Beginning runner question

If you started 3 weeks ago, it's water weight. Your muscles retain water for repair. Give it time.

If you started 3 weeks ago, it's water weight. Your muscles retain water for repair. Give it time.

Most likely this, although fatdoob poses a good question. You need to make sure you're net calories for the day are at a deficit. And, to go with that, do you know whether or not your log is accurate (weighing foods, using measuring cups/spoons for portion control, etc.)?

And salt...watch your salt, especially if you're downing a sports drink after your runs. They're usually a decent sodium kick.

Running won't lose you weight alone you still need to be eating at a deficit. You don't mention if you are logging and accurately weighing your food. You need to do this. Diet is what will lose you weight.

this.

Depending on your runs, you are unfortunately not burning many calories, even on your long run. Try adding other forms of exercise as well.

Depending on your weight and speed the typical run can burn 300-600 calories. Often you may feel extra hungry when running. You can never out run your fork. So running will allow you extra wiggle room for your diet. It's a great thing. But you still need to watch the calories closely. But 3 weeks is still early. Your body is now building what it needs instead of reducing.

Thanks for all the replies. I haven't been logging my food very consistently but I focus more on eating when I feel I need to rather than eating due to boredom or thirst. Keeping at 1200 calories a day is generally easy for me. I more curious about despite keeping food intake similar I am not losing weight. It seems like water weight might be the answer though.

Don't discredit the lack of logging. Foods adds up fast - most likely it is a combination of the two. Start logging accurately and your problems will be solved.