Training for a marathon but no weight loss??
David___D
Posts: 76 Member
I am currently training for a marathon 4 weeks away, been averaging about 50-60k running per week. I realised I was not eating enough a few weeks ago, i.e. 1200 calories based on my calcs on here, so worked out some different calculations on another website totalling 1800, yet I am still unable to lose weight or body fat.
A few years ago when I was really overweight (96kgs) I managed to get down to 73kgs, I weighed in this morning at 79.3kgs, and around 22% body fat and have hovered around this for about 6 months now, with a fluctuation of about a 500g either way.
I am 47 by the way, 5'8" in height.
I am fitter than I have been for probably 20 years, but in the back of my mind the lack of weight loss is really annoying, particularly when all the websites I visit say I am overweight?
So question for the more knowledgeable out there, anyway to kick start a downward trend?
A few years ago when I was really overweight (96kgs) I managed to get down to 73kgs, I weighed in this morning at 79.3kgs, and around 22% body fat and have hovered around this for about 6 months now, with a fluctuation of about a 500g either way.
I am 47 by the way, 5'8" in height.
I am fitter than I have been for probably 20 years, but in the back of my mind the lack of weight loss is really annoying, particularly when all the websites I visit say I am overweight?
So question for the more knowledgeable out there, anyway to kick start a downward trend?
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Replies
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If you are training for a marathon then I would suggest having your focus being getting you to the finish line of 26.2 and worry about eating in a deficit when the race is over. It's such a toll on your body to train and complete that race, so trying to short change your body the nutrients it needs right now kind of seems bananas to me.
Absolutely
And I would guess you are underestimating your true caloric intake. With those stats and activity, 1200 cal would have dang near killed you...and you would still lose plenty of weight eve at 18000 -
If you are training for a marathon then I would suggest having your focus being getting you to the finish line of 26.2 and worry about eating in a deficit when the race is over. It's such a toll on your body to train and complete that race, so trying to short change your body the nutrients it needs right now kind of seems bananas to me.
Agree!0 -
I would guess you are definitely adding muscle offsetting some fat loss. Keep it up and good luck with the marathon.0
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How are you tracking your food?0
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You're eating more calories than you think you are. Are you weighing your food?0
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Hulbert0089 wrote: »I would guess you are definitely adding muscle offsetting some fat loss. Keep it up and good luck with the marathon.
Lol no.
not in a deficit and definitely not with 50k of running0 -
Hulbert0089 wrote: »I would guess you are definitely adding muscle offsetting some fat loss. Keep it up and good luck with the marathon.
You would be guessing incorrectly0 -
I gained weight training for 2 marathons. It was beyond frustrating. I was not tracking my food then and I just simply ate too much. The long runs over 13 miles made me so hungry I couldn't seem to "catch" it all day no matter what I ate. I really think the stress of the training, especially with the long runs affected my cortisol levels or whatever stress hormones are associated with hunger. Once I quit training, dialed it back, and started counting calories I've been able to lose the weight (without excessive hunger). I also think water retention and inflamed muscles at the end of training contributes as well. Good luck with your race! Don't cut calories too much with the really hard training coming up. Just wait until it's over!!0
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Hi all,
Thanks for the answers and advice and yes I am concentrating on finishing which will be an achievement in itself to be honest, but the weight thing I just didn't understand. I am tracking my calories on here, and pretty sure I am in a deficit, but thinking it could be counteractive, i.e. too much of a deficit?
Just a little annoying.........and my wife actually thinks I am obsessive lol.
So guess the advice is to worry about the kgs dropping off after the race I guess0 -
aussiedicko wrote: »Hi all,
Thanks for the answers and advice and yes I am concentrating on finishing which will be an achievement in itself to be honest, but the weight thing I just didn't understand. I am tracking my calories on here, and pretty sure I am in a deficit, but thinking it could be counteractive, i.e. too much of a deficit?
Just a little annoying.........and my wife actually thinks I am obsessive lol.
So guess the advice is to worry about the kgs dropping off after the race I guess
@aussiedicko - how are you tracking your calories on here? Do you weight your food? Use measuring cups? Do you log everything? Can you open your diary?
You cannot be in too much of a deficit. If you were in too much of a deficit you would be experiencing weight loss. And if you were in as much of a deficit as you thought you were, 1200 calories, you would almost definitely be suffering training wise.
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If you are training for a marathon then I would suggest having your focus being getting you to the finish line of 26.2 and worry about eating in a deficit when the race is over. It's such a toll on your body to train and complete that race, so trying to short change your body the nutrients it needs right now kind of seems bananas to me.
^^^ This ^^^
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ceoverturf wrote: »Hulbert0089 wrote: »I would guess you are definitely adding muscle offsetting some fat loss. Keep it up and good luck with the marathon.
You would be guessing incorrectly
...again. ^^^ This ^^^ LOL!
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aussiedicko wrote: »Hi all,
Thanks for the answers and advice and yes I am concentrating on finishing which will be an achievement in itself to be honest, but the weight thing I just didn't understand. I am tracking my calories on here, and pretty sure I am in a deficit, but thinking it could be counteractive, i.e. too much of a deficit?
Just a little annoying.........and my wife actually thinks I am obsessive lol.
So guess the advice is to worry about the kgs dropping off after the race I guess
"Too much of a deficit" would still make you lose weight. The simple fact is if you are not losing weight you are simply not in a deficit at all.
