Running...ever heard of it causing weight gain?

Selena125t

I have recently enlisted the help of a nutrition and fitness coach. I am fairly new to running as cardio. I used to walk and jog in intervals, now I running and incorporate intervals into the running. I have been doing this since the week after Christmas, however, I have stopped losing weight since then as well, and I was told by my new coach that this is because running causes you to gain water weight. I am skeptical only because I figure that would be true at first - but it has been a month, shouldn't the water weight fall by now?

TimothyFish

Anytime you strain your muscles more than you're used to, they start holding water while they heal. If that's what is happening, it'll go away once you get used to it.

xcalygrl

At first, it can cause water weight gain. That usually falls off within 2-4 weeks (so you're still within that range).

Has your food increased? I know when I train for longer distances, I get hungry. I tend to overeat because "hey, I just ran X amount of miles I totally deserve this." Yes, I can eat a little bit more, but I personally tend to overdue it and completely wipe out any deficit I may have created.

Roxiegirl2008

Make sure you are tracking all the food you are eating after a run. I know sometimes I feel like I could eat a horse after a run and I have to make sure to stay within my calories for that day.

There is some truth to what your coach said. Typically after a 1/2 marathon or long training run I weigh much more than normal. It is due to the water I am drinking through out.

Good luck! I love running. It clears my head.

SingRunTing

Kind of the opposite approach to your question, but I'm going to offer it anyway.

When I started running, I expected to lose weight. But I didn't. My weight stayed exactly the same. Why? Because I wasn't tracking my calories and was eating more to compensate the running. I didn't realize that I was eating more, but I was.

When I started tracking, I started losing. But I had already been running for a while by that point and wouldn't expect to the the newbie "gain". I do see the initial gains/stalls now when I change up my strength training.

It makes sense that you MIGHT gain a little bit of water weight when you start. If your muscles aren't used to an exercise, they will retain some water afterwards to help them repair the little micro-tears that they get from exercising. This is a good thing, so don't worry about it. If you're feeling sore, you will probably see some water weight gain. It'll go away, I promise.

vismal

Selena125t wrote: »

I have recently enlisted the help of a nutrition and fitness coach. I am fairly new to running as cardio. I used to walk and jog in intervals, now I running and incorporate intervals into the running. I have been doing this since the week after Christmas, however, I have stopped losing weight since then as well, and I was told by my new coach that this is because running causes you to gain water weight. I am skeptical only because I figure that would be true at first - but it has been a month, shouldn't the water weight fall by now?

Starting any new activity can cause retention of water. That being said, it would have resolved by now. The only way running is going to cause long term weight gain (not water weight) is if it causes you to eat more. Running will increase your calories burned per day, but if it also triggers your appetite, you might end up eating more back then you burnt. The short and simple version is this: Any times you are gaining weight in the long run, you are taking in more calories then you are burning.

snarlingcoyote

Of course you gain weight when you start running. Expect 2 to 4 pounds of water retention. It really doesn't go away if you're really working to improve your time, but that doesn't matter. After a few weeks, you'll be losing more rapidly than you were before you started running, and this is really the only way I know of to maintain a healthy weight without being hungry all the time and feeling miserable. (Honestly.)

(How do I know it doesn't really go away? Stop running for a week after you've been running and trying hard to improve your time for several months. Cut your caloric intake back by the # of calories you're not burning. . .you will lose 2lbs that week. Neat parlor trick. I've done it on occasion!)

This is the best explanation I've read about the whys of water retention and why you won't stop retaining water.

higgins8283801

When I started I gained..now that I'm adding mileage and faster speeds,I'm also gaining. Running is very hard on the body so it makes sense you'd get water retention when you run.

JUDDDing

Add me to the rungry people.

Inexplicably, a 10 mile run does not burn off a whole pizza.

It's a crying shame.

ninerbuff

It's normal. However, many people also end up eating more without thought, so make sure your calories are in check.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

MinnieInMaine

Well, you said when you first started, you did walk/jog intervals and now you're doing run/sprint (I assume) intervals. So it's not like you've been doing the same thing since you initially started, which means you may be retaining water. Anytime you increase the intensity of your exercise, it will put a strain of your muscles which means a retention of water and glucose to help with healing. If you keep kicking it up a notch, you will keep retaining water.

Edited...I checked out your diary and see you don't seem to be eating too much so I don't think that's the problem. Are you logging every little thing? Are you weighing foods?

By the way, congrats on your progress so far! You've done an amazing job! This could just be a little bump in the road. I know it's tough but sometimes this process takes real patience. Good luck!

Selena125t

MinnieInMaine wrote: »

Well, you said when you first started, you did walk/jog intervals and now you're doing run/sprint (I assume) intervals. So it's not like you've been doing the same thing since you initially started, which means you may be retaining water. Anytime you increase the intensity of your exercise, it will put a strain of your muscles which means a retention of water and glucose to help with healing. If you keep kicking it up a notch, you will keep retaining water.

Edited...I checked out your diary and see you don't seem to be eating too much so I don't think that's the problem. Are you logging every little thing? Are you weighing foods?

By the way, congrats on your progress so far! You've done an amazing job! This could just be a little bump in the road. I know it's tough but sometimes this process takes real patience. Good luck!

Thank you ma'am! Yes ma'am I am weighing everything and I sometimes have a hard time getting to my calorie goals, BUT I am diligently trying NOT to overeat.

Selena125t

I really appreciate every one's answers; I think the consensus is that I might be too impatient and I need to give it more time. I will probably just stay with the run with intervals for a while rather than trying to step things up any further and see if my body finally settles and lets the extra weight go or I just might end up going nuts.

IndyCarfan

I always gain weight when I increase my miles. I think it's mostly due to water retention. If you're drinking Gaterade, that could be part of the water rentention issue as well.

Add me to the list of people who wish running ten miles would burn enough calories for a large pizza!