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Have you been keeping measurements at all? I'm sure a lot of the weight you're carrying is water, glycogen, and muscle and probably not fat at all. I don't have any races right now but I'm in a running competition and I've been regularly running 25-30 miles for the last 2 months because of that. In 2 months I've only dropped like 4 pounds, but I've got a body fat scale and it says I've lost like 10 pounds of fat, and my measurements show I've lost an inch on my waist.
In general I don't have a ton of issues with hunger. I make sure to stay really hydrated and I find that after exercise I really don't want to eat at all. I just have a small carby snack a couple hours before a run and I'm good to go. a 200 calorie snack doesn't break the caloric bank when I'm running 5-6 miles.
i would guess you've lost inches if you haven't lost weight. you can also figure out how many calories you expend in a normal day, plus the number when you run; compare that number to how many calories you eat. they should be about equal.
Running makes you HONGRY! Bananas are great, healthy fuel - try to minimize use of the processed sports bars/candies. Also try to focus on crazy amounts of greens, carrots, tomatoes - broccoli and kale always give me energy and are so good for you.
I am not and have never trained for a marathon but I do know that when I am intensly working out I am constantly starving! What works for me in a lot of high protein foods. Stay away from red meat and pork right now as much as possible and try to focus on eating a lot of chicken breasts and fish. Also, make sure you eat every two hours or so. I know that if I eat small amount ever couple of hours it really helps me get through the day and not eat excessively at meals. Pick healthy but filling snacks that you may enjoy. For example I eat peanut butter crackers, strick cheese, tziaki w/carrots, fruit.
Also, a great online tool that I use to track my food and excersise in the dailyplate. It's a free online tool that allows you to enter what you eat as well in your case your running. I like it because I can see how many grams of protein, fat, and carbs I am consuming and can see if I need to tweak my diet.
I highly recommend Myoplex Chocolate post long run. If I run more than an hour, it's what i use as a post-workout snack. It helps with building muscle, and is fairly low in bad stuff. Also, it tastes like chocolate milk :)
I never trained for a marathon but I did have a time when I worked out like a maniac, and I was starving 24/7. What helped me was writing down everything I ate for a few days. It was amazing to see that even though I felt like I was eating a lot, I wasn't eating nearly enough for the calories burned. I was also eating crap because I figured "eh, no big deal. I'll burn that off". But it actually just left me more hungry. Try adding more protein to all your meals? And maybe smaller meals throughout the day instead of 2 or 3 big meals.
I have run 2 full marathons and 8 half marathons and I can tell you that when training I'm starving too! It is so easy to gain weight when training for a marathon b/c of this too. It's really important you monitor what you are eating and your calorie intake if you want to lose weight. You can run all you want, but if you are eating more you are going to gain weight. I think it's awesome you are doing the relay! GOOD LUCK!!!
I would actually recommend you see a sports nutritionist. Your caloric needs are going to be vastly different where you are training for a high level endurance event. A sports nutritionist can help you ensue you are eating right for your level of training, and include healthy options. He/She can also help you meal plan, as well as provide advice about what, and very importantly WHEN to eat around your training schedule. Your sponsor may even be willing to pay for it ;)
@Mindiana Jones: This! She's right! I'm a distance runner as well, and when I'm hungry all the time at peak training, I can gain weight b/c I'm not paying attention to what I"m putting into my mouth. Drink lots of water as well. It helps flush out your system. Good luck!
I've never trained for a marathon or anything like that, but have you tried eating a lot of protein rich foods? Like eggs, yogurt, chicken and nuts? I remember seeing something on the net awhile back about foods that are good to eat after working out. Maybe you could try googling around and see what you come up with.
Hey girl! I run 2 marathons a year, every year, and let me tell you... I am hungry ALL.THE.TIME. I think the best advice I can give you is to eat more often. Have healthy snacks available throughout the day so you aren't forced to chow down on empty carbs (chips, etc). My favorite snacks are hummus and pita bread, bananas, peanut butter on whole grain bagels, almonds and greek yogurt. Definitely make sure you're eating protein. I'm not a big meat eater, so I rely on Odwalla protein shakes (I drink half at a time, one is too much for me) and Clif bars post-run.
Also, what are you using while you run? If you're running for more than 45 minutes at a time, you might need to invest in some gels (I love Hammer gel, it's all natural). Sounds like your body is begging for more fuel. I also really love electrolyte tablets while I run (and post-run). I use Nuun tablets (again, all natural) and I find that they give me a little extra boost.
