Running is a great way to lose weight as part of a healthy lifestyle. To help you achieve your weight loss goals, the Running Bug we’ll be guiding you through the weight loss essentials.

Over the next four weeks we will give you tips devised to get you on the right course for successful weight loss, teaching you the skills and know-how you’ll need to reach your target. 

In the first week we get you started on your weight loss journey with some handy preparation advice:

1. Join the Running Bug's Run Yourself Slim Group
By joining our Run Yourself Slim Group you will instantly be off to a good start as it's a statement of intent that you will achieve your goals. You'll need to be a Running Bug member to join but it's free and takes 30 seconds.

Once you've joined the group, post an update telling everyone what your goals are. By updating every day you will benefit from the support and advice of the Running Bug members, helping you achieve your goals.

Join the Run Yourself Slim Group here.

2. Set your goal weight
Deciding on your target weight is one of the most important first steps to weight loss. Knowing your target weight helps you see how much work there is to do, how long it could take and will give you an idea of how different you’ll look and feel once you’ve achieved it. Like any journey, you’re lost before you start if you don’t know where you’re going!

Advice on setting your goals here.

3. Write Your Reasons
Make a list of all the reasons you have for wanting to lose weight. List as many as you can – we recommend a minimum of ten. They can be anything from wanting to look good on your summer holiday to looking after your heart.

Read the list at least once every day to remind yourself how important losing weight is to you and add more reasons whenever you think of them.

4. Start a Weight Chart
You may not enjoy seeing the figures written down much right now, but it'll help your chances of succeeding in your weight loss challenge if, after every time you step on the scales, you write down weight. Your chart doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a table with a column for the date and another for your weight.

We recommend you weigh yourself once per week. But if you want to do it more often, that’s OK, so long as you understand that your weight will fluctuate daily and you shouldn’t worry about small differences between one day and the next. It’s the overall trend that shows how well you're doing.

Seeing your weight written down will help keep you focussed on your goal. Plus you’ll be able to gauge your progress and either be encouraged to continue your success, or alerted to the fact that you need to make changes to your plan.

Let us know how you're getting on with your challenges via the comments box below.

Go to Running for Weight Loss Guide - Week 2

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