Answer: Gaining Weight While Training For A Marathon?

First – congratulations on training for a half marathon!  It sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun, and having the support of others is a real motivator.

Your question about weight gain is a great one.  I have experienced this myself.  I actually gained 2 pounds while training for my last half-marathon (ouch).

Doing some research myself, I have found out that weight gain during training is pretty common and can happen for a number of reasons:

     1)  Training builds more muscle mass, which is much denser than is fat.  Your running partner’s clothes feel tighter – but is she more toned?  It is entirely possible that her actual body fat percentage has decreased, while muscle mass has increased- especially if she is cross-training at the gym.

     2)  Drinking too many calories can cause weight gain.  A lot of runners are really into sports drinks and don’t realize how many sugars they are adding to their diets by hydrating with these kinds of liquids.  Runners in training should try to stay away from fruit juices and soda and hydrate with plain ‘ole water.

3)    Playing mind games with food is another possibility.  I know you said that your partner has not changed her diet at all.  I suggest she prove it to herself by keeping a food diary for several weeks.  I know, it sounds like a hassle, but it can really pay off.  Sometimes you change your diet without really realizing what you’re doing.  You tend to feel famished when the miles start adding up and this leads to increases in portions and unconsciously “rewarding” yourself with food.  Keeping a food diary can help make you more conscious of exactly what you are consuming and in what portions.

4)    Any possibility that she is pregnant?

Speaking of mind games, I do have one other suggestion.  It’s one that I am struggling with myself right now, and that is to NOT make weight loss such an important part of your training motivation.  You said that she is thinking about quitting because she’s gaining weight…I say DON’T. Run for the pleasure, for the attainment of a goal, for the camaraderie – but not to lose weight.  Improvements in overall health, increase in immunity, improved aerobic capacity – these are the benefits of running that we should focus on.  And if weight comes off over time…great.

There’s a really good article in the January issue of Runner’s World about weight loss and runners.  One of the things it points out is that a runner’s diet should be a little different than a sedentary diet or one followed for other sports.  Carbs are not our enemy – but we need to derive our carbohydrates from foods that more easily convert to glycogen to feed tired muscles.

I’m interested to know how this goes for her!  I hope she doesn’t quit.  Which race are you guys doing?

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