Marathon training = weight gain...

minnesota

Last year I completed 4 1/2 marathons and a handfull of other races and while doing so I gained 16lbs. After October of 2010 I went into off season and loss all the weight I gained and then some. I know I have been gaining weight during training season, because I am SO hungry and eat too much after a long run. Even on the days I only run 5 miles I want to eat everything in sight.

Currently I am training for a full marthon in June and during the past three weeks I have put on 4lbs already. I am being way more aware about what and how much I eat this time around, but I am still gaining! I haven't even touch pizza yet. Any marathon runners have this same issue? I have tried a lot of things, such as eating foods loaded with protein to keep me fuller longer, drinking tons of water, and so on. It's not like I get done with 10 miles and eat junk all day I usually eat pretty clean, but instead of one chicken breast and vegetable I like two and three servings of whatever else I'm eating.

For those of you that say it's muscle it's not. In fact you don't really gain any muscle from running. Granted I do lift to keep a strong core, but I lift year round and with low weight and high repetition. If it was muscle then I should be one rock hard body and let me tell you I'm not. My pants get tighter in the waist from my belly fat.

Anyway for anyone else that is marathon training and gaining you are not alone, but if you have any bright ideas let me know!

Happy Running!

jmedavis

I did a half marathon a few years ago and feel your pain. Frankly, I think it's very easy to overeat when you're in training because yes, you are hungry, and it's very easy to overeat. Check out Runner's World magazine. They have some diet plans on there with correct calorie amounts as well as suggestions for foods that fuel your runs without being overly caloric. I have found that upping my good fats helped quite a bit. Good luck!

jmedavis

I did a half marathon a few years ago and feel your pain. Frankly, I think it's very easy to overeat when you're in training because yes, you are hungry, and it's very easy to overeat. Check out Runner's World magazine. They have some diet plans on there with correct calorie amounts as well as suggestions for foods that fuel your runs without being overly caloric. I have found that upping my good fats helped quite a bit. Good luck!

Check this out, too http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304-310-7771-0,00.html

backinthenines

Weight gain in newbie long distance runners is very very common actually.

Most newbies aren't fit enough to run fast for very long so most runs are done at conversational pace, i.e. low heart rate, where the body uses fat as a first choice of fuel, but therefore in the long term also learns that therefore it needs to STORE more fat.

The same happened to me during my Ironman training. Rachel Cosgrove wrote an article about this which explains it well.

http://figureathlete.t-nation.com/free_online_article/training/the_final_nail_in_the_cardio_coffin

Most long runs have to be run at a slower pace so it's almost unavoidable. But the reason the front of the pack are much leaner than the back of the pack is because they also do interval training, pace runs, fartlek, hill reps... and weights while off season. Plus of course they put in 80 mile weeks which most people can't sustain.

A lot of newbie endurance runners also go overboard on training nutrition like sports drinks, sports chews etc which all have lots of calories, and many take "carb loading" way too far.

Thisisit3636

Finally, I feel like you answered my question about gaining fat during marathon training! Can I add you as a friend on myfitnesspal.com?

ElliottTN

Happened to me as well. Not so much with the halfs, I actually got leaner running around those distances but with full training I definitely gained weight and my body composition started to change slightly. I'm watching what I eat a bit closer this time around bc I feel into the trap of "screw it, I just ran X miles today, I'm eating whatever I want and lots of it."