Longer runs, gain weight?

Vikings4

Previously, I would run about 5 days a week for no more than 3 miles daily, sometimes a little longer. I would also do some track workouts and some lifting throughout the week as well. I started training for a 5k about 3 weeks ago. I am running everyday now from anywhere to 3 1/2 miles-6 miles. I gained about 2 1/2 - 3 pounds since this new running program started. I read that if you up your mileage significantly (for those marathon training) you can gain weight. I know I am not running to that extent, but I am running more than I have in the past. I am also eating fairly well.

Anyone else have this issue? What do you think is the problem? Water retention?

Thanks.

♚SuperHeather♚

Muscle weighs more than fat. You are prolly gaining muscle mass.

1horsetown

Every time I up my distance I gain about 3 #. It seems to dissipate over the next few days. I think it's probably water weight, but don't really know. Upping only a mile will do it.

HMBradley42

I am always complaining that I going weight when I am lifting weights and my sn said he is going to throw the scale away...lol
So if you have started weight lifiting that will do it...

jrich1

Probably water retention in your muscles since you are using them more now...

Muscle doesnt weight more in fat.. and YOU WONT pack on muscle simple from running.

Grimmerick

I heard it takes like a month of committed weight training to gain just a pound of muscle, so I am thinking water retention, or something else

lorika1977

It's very possible is water retention, which should mean you need to drink even more water than you do now and watch the sodium.
I am not sure if you are following a program but running every day is not very indicated. You can get injured and not be able to do your race. I used to run regularly and stopped to make more room for swimming. I ran a 1/2 marathon in May this year and trained using a program I found on www.marathonrookie.com. I also found very interesting articldes there about running, nutrition, common mistakes ... etc.
Good luck!

marianne_s

Probably because of this

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>>>>>
http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

Vikings4

Also, I haven't been strength training since starting this running program 3 weeks ago. I have been just strictly running and occasionally doing push ups.

I only have about 7 lbs left to lose. So gaining 3 lbs is disappointing to me. My weight hasn't fluctuated either. Some people say they gain a couple lbs after a long run and then it goes back to normal after a couple days. I have gained 3 lbs and it's stuck.
I almost feel like I want to go back to my normal routine of some 3 mile runs, hard track workouts, and strength training. These long runs feel good immediately after, but during it, I am usually bored to death. I would much rather kick my butt in a 20 minute crossfit type workout than to run for an hour...

marianne_s

Also, I haven't been strength training since starting this running program 3 weeks ago. I have been just strictly running and occasionally doing push ups.

I only have about 7 lbs left to lose. So gaining 3 lbs is disappointing to me. My weight hasn't fluctuated either. Some people say they gain a couple lbs after a long run and then it goes back to normal after a couple days. I have gained 3 lbs and it's stuck.
I almost feel like I want to go back to my normal routine of some 3 mile runs, hard track workouts, and strength training. These long runs feel good immediately after, but during it, I am usually bored to death. I would much rather kick my butt in a 20 minute crossfit type workout than to run for an hour...

Are you eating enough?

Huskeryogi

I'm training for a 10 mile race at the end of October. I usually do my long run on Saturday or Sunday and my weight goes up by about 3 lbs for 2-3 days (I do 3 mile runs 2 days during the week) and then by Friday on weight in day I'm back down to normal or lower. It's definitely water retention for me.

ninerbuff

Muscle weighs more than fat. You are prolly gaining muscle mass.

It's improbable. Very hard to do if you're on calorie deficit. It's higher water and glycogen retention because of higher energy expenditure.

susanofscottsdale

Not personal experience, but the trainer who worked with Oprah discussed this in the book "Getting Into the Zone" (or similar title). He strongly believed that weight loss came from intense cardio, and not from extended cardio workouts. He pointed out that Oprah gained weight when training for a marathon, when she was running more, but slower miles.

FrenchMob

Muscle weighs more than fat. You are prolly gaining muscle mass.

Please stop with this nonsense. You don't gain muscle mass from running, even less on a calorie deficit.

It should stabilize after a few days...don't worry, it's not fat.

FrenchMob

Not personal experience, but the trainer who worked with Oprah discussed this in the book "Getting Into the Zone" (or similar title). He strongly believed that weight loss came from intense cardio, and not from extended cardio workouts. He pointed out that Oprah gained weight when training for a marathon, when she was running more, but slower miles.

Please, no Oprah references. She gained weight because she ate too much, and still does.

emmaleigh47

Not personal experience, but the trainer who worked with Oprah discussed this in the book "Getting Into the Zone" (or similar title). He strongly believed that weight loss came from intense cardio, and not from extended cardio workouts. He pointed out that Oprah gained weight when training for a marathon, when she was running more, but slower miles.

Please, no Oprah references. She gained weight because she ate too much, and still does.

Love this ^^^^

First of to the OP: running every day is really not recommended because of overuse injuries. You would do better off cutting your runnning down to 3-4 days per week. Second 6 miles really isnt a "long run" and you shouldnt experience significant weight gain because of this.

