Hit plateau while 1/2 marathon training

kt_co24
kt_co24 Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
I lost 20lbs in the first 3 months of using MFP (equal loss each month). I was exercising 4-5 days/wk and burning 500 calories. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon at the beginning of Feb and have increased e duration and intensity of my workouts (I'm up to 9mi runs). I've maintained my net calorie intake and haven't lost any weight in more than a month. Any ideas on why I'd plateau when I'm exercising more or what I should do different?

Replies

  • stutba
    stutba Posts: 152 Member
    Last year while training for 1/2 marathon I actually gained 3 lbs. (If you read articles from runners world) this is quite common.
    My experience, usually at the 9 to 10 mile training mark, my hunger was extreme. I am sure I ate more in the day or 2 after my long run than the net calorie loss for the week.
    Also, most likely you are holding more water weight in your muscle after the long workout.

    I've just started to track my calories on MFP, I didn't do it at that time, but it is shocking to see how fast the calories can add up.

    I am sure others will disagree, but I was given advise from a nutritionist to not eat your exercise calories back for anything under 800 exercise calories. (to many variables in accurate calorie burn calories).
    I have been losing slow, so I don't know if that is making a difference or not.
  • Leonidas_meets_Spartacus
    Leonidas_meets_Spartacus Posts: 6,198 Member
    Not sure what training plan you are following but your body might be retaining more water. It's been my experience, when I start higher intensity work outs, my scale goes up but comes down in recovery weeks. I just ran a half yesterday, my scale shows I gained 3 lbs today.
  • lunula71
    lunula71 Posts: 13
    My husband runs half and full marathons, and he intensifies his workouts a lot during training. He ran the MC Marathon this past October and his training regime lasted 4 months and he only lost maybe 3-4 lbs. He ramped up his calorie intake a lot, though, he was hungry all the time because he was burning so many calories. I think for him, at least partly, it was the increased muscle mass he experienced during that time. His leg muscles were rocks!

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