Marathon and Weight Maintenance

Attention: open in a new window.

Q: My girlfriends and I just started training for a half marathon in the spring. Though I am not new to working out, I have noticed sudden weight gain which is freaking me out. I am not eating any more than before, shouldn’t I be dropping pounds?

Good for you and your girlfriends for taking on such an amazing challenge! Training for an endurance event can be tricky when it comes to weight and nutrition. In order to keep the energy stores filled, you need to make up for the calories burned during training. If you don’t, you will experience fatigue, weakness and be more prone to injury. Your body naturally craves the food it needs to function so it is quite possible you are eating a bit more than normal. I would highly suggest keeping a food journal to track your intake. Even just a ½ a cup more or a few bites of some foods can add hundreds of calories by the end of the day. Keeping a written food plan will also ensure you are getting all the right foods to sustain your training. One last thought, on the days of your shorter training runs, be sure to eat in accordance with only what your body needs. Being 100% aware of your food intake will enable you to spot where you may be overdoing it. Have fun!

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email this

Comments (0) Add Comment