As everyone else has already said you need to focus on fueling your body for your training for the race right now, and then change your goal to fat loss after the race.
Good luck!
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jeffpettis wrote: »aussiedicko wrote: »Hi all,
Thanks for the answers and advice and yes I am concentrating on finishing which will be an achievement in itself to be honest, but the weight thing I just didn't understand. I am tracking my calories on here, and pretty sure I am in a deficit, but thinking it could be counteractive, i.e. too much of a deficit?
Just a little annoying.........and my wife actually thinks I am obsessive lol.
So guess the advice is to worry about the kgs dropping off after the race I guess
"Too much of a deficit" would still make you lose weight. The simple fact is if you are not losing weight you are simply not in a deficit at all.
As everyone else has already said you need to focus on fueling your body for your training for the race right now, and then change your goal to fat loss after the race.
Good luck!
Just opened the diary for people to view and recommend where I am going wrong, but please dont beat me up for my weekend alcohol
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Are you using a food scale?
Are you using the recipe builder?0 -
Hi,
I am no expert but I had a look at your diary and I noticed that there are a lot of whole number weights and a few things in cups and couple things I am wondering if you picked something from the database that sounded like what you were eating but weren't exactly what you were eating? Just made me think you aren't weighing all your solids every time. Eg, an exactly 80g banana every day or precisely 300g of chicken (unless you are literally chopping things up to those exact numbers).
Also, its just a matter of opinion but I have run a half marathon and I think that with all the processed food you are eating and the minimal amounts of vegetables (just based on your last week of eating) you are not really giving yourself the best fuel/opportunity to run/perform well. I know that wasn't your question but it was just an observation.
Good luck with your run (is it the Gold Coast Marathon), its common to see articles in running magazines that discuss people's expectation that they will lose weight while training for a marathon and why that doesn't happen. Their answer is usually that the increased in exercise drives up hunger and people eat more than they think unintentionally because subconsciously they justify it with their mileage and because they are truly hungry.0 -
Losing weight in the later stages of marathon training isn't very common. Sorry to disappoint, but the recovery from the running requires carbs and calories. It is easy to be extra hungry and your body is training itself to store glycogen (not fat)
Lots of new marathon runners are surprised to learn that the reality of the stress of the training isn't compatible with weight loss. Enjoy the journey. Have fun training and focus on the emotional and physical journey you are on.0 -
charlieandcarol wrote: »Hi,
I am no expert but I had a look at your diary and I noticed that there are a lot of whole number weights and a few things in cups and couple things I am wondering if you picked something from the database that sounded like what you were eating but weren't exactly what you were eating? Just made me think you aren't weighing all your solids every time. Eg, an exactly 80g banana every day or precisely 300g of chicken (unless you are literally chopping things up to those exact numbers).
Also, its just a matter of opinion but I have run a half marathon and I think that with all the processed food you are eating and the minimal amounts of vegetables (just based on your last week of eating) you are not really giving yourself the best fuel/opportunity to run/perform well. I know that wasn't your question but it was just an observation.
Good luck with your run (is it the Gold Coast Marathon), its common to see articles in running magazines that discuss people's expectation that they will lose weight while training for a marathon and why that doesn't happen. Their answer is usually that the increased in exercise drives up hunger and people eat more than they think unintentionally because subconsciously they justify it with their mileage and because they are truly hungry.
Thanks for the advice, and yes it is the Gold Coast Marathon, I have run numerous Half marathons in fact one in April, but never a full one, so it is on my bucket list.
Good advice on the weighing, I think you may be correct as I am choosing recently eaten instead of actually weighing all.
The other thing it is quite difficult to accurate get a TDEE from websites because the measurements are based on daily activities but I dont train everyday so am guessing on that as well I suppose.
But thanks will take on board and try to improve definitely when the race is done, also hoping to steer clear of injury this close to it.0 -
aussiedicko wrote: »charlieandcarol wrote: »Hi,
I am no expert but I had a look at your diary and I noticed that there are a lot of whole number weights and a few things in cups and couple things I am wondering if you picked something from the database that sounded like what you were eating but weren't exactly what you were eating? Just made me think you aren't weighing all your solids every time. Eg, an exactly 80g banana every day or precisely 300g of chicken (unless you are literally chopping things up to those exact numbers).
Also, its just a matter of opinion but I have run a half marathon and I think that with all the processed food you are eating and the minimal amounts of vegetables (just based on your last week of eating) you are not really giving yourself the best fuel/opportunity to run/perform well. I know that wasn't your question but it was just an observation.
Good luck with your run (is it the Gold Coast Marathon), its common to see articles in running magazines that discuss people's expectation that they will lose weight while training for a marathon and why that doesn't happen. Their answer is usually that the increased in exercise drives up hunger and people eat more than they think unintentionally because subconsciously they justify it with their mileage and because they are truly hungry.
Thanks for the advice, and yes it is the Gold Coast Marathon, I have run numerous Half marathons in fact one in April, but never a full one, so it is on my bucket list.
Good advice on the weighing, I think you may be correct as I am choosing recently eaten instead of actually weighing all.
The other thing it is quite difficult to accurate get a TDEE from websites because the measurements are based on daily activities but I dont train everyday so am guessing on that as well I suppose.
But thanks will take on board and try to improve definitely when the race is done, also hoping to steer clear of injury this close to it.
You definitely should start weighing everything0 -
LOL. If you're eating a whole chicken breast, that's like double what you think you're eating!0
This discussion has been closed.
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