Running and eating more :(

lisaeckert
lisaeckert Posts: 8
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello! I've been running since about October. I have grown to absolutely love it. I am up to usually 4 miles 5 or 6 days a week, but some days I do 6 miles. This is all fine, however, I have noticed that I am eating more than I think I should. And I am pretty hungry all the time! :) Is this normal? Does it have to do with running so much? What is going on with my body that's making me so hungry and is there anything I can eat to make the hungry feeling go away??? Looking for any advice! :) Thanks all!

Replies

  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    Are you gaining weight?
  • ATLMel
    ATLMel Posts: 392 Member
    Any time I increase my running base I get so much more hungry. (Hence why marathon training isn't the ultimate weight loss plan that so many people seem to think it is.....) To make sure I stay within a reasonable amount of calories I usually up my protein a little and make sure I have lots of snack options immediately post run. I find chocolate milk takes the hunger edge off easily and for a few hours.

    Just watch your calories closely. As you spend longer at this base mileage, your body will get more efficient and you'll likely bee less hungry.
  • lisaeckert
    lisaeckert Posts: 8
    I have heard more protein helps so I've definitely been doing the greek yogurt and grilled chicken and vegetables for lunch. But like I said, I'm still hungry. I'm not really gaining weight but I can definitely tell that my body is changing a little to more of an "athletic body", more muscle. Which I guess is good but a little discouraging because I'm not losing. I'm at a good weight now though so I'm not really trying to lose a lot of weight, but a few pounds would be nice. That's why I started running because it's supposed to be the best cardio you can do!
  • 987Runner
    987Runner Posts: 209
    Any time I increase my running base I get so much more hungry. (Hence why marathon training isn't the ultimate weight loss plan that so many people seem to think it is.....) To make sure I stay within a reasonable amount of calories I usually up my protein a little and make sure I have lots of snack options immediately post run. I find chocolate milk takes the hunger edge off easily and for a few hours.

    Just watch your calories closely. As you spend longer at this base mileage, your body will get more efficient and you'll likely bee less hungry.

    I totally agree. I am always hungry too. It's easy for me to eat as I have a desk job. Instead of making bad choices I pack my lunch full of healthy snacks. Like no fat chobani with dried blueberries and kashi. Another snack is usually baby carrots and grape tomatoes. Another snack is peanut butter on something, like apples or Rtiz crackers (or even just a spoonful of PB!).

    I have managed to lose weight training for a half marathon, but very, very slowly. I know I need the food for fuel. I eat a little less on my rest days and am sure to eat all my burned calories back on running days.

    Another important thing to consider is cross training. It's important to have muscles for metabolism. Strength training is great for not only burning more calories, but it's great for your joints and helps with posture.
  • nyspotlight
    nyspotlight Posts: 124
    Are you running in the morning?

    You might try running after work or just before it gets dark (since that's happening later these days). I find if I run earlier in the day, I'm hungry all day. Whereas if I run later, I just have time for dinner and then bed. (Maybe a snack before bed - running makes me hungry too)

    You could try that for a couple of weeks until it gets a little better.
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    I have heard more protein helps so I've definitely been doing the greek yogurt and grilled chicken and vegetables for lunch. But like I said, I'm still hungry. I'm not really gaining weight but I can definitely tell that my body is changing a little to more of an "athletic body", more muscle. Which I guess is good but a little discouraging because I'm not losing. I'm at a good weight now though so I'm not really trying to lose a lot of weight, but a few pounds would be nice. That's why I started running because it's supposed to be the best cardio you can do!

