Going from Moderately Active to Very Active

SweatpantsRebellion

So I'm training for a half marathon. I've noticed I've started feeling a bit hungrier, but I'm still okay staying within my calories. But I'm at the beginning of my training. I'm working out six days a week, but still figure I'm moderately active. Most of my daily burns are under 500 calories - strength training day is obviously quite a bit less. As my runs increase in distance and the burns get higher, should I switch to very active at some point to make sure I'm getting the right amount of calories? Any good rule of thumb that you use on this?

Zylayna

I think, from other posts I've seen, that the recommendation to switch your active status occurs only if your routine is changing up for longer than a couple of weeks. If it's just for a week or two, then don't.

But...I'm not the expert on here...you might want to wait and see what the consensus is!

fiveohmike

If its only a short term change, keep your goals the same and possibly eat back some extra burn calories if you are getting at or under your BMR.

just my .02

SweatpantsRebellion

Thanks. Both of you make perfect sense. I've even heard that once mileage gets to a certain point it's hard to train well on a defecit. So if I have to throw in extra calories and eat closer to maintenance for a few weeks or so prior to my half I'm fine with that. My body will still be changing composition with all of the training and I can resume losing after my half! Thanks for answering my question!

fiveohmike

Thanks. Both of you make perfect sense. I've even heard that once mileage gets to a certain point it's hard to train well on a defecit. So if I have to throw in extra calories and eat closer to maintenance for a few weeks or so prior to my half I'm fine with that. My body will still be changing composition with all of the training and I can resume losing after my half! Thanks for answering my question!

This is very true. Training that hard requires TONS of fuel for the body to perform at peak efficiency. I remember watching Floyd Maywether training video, and he was eating over 10k calories a day while training for fights, but he was hardcore training 4 times a day...it just puts things in perspective that your body neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeds fuel.

P.S

Did I mention your body needs fuel?

ANewLucia

Also as a runner, I believe your carb ratio would be higher as well. You should look into what ratios are best for the training you are doing.