Hope that was helpful! Good luck with your training! I bet you smoke those guys :)
I totally know what you are feeling. I'm running the LA marathon in 2 weeks, and despite all the training, I feel heavier...I'm still wearing the same size clothes, but I'm not light as I once was. I know, I know, muscle is good for you, but I'm eating way more than I used to and I'm trying to shed pounds for the wedding. Once the marathon is over, I am thinking of joining Weight Watchers to get my eating under control. I'm not huge, but I could lose 10 lbs and be ok.
This happened to me training for my half marathon. I ended up gaining a few pounds because I could not stop eating!!! The problem was after the marathon and training it took me a while to get back to my normal eating and gained a few more lbs. :( Which is frustrating because I did the marathon to get in better shape!
Just do your best to eat as healthy as possible even if you eat a lot. Try not to eat junk. Good luck!
@AEMalmostK: Sounds great! Do they have Myoplex at your average grocery store? Or do you go to a heathfood store?
@Mindiana Jones: Do you have a suggestion of calories per day? For example: I weigh 145 and am 5'4. I run between 4-7 miles 5 days a week. I want to make sure I get enough food, but I would like to lose weight as well...do you know how many calories I should eat per day? I am aiming for 1800...not sure if this is right (and this week, I have eaten well into the 2000s almost everyday...ugh).
@Valhalla: Ooh! Great idea! And I think maybe our sponsor might swing for at least a consultation...hmm...
@misssparkler: I do long runs (more than 60mins) about 3 days a week, so I should really look into gels. I have run a relay marathon before, and a couple of 10ks, but never looked into gels. And I have been thinking about the electrolyte tablets. Especially for during the race...And thanks! I am hoping to shame those boys as them ragging me is part of their training regimen, ha!
@icelara: I'm scared I will just keep eating and eating after the race! I need to seriously lock down when its over. Race day is 8 weeks from our wedding day. I've never tried Weight Watchers...have you done it before? Whenever I mention it, my mom gives me a hard time, saying I do not have enough weight to lose. But I could easily lose 15lbs. I think 130lbs is my goal for life :)
Thanks for all your wonderful advice ladies! It really helps a lot. Another quick question for you distance runner Bees: What about weight lifting while training for races? I find it really makes me HUNGRY. But, I always thought it was really important as part of training. What are your thoughts?
And does anyone recommend a really excellent protein powder for creating lean muscle?
Oh...and what are recommendations for night before race meals? I have always done the standard pasta, but would love to hear what you have had the night before that has really worked for you!
Thanks again!!
I absolutely do weight training while prepping for a marathon. I find that doing a short weight session BEFORE my runs actually helps my endurance. I do less reps with heavier weights, and alternate what body party I'm working every day (so I don't get hurt/over do it). I started adding weights to my routine about a year ago, and I've seen a huge difference in my running.
I usually stick to pasta for a pre-race dinner (yum!). But I would definitely do a "test run" sort of thing with food. Once I decided to eat a peanut butter bagel the morning of a race for some extra fuel.... lets just say that was a really bad idea. I spent our celebratory post-race brunch in the bathroom (sorry!). Moral of the story (and great running advice haha): Don't do anything different the night before, or morning of a race. Try it before you buy it haha.
I lift during training, but i do taper off the few weeks before a race. and the week before I usually don't lift at all. I have also noticed a huge difference in my running since I began lifting, I have dropped a lot of time off my mile.
For a pre race meal, I usually do whole wheat pasta and protein. and lots and lots of water.
Another great protein option is whey protein. it is derived from milk, and is digested really easily. Whichever protein you use make sure that you look at the calories and how many scoops are in a serving. There is a large variation between different brands, and some tend to have a lot more sugar than others. The whole foods brand of whey protein is great. I usually do a scoop with water after a run. It helps me feel full without a ton of calories, and it helps with recovery. Good luck with your training!
The timing is also important for the pre-race meal. You don't want to eat a giant bowl of pasta at 10 PM the night before a 6 AM race. I actually do my "big" meal 2 nights before my races. The night before I eat pretty light. Oh, and I try to sip on electrolytes the day before the race too. But this is all based on personal experience. Unfortunately, you can't guarantee that someone else's plan will work for you.
