Running weight gain

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jaymibecca
jaymibecca Posts: 10 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone else gain weight while training for a marathon? I'm up 10lbs. I'm eating healthy and getting lots of water. I'm running between 27 and 30 miles a week.

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  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
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    Yes, it's not uncommon - your body stores more glycogen in response to the additional training load and 1g of glycogen bonds with 3g of water for storage in muscle.

    When you say you're eating healthy does that mean your eating at or below maintenance? (I know on long run days I'm absolutely famished........)
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
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    In addition to increased glycogen storage, if you are running in hot weather your blood volume increases to allow it to both cool the body and provide oxygen to the muscles at the same time. This can account for up to 6 pounds.

    However, it is still possible to gain weight by eating too much so you should be occasionally using the tape measure to make sure there is no bad weight being added.
  • mojohowitz
    mojohowitz Posts: 900 Member
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    Check your sodium. Check your food. Don't let anyone tell you it's muscle. Unless you are taking steroids it is NOT.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9024227
  • Pinkranger626
    Pinkranger626 Posts: 460 Member
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    It may be that you're consuming more calories than you think you are. Healthy food is great! But eating too much, even if it's healthy can cause you to gain weight. Figure out your calorie goal and then weigh and measure everything for a couple weeks and see if it makes a difference.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-for-runners/do-you-overeat-after-a-hard-run

    http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/miles-and-meals

    http://www.runnersworld.com/beginners/why-am-i-gaining-weight

    Here are some articles I had come across on Runners World's website a while back on the same subject. Hope this helps!
  • AiabliamsMommy
    AiabliamsMommy Posts: 60 Member
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    Bump:)

    Eta: great job on the half marathon, I would have told you Sunday, but I didn't think you did it yet! Lol
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,630 Member
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    In addition to increased glycogen storage, if you are running in hot weather your blood volume increases to allow it to both cool the body and provide oxygen to the muscles at the same time. This can account for up to 6 pounds.

    However, it is still possible to gain weight by eating too much so you should be occasionally using the tape measure to make sure there is no bad weight being added.

    Really?? Interesting!!! This would account for why my weight rises after a run but goes back down again after a rest day!
  • mojohowitz
    mojohowitz Posts: 900 Member
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    In addition to increased glycogen storage, if you are running in hot weather your blood volume increases to allow it to both cool the body and provide oxygen to the muscles at the same time. This can account for up to 6 pounds.

    I would like to see a study to support this.
  • jaymibecca
    jaymibecca Posts: 10 Member
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    Thanks, this helps. I am eating at or below my calorie goal. I'm not a big eater so I know that's not it.
  • jaymibecca
    jaymibecca Posts: 10 Member
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    I am famished the day after. I crave sugary foods the next day too.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
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    In addition to increased glycogen storage, if you are running in hot weather your blood volume increases to allow it to both cool the body and provide oxygen to the muscles at the same time. This can account for up to 6 pounds.

    I would like to see a study to support this.
    http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-076///MP-076-$KN4.pdf

    from page 4.
    Most studies report that heat acclimation increases total body water (81). The magnitude of increase ranges from 2.0 to 3.0 liters or ~ 5% to 7% of total body water. . . . If total body water and ECF increase after heat acclimation, then expansion of blood volume might be expected. . . . Heat acclimation increases blood volume through differential effects on erythrocyte and plasma volumes. . . . Heat acclimation studies report that plasma volume expansion, generally ranged from 0% to 30%, and the magnitude of increase is somewhat dependent on whether the person is at rest or performing exercise, the heat acclimation day and the hydration state when measurements are made
  • mojohowitz
    mojohowitz Posts: 900 Member
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    In addition to increased glycogen storage, if you are running in hot weather your blood volume increases to allow it to both cool the body and provide oxygen to the muscles at the same time. This can account for up to 6 pounds.

    I would like to see a study to support this.
    http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-076///MP-076-$KN4.pdf

    from page 4.
    Most studies report that heat acclimation increases total body water (81). The magnitude of increase ranges from 2.0 to 3.0 liters or ~ 5% to 7% of total body water. . . . If total body water and ECF increase after heat acclimation, then expansion of blood volume might be expected. . . . Heat acclimation increases blood volume through differential effects on erythrocyte and plasma volumes. . . . Heat acclimation studies report that plasma volume expansion, generally ranged from 0% to 30%, and the magnitude of increase is somewhat dependent on whether the person is at rest or performing exercise, the heat acclimation day and the hydration state when measurements are made

    Awesome!! Thanks for the study. I still can't figure out if the subjects were exposed to the heat 24/7 for the trial period or just for the time they were exercising as would be the case for me. Still, pretty interesting.
  • jaymibecca
    jaymibecca Posts: 10 Member
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    Bump:)

    Eta: great job on the half marathon, I would have told you Sunday, but I didn't think you did it yet! Lol

    Thanks Sarah! It'll be interesting to see what the scale does now that I'm taking a little break!
  • wyldrunner
    wyldrunner Posts: 1 Member
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    Scott,
    Thanks for posting that link! I have been looking all over for the science on this!!
  • aliakynes
    aliakynes Posts: 352 Member
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    My first guess would also be glycogen which happens pretty often with marathon training. I'm thinking you'll drop it fast once you begin the recovery period.

    I'm not running nearly as much as you but have a tendency to drop a nice chunk of weight when I skip a run.
    Check your sodium. Check your food. Don't let anyone tell you it's muscle. Unless you are taking steroids it is NOT.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9024227

    Not one person before or after you said she was building muscle, lol.
  • aliakynes
    aliakynes Posts: 352 Member
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    Yikes, just noticed how old the OP is. Sorry, didn't mean to bump this thing. Very interesting about the blood volume thing though! It's the first time I'm hearing about it.

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