Training for a half marathon afraid of weight gain

Doctorpurple

Hi I'm at my absolute ideal weight right now at 114 lbs and 5'4''. I worked hard to get here with mostly diet and some exercise. I decided I want to start running long distance again so I signed up for a half marathon. I ran two half marathons in the past. The last one was 3 and half years ago. I'm the type of person that gain weight with exercise change (water, bloating, glycogen, etc.). I really really want to NOT gain weight this time. I know that bloating is pretty much inevitable during the first two weeks at least. Can anyone here give me tips to not get annoyed so much about the weight gain. Bloating makes me really upset and I usually partly ruins my day because it makes me feel so uncomfortable. Also, anyone else here experienced weight gain with training with long distance running? How did you cope?

tegalicious

Maybe if you very slowly increase your mileage over a long period of time you won't get as much glycogen and water weight storage? I don't know though. I haven't experienced any weight gain while training to run a half marathon other than the normal weight fluctuations that happen because I am in maintenance now. But when I was eating at a deficit I only saw glycogen gains when I was sore from lifting. I have been very slowly increasing my mileage since last July.

ShannonMpls

Can anyone here give me tips to not get annoyed so much about the weight gain.

Don't weigh yourself.

And no, I didn't gain while training for a half marathon - I actually got overly lean and had a hard time keeping weight on during that time. I was also strength training.

runzalot81

Eat a lot. I only gained weight during training when I ate too little.

Doctorpurple

thanks for the replies so far. I'm definitely not weighing in for the first few weeks.

graceire

thanks for the replies so far. I'm definitely not weighing in for the first few weeks.

I started training for a half about 2 months ago. I had to put the scale in the closet where I wouldn't be tempted to step on it. Its not so much that I was gaining, but seemed like I wasn't losing. But my jeans are hanging off my butt, so I'm doing something right... That scale can be vicious and should be shot!

ZenInTexas

Put the scale away. Water and glycogen storage are not "real" weight gain. Focus on being a bad *kitten* runner and not on defining yourself by a number on a scale.

Doctorpurple

Put the scale away. Water and glycogen storage are not "real" weight gain. Focus on being a bad *kitten* runner and not on defining yourself by a number on a scale.

Thanks. I needed that.