Is this normal?

RHachicho

For a long time I have been trying to break into distance running. I did my best but could only manage 3 minute intervals before something gave out. It was probably a lot of factors. My excessive weight. Problems with my gate and my footwear (You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find good running shoes for size 15 flat feet with bunions)

However to cut a long story short after much shuffling wheezing and pushing and tinkering on Saturday I broke into a slow jog during one of my daily 2 hour walks and got that ... yeah I could do this a looooong time feeling. And decided now was the time.

I completed what I originally thought was a 5k run ... though my fitbit insists I ran 7.5 km lol. I was dog tired by the time I got back but I felt unbelievable and the runners high was incredible. I had a great deal of trouble sticking to my calorie limit that day too. My body was like FEED ME B*TCH I JUST RAN. But I resisted. However long story short the very next day was weigh in day. I weigh daily though so I know that I am in fact 3.8lbs lighter in a single day ...

Is that normal? Is it temporary? Do all distance runners get this flush of weight loss lol?

IHateThinkingOfAUsername

I'm not a runner (haven't ran for a few years) so can't really help there but the thing that cropped up in my mind was... did you drink enough to replace all the water you lost? Did you manage to stay sufficiently hydrated? Could the super loss be partly due to being dehydrated? Regardless though - a great big well done on a great run!! Not an easy feat by any means!

ana3067

Water weight, and runners (or anything that requires a lot of endurance) often requires more calories. Be better hydrated, make sure you eat enough fro your higher caloric needs (even if still at a deficit), don't push yourself too hard every time so as to minimize burn out.

RHachicho

I definitely stayed hydrated. I drank during the run and I made sure to drink pints of water when i got home until my pee went clear again. By the evening before my weigh in I was actually pissing like a racehorse lol. As for calories yeah I didn't eat more than I usually do. But I usually eat 2.5k and got plenty of carbs so I don't think I was under nourished. Still my body was sending me blatant hunger signals and that was unusual for me. I've been on this diet for like 7-8 months now and I'm pretty good at managing my appetite. I guess time will tell as to whether the weight will stay off or not

rogerOb1

There isn't much point in weighing yourself daily - fluctuations of a few pounds can happen depending on time of day, whats sitting in your colon, glycogen levels etc. The change is probably water (unless your weight-loss had previously stalled).

RHachicho

I know about fluctuations. But that does bring the total weight loss for me this week to 5.8lbs. Today is weigh in day. So yeah this week is a record for me. And yes the weight had been stalled for a few days. Honestly it's getting a bit unsettling i weigh myself daily more out of curiosity. And I really don't fluctuate up anymore. I just stall for a couple of days every now and again. The rest is a downward plummet.

I really don't get it cos i eat quite a bit. Good healthy food too I don't eat much in the way of sweets and junk. I guess I'm just worried I aughta be eating more but if that's so i'm kinda in disbelief. As I see people struggling to lose and going down to 1.2,1.5,1.8k and here me sitting pretty at 2.5k plummeting like a rock and seeing minor muscle gains (Waist measurement and weight going down. Thigh and arm measurements going up)

Maybe I've just got good genetics lol.

rogerOb1

It sounds like you are doing the right things - eating a good amount, cardio, lifting.....I'd say enjoy the positives of your efforts - its good to hear someones getting faster, stronger and leaner.

I guess there is an argument for eating more, but when factoring in how much water and undigested food can affect weigh ins, sticking with what youre doing sounds like a plan seeing as you said you don't have appetite issues.

GillianMcK

Well done on the 7.5k.

The weight loss could be glycogen levels in the muscles being depleted because it's the first time you've done that distance.

I know someone that started a nutrition programme earlier in the year to get ready for an endurance event, he lost 5kg (so over 10lb) in a day, but it was the shift in water and glycogen that caused it, he gained 3kg of that back the following day, he weighed himself every day for a week as an experiment on the new eating plan, over the week he lost 1.5kg, but it did fluctuate and the 5kg drop was the biggest drop.

If you do end up gaining some of it back when you weigh tomorrow, I wouldn't worry about it too much, just keep running!!