Help!

Hi, First off id like to ask, Are you wearing a heart monitor? if not this could be part of the reason you are gaining, when you log to many exercise calories into mfp and eat them back thinking you are ok. But to eat enough to have gained 7 pounds of fat... probably not. You may be gaining muscle in smaller untrained muscles that you use for running, this coupled with eating late night salty foods, you may be retaining more water.

This being said, when you eat is of no importance. if you are hungry you should eat, within your calories. Basically eating more protein coupled with starting a new fitness program i wouldnt worry to much.

I do this when using the scale. While i weigh myself multiple times a day/week, the only ones i count are in the morning after using the restroom. Then i take the average weight, during the week. and calculate fast loss. if any.

Good luck to you, and also im in a 2 hour drive from midland, where is the marathon going to be? I may want to participate.

You didn't gain weight because you were eating late - time has nothing to do with it. You "gained" water weight because your muscles are retaining fluid in an effort to repair themselves. Take a couple of rest days and weigh again - the number should go down.

And maybe you aren't eating enough for the level of activity you are doing? That would explain the hunger.......

I agree with this but would also add that when doing significant running (such as training for a half) you need to ensure you are getting enough carbohydrate (as this is the easiest to convert to fuel for the running). protein is great for muscle retention and feeling full but carbs (ideally complex) will fuel your runs better.