I don't run long distances, but I run short-mid distances fairly frequently and lift regularly and I can tell you both but especially lifting totally increase my appetite. BUT they also increase how much fuel my body needs. Since I don't believe in counting calories (long story, but very firm belief), my advice is just to be sure you're listening to your body. Eat when you're hungry, before you get so famished that you feel like you could eat the entire kitchen. Then eat slowly so you know when you're full - it'll probably be a little more food than you ate before training, but not two or three times as much.
If you are running heavily and lifting and eating healthfully to support that, you may well gain weight. It's not a bad thing if it's muscle. I know we're all so geared up to the scale, but I consider it an accomplishment to pack as much lean mass as I can on my frame without gaining size.
My biggest advice though is to pay attention to your hunger and fullness - getting attuned and aware of those signals will really help when you're done with the race, too, since you'll be able to tell when your energy needs are decreasing.
@Entangled: I agree with you about not counting calories and listening to your body.
When I'm training I tend to eat more frequently, but I'm not necessarily eating full meals 7 times a day. I'm not putting down your weekly mileage, OP, but relatively speaking, that's not an intense total. At the peak of my training, I'll be putting in 60-65 miles per week and I don't gain a lot of weight. I don't know if this is the first time you're training for a race, but what might be happening is that your body is trying to adjust to the sudden increase in caloric output. Give it a few weeks, try varying your meal/snack schedule, and see if you notice a difference in appetite.
@Stiz: Both my parents and a couple of my friends did Weight Watchers and it worked wonders for them. It works. And I think there's a minimum weight you need to be for your height, so when you first go in, they check all that stuff before you start the program. As for the marathon, my race is this Sunday (6 days away!) and its crunch time after that.
Ladies just an update to say that I have been watching what a eat more, and trying to not gorge on carbs, especially on off run days. I am still running about 25 miles a week (and got new Asics!) and I lost almost 2.5 lbs last week! Finally! Thanks again for all of your advice, I have put a lot of it to good use.
Relay marathon in 12 days!
I wish I still had the link but there is a girl out there with a blog about how she was a distance runner but unhappy with the way her body looked. She was extremely fit but a bit "chunky."
Basically, what it came down to is that she changed the shape of her body when she started lifting heavy.
So if you're not already weight training, throw some of that in there.
If I find the link, I'll PM you. It had some great before/after pics.
@Stiz: That's great to hear! I ran the LA Marathon last Sunday (craziest weather for the LA Marathon ever....it was pouring rain the entire time) so I am definitely going on the watching what I eat plan now! I did weigh myself and realized that I actually haven't gained any weight throughout the whole training process, but I'm pretty sure that I don't have to carboload anymore that I can def cut back on excess food. Good luck on your relay!
FOUND IT!! She actually was training for an Iron Man competition.
It's about how she reshaped her body by switching from steady state/endurance type exercise to interval & weight training.
http://figureathlete.t-nation.com/free_online_article/training/the_final_nail_in_the_cardio_coffin
Wow that article is really useful. I've been training (for a much shorter run than you) and have found while I'm definatly getting fitter, I'm also getting fatter!
I'm going to give this a go!
@Theresa90405: Thanks for the awesome article!!
And a further update: I ran 8 miles in 76 minutes! Our team ran the marathon in just at 4 hours, so were were really happy about it!!
I have also lost 7 lbs, in part from all the advice ladies...I really appreciate it. I found really pushing the water to be key for me!
Here we are at the finish line! (Sorry its so huge!)
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I need some advice for other Bees who have trained for marathons or triathlons in the past. I am currently training for a marathon relay. My leg will be 7.9 miles of fairly hilly terrain. I am running in a team of 3 men (my FH and two guys from his workplace-which is sponsoring us). So, because I am running the longest, hardest leg, and running with 3 men, I am really training my butt off. I have a little over three weeks left to train.
I am having an issue with hunger. As in I am HUNGRY all the time. I run between 20-25 miles a week and weight train, so I am burning a lot of calories. But, I am also 2-3 weeks from my first dress fitting and 12 weeks from my wedding, so I need to drop a few pounds, not gain!
I consider myself fitfat. I am in good shape, but am 145 on 5'4, so I have some extra business going on. I would like to drop 15lbs before my final dress fitting in mid-May.
It would seem as though I would lose weight with all the exercise, but I have gained almost 5 lbs! I know a lot of it is muscle, but I have also been eating like a teenage boy.
Any ladies who have trained for races in the past? What did you eat? I need to slim down, not bulk up....any advice on protein shakes? Or what I can eat to give me fuel thats not carbo-loading all the time?