal a day.

How did you measure your bodyfat? The RunnersWorld online calculator?

physio does it for me every month with a skinfold caliper.

doubterrr wrote:

Skinny ripped wrote:

3400kcal a day.

Of fat? And how much do you weigh?

Around 10% is fat. I weigh 149lbs.

most people who start running to lose weight are probably going out 3-5 times a week and jogging 2-3 miles at a time, at the same, comfortable (slow) pace. They may lose some fat initially but soon enough their bodies will get used to that intensity and become more efficient causing the weight loss to slow or stop.

weight loss through running would be best achieved with an actual training program that mixes speed work, intervals, tempos etc. I think the majority of the population finds this kind of activity daunting and to uncomfortable to stick with. that's the best type of weight loss exercises for the general public are circuit type programs. short and high intensity.

So you (and other serious runners) are able to maintain a low Body fat percentage because you are training with goals in mind and continuing to up the intensity as your body adapts in order to run faster times.

skinny2 wrote:

I always thought and heard that running actually is the best weight loss activity. Paired with a healthy diet, extra pounds melt off.

Weight loss does not equal fat loss. I tend to lose weight but gain bf%, not that I regularly run more than 40 mpw.

Running coupled with moderate, not high, carbs will melt off the fat. For low-carb vegans, the fat -burning boost is exponential. Many runners who don't lose weight are running too little and carb-addicted.

OP's question is analogous to asking "my car is supposed to be fuel efficient, so how is it that I burn a full tank of gas every week?" An efficient car still burns a lot of gas if you drive it a lot. An activity that doesn't burn much fat per minute still burns a lot of fat in total if you spend enough time doing it.

Personally as long as I'm consistently running my body fat % (measured via bod pod test) stays between 6.5-7.8%. Eating 3600 calories per day.

Fact is, exercising gets your metabolism kicking. And you don't just burn calories while running; your body burns a ton trying to recover.

When it comes down to it, it's about balance. Not what you eat, when you eat, but balance. If you burn 1000 calories a day and eat 3000, you're going to gain weight. If you flip that, you're going to lose weight. Unhealthily, but you'll lose weight. Hell, you could eat McDonalds three squares a day but as long as your calories were balanced, you'd be fine.