How much should i be running in a week?

[Brady_to_Moss]

I am in the process of gaining weight ( mainly muscle ). I use to run 3 miles a day but now i run maybe 1 mile once a week and the rest is weight training. I was told that running 3 miles a day is not good for building muscle..but is one mile a week good enough?

[Lauriebell82]

Um, well running makes you gain muscle. It mostly makes you lose weight though and burn fat, (esp. 3 miles per day) so maybe that's why you were told to cut back the running and step up the weight training.

[GrayClouds]

Depends what your goals are. If your looking to get HUGE running a great deal will make it difficult. Aerobic muscle burns muscle as well has fat. Though 3 miles 3-4 times a week is a good balance if your looking for overall shape and condition.

[mark982]

have you checked into hiit?

[deux ex machina]

I am in the process of gaining weight ( mainly muscle ). I use to run 3 miles a day but now i run maybe 1 mile once a week and the rest is weight training. I was told that running 3 miles a day is not good for building muscle..but is one mile a week good enough?

 

I don't think taking it down to one mile a week is a good idea at all.

 

You'll lose a lot of aerobic conditioning by going from 3 miles a day, down to 1 mile once a week - I think GrayClouds suggestion of "3 miles, 3-4 times a week" makes the most sense.

 

Just go at a moderate pace for to maintain your endurance - don't look to increase anything as far as running goes, since your focus is on gaining muscle at the moment.

 

Make sure you eat enough to gain, and get enough rest.

[Lauriebell82]

I don't think taking it down to one mile a week is a good idea at all.

 

You'll lose a lot of aerobic conditioning by going from 3 miles a day, down to 1 mile once a week - I think GrayClouds suggestion of "3 miles, 3-4 times a week" makes the most sense.

 

Just go at a moderate pace for to maintain your endurance - don't look to increase anything as far as running goes, since your focus is on gaining muscle at the moment.

 

Make sure you eat enough to gain, and get enough rest.

 

Yeah I agree, you will lose ALL your endurance cutting back your running like that! Trust me, it's happened to me. And it takes FOREVER to get that endurance back if you decide to start running more again.

 

I agree with 3 miles, 3-4 times per week. That sounds like a good balance.

[on edge]

Um, well running makes you gain muscle. It mostly makes you lose weight though and burn fat, (esp. 3 miles per day) so maybe that's why you were told to cut back the running and step up the weight training.

 

That's funny.

 

OP, what are your goals? If you are looking to increase your size then I would stop running and focus exclusively on lifting. Running will burn muscle as well as fat.

[mbeewood]

I am in the process of gaining weight ( mainly muscle ). I use to run 3 miles a day but now i run maybe 1 mile once a week and the rest is weight training. I was told that running 3 miles a day is not good for building muscle..but is one mile a week good enough?

Run every day. 15-30 minutes should be fine.

[Brady_to_Moss]

That's funny.

 

OP, what are your goals? If you are looking to increase your size then I would stop running and focus exclusively on lifting. Running will burn muscle as well as fat.

 

 

I am looking to get big...muscle big. Not huge but just buff. I am allready seeing a difference with all the weight training i do as well as my high protein intake.

[TaraMaiden]

I am in the process of gaining weight ( mainly muscle ). I use to run 3 miles a day but now i run maybe 1 mile once a week and the rest is weight training. I was told that running 3 miles a day is not good for building muscle..but is one mile a week good enough?

 

How far away are you trying to get?

And how quickly?

 

Our doctor told my grandmother, when she was 80, that she should walk a mile a day. She's 96 now, and we don't know where the hell she is.

 

I'm sorry.

I just saw the thread title, and I'm in a weird mood....

Take no notice, I apologise.....

 

(send us a postcard though.....)

[Lauriebell82]

That's funny.

 

OP, what are your goals? If you are looking to increase your size then I would stop running and focus exclusively on lifting. Running will burn muscle as well as fat.

 

Why did I gain muscle in my legs then? I understand running doesn't build HUGE muscles.

 

As for the OP I really discourage him from stopping running completely. Cut back to even running 2 miles a day, like a few times a week combined with weight training. That will keep your cardio up and endurance.

 

That's why my fiance does, he mostly lifts weights and runs a few times a week to keep fit.

[Devil Inside]

have you checked into hiit?

 

I second this nomination. It is a good way to lose fast, but not burn up too much of your muscle. We have opposite issues my friend...I put on muscle easily...but losing fat...that is my demon. Try googling HITT...I think it will work well..it is intense and efficient.

