Training for the Marathon has made me gain weight :(

JCupelli
JCupelli Posts: 16 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, I'm kind of bummed. I weighed myself yesterday. Scale said I gained 6 pounds since I've started training for the marathon. I started training the last week in January. Thing is I know it's mostly muscle because I've lost an inch in my waist and my calves are rock solid (they were more flab like). It's still hard to see on the scale though. I feel like I'm gaining muscle and not losing any fat. Any suggestions?

Feel free to brows my food and exercise journal.
I was so happy to be in the 130's ;(

Replies

  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Probably retaining water.

    Look at it this way.......you are shirking ! Everyone around you can see your *kitten* getting smaller but only you can see the number on the scale!
  • eggsmilkbread
    eggsmilkbread Posts: 184 Member
    Water retention for repairing your muscles/other causes.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    I put on 20 lbs last year. I gained 1" in my waist. 1" in my hips. But my strength has skyrocketed.

    The scale does not dictate your health, your value, your fitness, or even how fat you are.


    Run and enjoy your life.
  • Sweet_Gurl_Next_Door
    Sweet_Gurl_Next_Door Posts: 735 Member
    this!
    Probably retaining water.

    Look at it this way.......you are shirking ! Everyone around you can see your *kitten* getting smaller but only you can see the number on the scale!
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    you'll retain water, especially after long runs, but is your daily goal really only 1350? You'll need more than that for marathon training!
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    You've lost an inch off your waist and your calves are rock-solid...and you're complaining? Buy yourself some flowers instead, make sure you're fueling your runs properly, and keep going!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I put on 20 lbs last year. I gained 1" in my waist. 1" in my hips. But my strength has skyrocketed.

    The scale does not dictate your health, your value, your fitness, or even how fat you are.


    Run and enjoy your life.

    This!

    I have put on weight since I started insanity, but I am getting smaller.... The number on the scale means NOTHING!
  • Jaja_Joli
    Jaja_Joli Posts: 17 Member
    It normal. It did the same thing for my first ½ marathon…, It will come back to normal. Just try to find balance between giving what your body needs versus over eating... it easy to over eat when you come back for a long run. We all do it. Keep up the good work end enjoy the experience!!! And drink lots!!
  • jess7386
    jess7386 Posts: 477 Member
    I gained weight when I ran the marathon, but I also ate absolutely everything in sight :)

    Two things - 1st, you're probably retaining water. 2nd, make sure you're eating enough cals to fuel those runs!

    Good luck at the marathon!
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Wait, you're getting smaller and weighing more, but you don't think you're loosing fat?
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Amputation is AWESOME for weight loss.

    You are getting smaller. You are putting on some muscle and retaining some water.
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    Forget Ugly Crappy Kilo measuring devices (scales)... Is your pulse rate lower? Is your blood pressure lower? Are you faster? Are you leaner? Do you float lower in the water? Are you wearing a smaller size? Are your clothes looser? Forget the scale and focus on your health at this point!
    From your pic, you look like an attractive young lady that is light enough for her height and is working on being ultra fit. DO NOT let some piece of metal with a digital or analog read out take the bliss you should be feeling about who you are and the healthy you that you are striving to become!
  • andrederosier
    andrederosier Posts: 121 Member
    I have a buddy that did marathons and learned a couple things (hopefully they are accurate). He ran a lot and had a little fat on him but oddly body doesn't burn much fat when running. Major fuel source is carbohydrates stored in liver and muscles called glycogen. This also takes up a greater amount of water to fuel body. Storing extra water and fuel would cause a weight gain as body adjust to endurance running. My friend would carb load night before run to max out storage levels. Best ratio to replace glycogen is 4g carbs:1g protein. So extra water and energy storage plus extra muscle is what body requires.

    I watched a documentary on sedentary people picked to run Boston Marathon training over 10 months. They had medical evals and VO2 max tests and whole 9 yards. 1 very over-weight person lost some weight but all. Overall moderate weight lost at best. Surprise was that least VO2 max at start was equal with everyone else in like a month. Only 1 injury caused someone to drop out. Everyone else finished the marathon.
  • Doctorpurple
    Doctorpurple Posts: 507 Member
    I have a buddy that did marathons and learned a couple things (hopefully they are accurate). He ran a lot and had a little fat on him but oddly body doesn't burn much fat when running. Major fuel source is carbohydrates stored in liver and muscles called glycogen. This also takes up a greater amount of water to fuel body. Storing extra water and fuel would cause a weight gain as body adjust to endurance running. My friend would carb load night before run to max out storage levels. Best ratio to replace glycogen is 4g carbs:1g protein. So extra water and energy storage plus extra muscle is what body requires.

    I watched a documentary on sedentary people picked to run Boston Marathon training over 10 months. They had medical evals and VO2 max tests and whole 9 yards. 1 very over-weight person lost some weight but all. Overall moderate weight lost at best. Surprise was that least VO2 max at start was equal with everyone else in like a month. Only 1 injury caused someone to drop out. Everyone else finished the marathon.

    I agree with this person. Every time I train for a marathon, half marathon, etc. I gain weight. Its normal. Your body is trying to store more glycogen and glycogen is stored with water. That itself would make you gain a couple of pounds. Running burns carbohydrates reserves. When you train, your body tries to store as much carbs to fuel your long runs. Also, people tend to be way hungrier when they increase their daily runs. Another thing is muscle. I'm sure I gain muscle when I train. I can feel it.

    Don't worry about the scale. I know its hard. I worry a lot about the scale and sometimes in inhibits me. Don't let that happen to you. You are becoming a stronger and fitter person and that's fact. Believe that and move on. Also, you will lose a bunch of weight just after your run. After the event and you stop training like crazy. You will lose all that water weight, glycogen stores etc and you will suddenly lose a lot of weight within 1 month. That always happen to me. You will be leaner and you will be left with the muscle but none of the other components.
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    If you are happier with what you see in the mirror now then surely that's all that matters?
  • JCupelli
    JCupelli Posts: 16 Member
    Thanks for all the feedback. I know it's just a number but when the number is that high it's scary. It took me a couple years to lose that much.

    Also for those who think I'm not eating enough I changed my intake from 1500 to 1350 just before posting this topic. I was planning on cutting 100-200 calories a day but I think instead I'll focus on the nutritional quality of the food I'm eating. Before starting this I was eating about 1200 cal a day. Coach told me to eat more and I did.

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