Higher fitness level but no change in weight or look

acreathorn
acreathorn Posts: 23 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi I'm 5'3 and 22 and recently (November) started training for a marathon. In September I moved to Europe and weighed 155 lbs. Just because of the life style differences here vs. the states I lost ten lbs and was 145. This was with working out sporadically and eating/drinking whatever I wanted.

At the end of November I decided to start training for a marathon, so increasing the frequency and distance of my running. I also cut back all bad foods for a few weeks and did a strict paleo diet. By christmastime I was 131 lbs. since then I have added carbs back into my diet because I know that I need it when I am running 5-6 hours a week and sometimes up to 2.5 hours at a time. But since the beginning of January I haven't lost a single pound.

What I want to do is lose more of my belly fat and have a more toned flat stomach for the summer. In addition to my running training I do 15 minutes of ab excersise most days, yoga two days a week, squats every day, and 20 minutes of circuit training 5 times a week.

Any advice on how to lose the last 10 or so lbs and cut down more on fat?

Replies

  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Lower weight and closer to goal=less room for error.
    Make sure your food is accurately accounted for and logged.
  • bko722
    bko722 Posts: 17 Member
    I could have written your post exactly....although moved to Europe in August and am training for my first half marathon. I am up 10lbs from last summer despite doing 10 weeks of the T25 video workout program, running some, but now following the Hal Higdon half marathon training plan for the past month. I am about 10-13lbs from my goal weight. BUT.....I am so much more muscular now than I was last summer, at 10lbs lighter. I actually have abs for the first time in my life and nice leg muscles. I'd say to just give it time for your body to reorganize all the muscle and fat. You are doing everything right. For me, I've always had somewhat of a flat belly (with a layer of fat over the top of course and after having kids), but now it is starting to be more concentrated around the belly button since my obliques are now toned. I think it is just the shifting around. Which marathon are you training for?
  • Unknown
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  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    How tall are you? At 131lbs, chances are you're already at the mid-to-low end of your healthy BMI.

    Marathon training makes it notoriously difficult to lose weight, and in fact myself and a significant number of friends all gained while training. Eat for your training, including plenty of complex carbs, and don't make losing pounds a key goal until you've finished your race.

    In the meantime, make sure you find time for resistance and core training to prevent injury and stop long runs cannibalising muscle. I think you may be overdoing it too - assuming you're running five times a week, you certainly shouldn't be circuit-training five days a week too!
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    Dang, girl! You're doing an awesome job! I'd say keep doing exactly what you're doing,

    Let your body adapt to training mode and feed yourself for the physical performance, not for the weight loss right now. You know it's going to come off eventually.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    Everyone that I know who has trained for a marathon has actually gained weight because of the huge training demands placed on your body.
  • acreathorn
    acreathorn Posts: 23 Member
    I am doing the la Latina half marathon in Madrid this month and the Maratona di Roma in March! It's good to know other people are in the same boat as me. We will see where I end up after race day wheee I scale the running back and concentrate more on lifting! I don't think I had heard before that marathon training made you gain weight , that's good to know.

    I'm 5'3 which puts my weight at just about the middle of my healthy weight range, for me it's not so much about the number on the scale but looking better physically
  • bko722
    bko722 Posts: 17 Member
    I agree, it is hard to look at the scale. But try to think about how you are feeling instead. I'm back to my weight from 14 yrs ago when I got married (I was less last year), yet am 2 sizes smaller and not feel too self conscious in a bikini. I'd take that over the number on the scale any day. You'll probably lose weight after the marathon when you aren't using the muscles as frequently. If it concerns you then, then come up with a different approach. As long as the food is healthy and you are exercising, I would assume that it is all for the good. My first half will be in Prague, Czech Rep. Looking forward to it! (well, once my training is complete that is!) ha! I could only run a half mile in January 2013.

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