[Lauriebell82]

I second this nomination. It is a good way to lose fast, but not burn up too much of your muscle. We have opposite issues my friend...I put on muscle easily...but losing fat...that is my demon. Try googling HITT...I think it will work well..it is intense and efficient.

 

What is that? (HITT)

[GrayClouds]

 

Our doctor told my grandmother, when she was 80, that she should walk a mile a day. She's 96 now, and we don't know where the hell she is.

 

I would say about 5840 miles away

[GrayClouds]

What is that? (HITT)

 

High Intensity Interval Training

 

but Lauriebell your already losing to much weight.

[Lauriebell82]

High Intensity Interval Training

 

but Lauriebell your already losing to much weight.

 

Yeah, I just read up on it. That would DEFINATELY be too much for me, it's not really want I want to do anyway. I just want to maintain my weight and lean muscle. I'm not lookin to be a body builder.

 

I'm starting to maintain more, I started eating more carbs (good ones, whole grain pasta, ect.) and I cut back running to 5 days per week (3 miles) from 6 days. I weighed myself a few times this week and I fluctuated a little bit between pounds but didn't have a weight drop.

 

Is it still possible to burn fat and "lose weight" without it being reflected on the scale? My fiance says I still look thinner...

[Devil Inside]

 

Is it still possible to burn fat and "lose weight" without it being reflected on the scale? My fiance says I still look thinner...

 

Yup. After awhile the pounds will stop being lost...and yet you canget tighter and leaner.

[traderho]

HIIT is the best way to keep muscle and burn fat as others have said. Just look at marathon runners vs sprinters and what their bodies look like to understand what both types of running does in extreme cases. The sprinting in HIIT has been proven to burn just as much fat as steady state cardio in way less time. In addition it promotes muscle growth.

[on edge]

Why did I gain muscle in my legs then? I understand running doesn't build HUGE muscles.

 

As for the OP I really discourage him from stopping running completely. Cut back to even running 2 miles a day, like a few times a week combined with weight training. That will keep your cardio up and endurance.

 

That's why my fiance does, he mostly lifts weights and runs a few times a week to keep fit.

 

Cause you were probably a pile before you started running. Like a squishy ball of goo.

[on edge]

I am looking to get big...muscle big. Not huge but just buff. I am allready seeing a difference with all the weight training i do as well as my high protein intake.

 

Stop running, it will only harm your progress. If you are overweight HIIT on the off-days is OK, but not necessary. Losing weight is 90% diet anyways.

 

Keep up your protein intake. At least 1gram for every lb that you weigh.

 

As to overall health, be efficient when you lift. Time your rest periods. Work every major muscle group. (DO NOT HAVE A "BICEP" DAY!)

 

How often do you squat and deadlift?

[Lauriebell82]

Cause you were probably a pile before you started running. Like a squishy ball of goo.

 

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! How in the heck was that even helpful to the OP? Man, the nerve of some people.

 

I disagree and do NOT advise you stop running. It is good for your health and will keep you toned. Maybe not 3 miles a day, but at least run a few miles like three times a week.

[traderho]

No offense Lauriebell but you are feeding the OP a lot of misinformation. If his goal is to pack on lean muscle then steady state cardio is not the way to go and he should take the advice on "On Edge" by focusing on full body lifts like squats and deadlifts. If he wants to keep the flab off then he should do HIIT. In all honesty I don't see why anyone would do steady state cardio like running when HIIT is proven to be more effective at burning fat and it takes half the time.

 

The OP should go to bodybuilding.com and read as much as you can from their article database.

[TheWooWooKid]

Running is counterproductive to building muscle. Not everyone cares about their cardiovascular system. Not everyone has to worry about keeping toned. Some people just don't have excess fat. Even if you have some fat, use all of your calories to build muscle first and worry about cutting the fat later.

[burning 4 revenge]

Well..if I were you..I would run maybe 4-5 times a week 4-5 miles and I would switch to a vegetarian diet and I would certainly stop lifting weights..maybe do some simple core training for the abs, but thats it on the resistance

[traderho]

Well..if I were you..I would run maybe 4-5 times a week 4-5 miles and I would switch to a vegetarian diet and I would certainly stop lifting weights..maybe do some simple core training for the abs, but thats it on the resistance

 

Do the exact opposite of everything this poster said and you will be fine!