I am training for a marathon currently and I have been training for a halfmarathon consistantly for the year prior. I have consistently lost weight during race training, albeit slow. I have read that it is impossible to lose during marathon training and I would have to say that I disagree with that. What you should not do is restrict your calorie intake severely to force rapid weight loss, but eating sensibly within your calorie goal and getting exercise does in fact result in mild slow weight loss.

Vikings4

thanks for the help

mlb929

I gained 8 lbs marathon training. I lost 18 as soon as I was back to my normal fitness level. And although I gained weight, I never increased in size at all. .

IMO - it also had to do with increased cortisol levels from training. I'm not an expert, there are plenty of those around here, but my ARNP just put me on a supplement because of higher cortisol levels to try to end weight gain while I'm training hard again.

mlb929

Also, I haven't been strength training since starting this running program 3 weeks ago. I have been just strictly running and occasionally doing push ups.

I only have about 7 lbs left to lose. So gaining 3 lbs is disappointing to me. My weight hasn't fluctuated either. Some people say they gain a couple lbs after a long run and then it goes back to normal after a couple days. I have gained 3 lbs and it's stuck.
I almost feel like I want to go back to my normal routine of some 3 mile runs, hard track workouts, and strength training. These long runs feel good immediately after, but during it, I am usually bored to death. I would much rather kick my butt in a 20 minute crossfit type workout than to run for an hour...

I only run 1 day per week and do intense cardio the other 5 days a week. Please don't give up strength training to only run. I ended up with muscle imbalances from only running and learned my lesson the hard way.

Amanda_Runs

Muscle weighs more than fat. You are prolly gaining muscle mass.

1 pound of fat weighs the same as 1 pound of muscle....muscle is more dense/has more mass that fat, it does take up less space though, so depend on your measurements to show you how much you are losing!

bcattoes

Muscle doesnt weight more in fat.. .

So if I have a quart of muscle and a quart of fat they will weigh the same? I think not! I believe one is heavier (i.e. weighs more)

arc918

Muscle doesnt weight more in fat.. .

So if I have a quart of muscle and a quart of fat they will weigh the same? I think not! I believe one is heavier (i.e. weighs more)

not this again

muscle is more dense than fat, so it take up less space - but a pound of fat weighs EXACTLY the same as a pound of muscle

KimertRuns13_1

I have not been able to successfully lose weight while half marathon training. My longest long runs have been 12 miles during training. I do lift weights as well as run. I have found that it has been easier to maintain.

Now, it MAY be easier for someone training for a marathon to lose weight IF that person has a greater amount of weight to lose (ie fat vs muscle) but for me this has not been the case. I am closer to my goal weight and while I have noticed inches coming off the scale really has not moved in the last year.

atsteele

Could it be that you are eating more due to training more? And thus not actually in a calorie deficit?

arc918

Could it be that you are eating more due to training more? And thus not actually in a calorie deficit?

it is easy to use the increased running as a license to eat - going from 3 to 6 miles is only perhaps an extra 400 (+/-) kcals burned

I managed to put on 10+ lbs while running 50+ miles per week - it just comes down to simple math: I was eating more than I was burning

Sparksfly

Yup. Every little bite counts. Please get a HRM, and figure out what you are actually burning on these runs. Then you will know the calorie range you can consume.

llkilgore

Muscle doesnt weight more in fat.. .

So if I have a quart of muscle and a quart of fat they will weigh the same? I think not! I believe one is heavier (i.e. weighs more)

not this again

muscle is more dense than fat, so it take up less space - but a pound of fat weighs EXACTLY the same as a pound of muscle

And a quart of fat takes up EXACTLY the same amount of space as a quart of muscle. So? I don't see the word "pound" or "quart" in the original statement.

CakeFit21

You aren't alone.
I have been gaining since marathon training, 30-40 miles a week. I WAS eating in a calorie deficit and tracking everything. I gained 7 pounds! I started eating more over the last two weeks and finally started to see the scale drop, now I am down 3. I'm hoping increasing my daily calories, eating every exercise calorie, (yes, every single one!) and NEVER missing a weight training workout will continue the downward trend.

Good luck!

sarahkbarnes

very useful information here about water retention in muscles to explain weight gain (it's very common - I get it all the time):

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/83598-why-you-gain-when-starting-a-new-workout

hezzyfoofie

The argument was that someone said muscle weighs more than fat. This is incorrect. A pound of muscle weighs a pound. A pound of fat weighs a pound. A pound of feathers weighs a pound. However, a pound of feathers takes up far more space than a pound of muscle. So the sentence "muscle weighs more than fat" does not make any sense. The correct term, as stated previously, is muscle is more dense than fat. If I replace 10 pounds of fat with 10 pounds of muscle, I will weigh the same amount, but my body will be smaller. I would disagree with the statement that running alone does not build muscle. It definitely does, just at a much slower rate than something like weight lifting would.