New runner struggling. Need advise.

Do you mean rest from running or rest from all exercise? I very rarely take a day off from all excercise. I like my food too much. :happy:

That could be the problem! Rest days are very important - the body needs time to rest and repair. I always take at least one day per week, sometimes two on days when I wake up & the body just says no! LOL I recently took four full days off from all exercise and it was wonderful. Weird at first, but I came back feeling so much better and stronger for it. I would have taken the whole week off, but had a 5k color run on the weekend.

As for eating on those days off - you may also need to up your calories. 1200 isn't a heck of a lot, and while I don't know your stats as far as height, weight, and all that, you are doing a LOT of exercise, especially if you're getting 1000 calorie burns on a regular basis.

I'm set at 1800 a day (44 years old, 5'8", 137lbs), and even with that I sometimes go over on rest days. But I'm still losing the fat and having to purchase smaller clothes on a regular basis! Food is fuel! Sounds like you're putting some pretty high demands on your body, but not giving it much rest or fuel - could be why your legs were protesting on that run.

Check out this topic about over-training and under-eating: http://www.shapefit.com/overtraining-exercising-too-much.html

Also this topic has been very useful to me and many others here at MFP, for setting our calorie goals manually and having great success with more than 1200 a day: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Edited to add: I see LoraF83 posted the same link! :bigsmile: *highfives*

Clarification on my running. I am really slow. I do 14.3 for each mile. lol

Phew! I was feeling really inadequate

LOL Ditto! I'm at 33:35 as my official 5K time and I've been running for almost 5 months!

Thanks for all of the info. I will try to remember what some of you have asked.

I am 5'5" and currently weigh154. I am lossing approximately 1.5 pounds each week. Sometimes a little less or more. But never have lost 2 pounds (other than first week). So think my calories are appropriate.

I don't do caffeine. So having some before I run is out of the question.

I stretch for about 4 minutes before I run and 25 minutes of yoga stretching for a runner after. I walk for about 3-4 minutes before and after I run as warm up and cool down.

I did the run/walk/run/walk thing for several weeks before running the complete 5k.

I have very good running shoes that are fitted for me.

I drink water in the middle of the night and also on my run. And also drink throughout the day.

I am almost always under on the carbs. Not because I am watching them or trying to cut them out. It just seems to happen. Not too much under though.

I don't get as much sleep as I should. 5-7 hours a night.

I notice the vague ache/fatigue feeling even during the day if I am doing flights of stairs and carrying a baby up those flights. Or running around with the kids. So it isn't just when I run. But strange that I don't really notice the fatigue when I zumba, swim or eliptical. It is a all over leg fatigue and not just in the shins, thighs or any other localized place.

Guess I am taking Monday's off for awhile. That is the day that is easiest to keep the calories down to my 1200 based on what is happening on that day.

Again. Thanks,