I'm midway training for marathon #3 right now and have lost 16 pounds in that time (well, some was in the month before training started, but still losing on average 1 lb/week).

However, I gained about 13 pounds per marathon training for my last 2 marathons (total 26 pounds gained from June 2013 to February 2014). It's easy to gain. I'm still working to lose the last 10 pounds I gained from those two training cycles. I've learned what NOT to do!:) I have to keep counting calories while I'm training, be mindful of the quality of the food, eat before I get hungry, have my meals planned, and not treat the long run day as a free for all cheat day. So far so good this time! Good luck!!

I lost almost 80 pounds during 2013 hitting the gym about 5-6 times a week where some days were intervals on the treadmill and other days were lifting. Eating was quite clean (healthy carbs, high protein, low fat, and very little in the way of 'junk').

Early 2014 I started running (did a Couch to 5K, then a bridge to 10K plan, and finally a 12 week half-marathon training plan) and was doing just a day or two in the gym each week (generally one day lifting, one day cardio cross training). Finished my first half marathon last week and currently am up about 10 pounds from when I reached my lowest weight last winter. Eating now is much heavier in carbs (for all the running) and I simply find I am hungry all the time. Simply am not able to resist the urge to reach for a handful of chips or a couple of cookies (and I live in a household with others who demand such snacks be available).

Starting another 12 week plan for a half marathon in October. Going to try to be a little cleaner when it comes to carbs this time (more veggies and fruit and will try to reduce heavier carbs such as grains, rice, and potatoes). Have to really find more will power when it comes to 'garbage food' like the above mentioned chips and cookies.

Many, including myself in the past, struggle with gaining a few pounds while marathon training. In addition to the food challenges, I've seen a lot of folks stop their cross training in the gym and just focus on running. Lean muscle often gets put second to building the cardio. That's a whole other topic though right?!

This training cycle I've been able to drop about 5 pounds, and I've lost 2.5% body fat. I work with a holistic nutritionist that specializes in runners. Timing of certain foods was one of the biggest changes I made and I think had the biggest impact in controlling my post run appetite. It's so easy to out-eat the calories burned in a run. I know there's many differing opinions on timing of when to eat and what, but this has worked for me. I am most active in the late afternoon/evening time, so I load my carbs in my morning snack and lunch. This fuels my workout well. Then I take a post workout recovery accelerator that has fast absorbing carbs within 30 minutes of completing my run or hard workout. Dinners are protein and veggies based.

The biggest things she continues to stress to me is that immediate post-workout refueling.

Good luck! And either way, I hope you decide to sign up for a full! It's such a feeling of accomplishment.

Typically I would say no to losing weight during marathon training. However, if you lose a pound a week it should not affect your running. As long as you feel you have the energy to run and do normal stuff. Most of the time clean eating is going to result in weight loss because you didn't need the extra fat on your body anyway. Your body doesn't need the excess fat. I will continue to lose weight as I am able right up to my taper. I will be sure to hold steady and not gain any weight during the last two weeks. During the taper, I wouldn't want to lose weight either. Hope this helps. I am definitely not worried about continuing to lose weight during my marathon training cycle. I am much more worried about gaining.

I do quite high mileage when marathon training (65 miles +) and I do gradually lose a bit of weight towards the end of the training just because it's hard to keep up with that many calories. I think the weight gain comes from people increasing mileage but only to about 35-40 miles per week, then being hungrier or needing to get extra carbs & protein in to recover from long runs. Logging helps because you can see where you need the food and where you're just overcompensating - there's no reason you NEED to gain weight.

p.s. I know what you mean about those post race alcohol calories. :-) Hey, gotta factor them in still, right?

This is a great question!

As a general rule, I have lost as I trained for all of my big races. After my second HM, though I went up almost 10 pounds. It was weird. It was frustrating to have to lose all that weight all over again and I made a vow to never have to do that again.

During my training for last years full, I lost that 10. Bells and Whistles. Then training for my 50K (last weekends race), I lost 20 during training for that. Next week begins training for the Chicago Marathon. I think I am done losing. I just want to maintain my current weight. We'll see how it goes! Fingers crossed!

I've lost almost 10 lbs while marathon training this spring/summer. I track everything! But the good thing is, because I'm running so much, I'm eating things that are better for me (just don't look at this week... ahem...) and are less calories, so I can eat more. If you are reliably tracking, there's no reason you can't eat at a reasonable deficit, still be losing weight, and be eating well I'm just worried about how my body will react when I'm not running 30-40+ mile weeks anymore....

For what it's worth, by the time I geared up for my first marathon, I had stopped counting calories. Why did I stop counting? I was painfully hungry all the time & it was negatively impacting my training. I started "listening to my body" but still eating very clean & smart.. Etc.

Anyways back to your marathon question. My answer, I lost not only a significant amount of weight & body fat since I ran my first marathon 15 months ago, but I've also dropped down to pants sizes I've never seen in my life. Granted, I have ran 8 marathons/ultras and countless 1/2s, 25ks, etc since then, but MY point is follow your passion.

Being active is NOT I repeate NOT going to make you fat. If you want to run a marathon, chase that dream. Go for it. Training for a marathon will absolutely NOT make you fat.

Seriously listen to what you asked here..

Yes, you might gain a few pounds or not lose any weight during the first cycle, but this is a lifetime sport. During marathon traing your body is going through a lot of changes.

It's a hard transition into the "athlete" mindset. Everything you put into your body should serve as "fuel". Once that clicks, you'll really be setting yourself up for another level of success.

Sorry if this was weird/mean lol!!