    It's not all about the #'s.
  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 532 Member
    Try making a protein shake. They usually are pretty filling and yummy! :)
  • selfishshellfish
    selfishshellfish Posts: 97
    Sounds controversial but try upping your fat intake. It works for me.
  • ka97
    ka97 Posts: 1,984 Member
    You're hungry because your body needs the fuel. Go ahead and eat, just be sure you are making healthy choices. Limit your sodium and possibly increase your protein. I just started trying protein shakes and they do seem to help. Keep track of your measurements; if they are staying the same or getting smaller, then don't worry so much about the scale.
  • jenj1313
    jenj1313 Posts: 898 Member
    I have heard more protein helps so I've definitely been doing the greek yogurt and grilled chicken and vegetables for lunch. But like I said, I'm still hungry. I'm not really gaining weight but I can definitely tell that my body is changing a little to more of an "athletic body", more muscle. Which I guess is good but a little discouraging because I'm not losing. I'm at a good weight now though so I'm not really trying to lose a lot of weight, but a few pounds would be nice. That's why I started running because it's supposed to be the best cardio you can do!
    Try actually calculating out 30% of your allowed calories in protein (4 cal per gram) and eat that much. If you do that, and your calories are set appropriately, it will be hard to get hungry. If you really want to fill up, cut out wheat too. You'll be eating so much protein and fiber, there's no way you'll get hungry :-)

    Good luck!
    Jen
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    I find that when I do a lot of cardio I need more carbs and when I do more lifting I need more protein. I had reduced my carbs when I started my lifting program, but as I took my cardio back up I had readjust my %ages again to increase my carbs. Honestly, just even craming a small tortilla in my pie hole works half the time. I have mine set (carb/protein/fat) at 30/40/30. I really just want to get to 136 - 140 protein and then fill the rest up with carbs, fats just sort of fall into place.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    You might want to start measuring. I bet you are losing inches instead of pounds. That's what's happened to me. I have only lost 1/2 lb or so since January, but I have lost a ton of inches and have gone down almost 2 sizes in clothing in that time period. This has all occurred since I started running.
  • kammy92
    kammy92 Posts: 408 Member
    Running makes me soooo much hungrier too!!!!! I do the elliptical in between running days and the elliptical never makes me feel hungry like running does!!!! I usually do between 5-6 miles 4 days a week................need to up my protein and see if that helps!!!!
  • muddyventures
    muddyventures Posts: 360 Member
    I am running more also and have had to increase my calories, I am still loosing weight but at a much slower rate. I have had to really look at my true goal. My true goal was to get in shape and lose weight, and since get in shape was first I've just decided that the weight loss is coming second. The more I run, the more I want to run and I find that exciting, because dieting has never produced that same sentence (the more I diet, the more I hate dieting lol). So I am just making sure I don't gain, and that the scale is moving down even if much slower.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    You can't drive your car without filling the gas tank every now and again and your body is no different. You body is incredibly efficient at signalling your brain when your glycogen reserves are getting low.

    Depending on which run I'm doing my appetite varies. After my long slow runs on Sunday I'm ravenous, for my shorter runs during the week not so much.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    Yes, hence the reason I stopped the MFP calorie recommendations and went with the TDEE formula. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in the fall and I've started the 10K portion. My body was not getting the energy it needed to sustain my runs. Has absolutely nothing to do with the timing of my runs for me; I just have to make sure I'm getting a good balance of carbs/protein/fats.
  • Eleisabelle
    Eleisabelle Posts: 365
    It's not all about the #'s.

    ^^This.

    I'm a runner, and I found myself bottoming out when I wasn't eating enough. Like another poster said, you have to put gas in your car... and you use more gas when you run, so of course you'll need more.

    As you build muscle and lose fat, you'll gain a little weight but lose inches. If you're losing enough fat and getting that "athlete" body, you'll keep equilibrium pretty well, unless you have a lot of muscle to catch up on, in which case you might gain a little weight. But that weight is muscle, which will help you burn more fat.

    It's not about weight. It's about healthy. Strong is the new skinny.
  • Jomalone2
    Jomalone2 Posts: 129 Member
    As long as your body is changing in a way that is improvement (stronger, more definition, leaner, etc.,) then ignore the scale. But understand, we all struggle with the scale. It is only one tool that you should use to measure your progress. I started running back in July and find that it makes me more conscious of WHAT I eat because I don't want to eat anything that will negatively impact my running. I too am hooked on it now. Finished my 8th 5K this morning. Hoping to start training for my first half after the hot MS summer is over. Good luck.

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