Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For A Marathon?

Marathon running, a strenuous activity, may look like a promising way to burn of calories. However, sometimes it doesn¡¯t deliver the weight loss a runner expected or aimed for. Surprising!! An endurance event usually burns more than 800 calories, therefore making for a huge calorie output. If losing weight is about creating a negative calorie balance, this activity does deliver the results. Then, why is it that marathon runners express extreme frustration with their inability to lose those extra kilos?

Marathon running, a strenuous activity, may look like a promising way to burn of calories. However, sometimes it doesn¡¯t deliver the weight loss a runner expected or aimed for. Surprising!! An endurance event usually burns more than 800 calories, therefore making for a huge calorie output. If losing weight is about creating a negative calorie balance, this activity does deliver the results. Then, why is it that marathon runners express extreme frustration with their inability to lose those extra kilos?

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Any kind of exercise works towards two basic and logical components: building of muscle mass and breakdown of fat. Marathon running works out your lower extremities more and legs being your bigger muscle groups tend to build more muscle and faster. Muscle tissue is much denser than fat. Muscle therefore weighs more than the adipose tissue, and so this translates to more weight displayed on the scale. While you may not see any weight loss on the scale, or rather a rise, look out for other relevant changes in your body. Are you showing a significant inch loss? Is your body more toned and taut? If the answer is yes, ignore the scale number. The weighing scale provides only one number. Your absolute weight isn¡¯t always an accurate measurement of what is happening in your body.

ALSO READ:?Inspired to run a marathon? Check training tips

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Quite often, runners feel they have given their best in those 1.5 hours. Also, running is a very arduous exercise, challenging your stamina and requiring most of your energy. If one doesn¡¯t fuel himself properly, they may tend to be sedentary for the rest of the day due to excessive loss of energy, or, some runners feel because they have spent more calories, they can be a couch potato. Either of these is not the right way to lose those extra kilos. It¡¯s imperative to be physically active at most times of the day, in order to keep the metabolism going. So, check your activity levels outside training.

ALSO READ:?5 steps to train for a marathon

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Long durations and high intensity exercises are fuelled by a glucose rush. After a long run, when one's glycogen stores seem to be completely utilized, this can cause one to consume much more than what is actually required. Are you eating too much quick sugar? Are you inadvertently eating empty calories? Time to re-evaluate your post-run snacks.

ALSO READ:?What should a marathon runner eat?

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Running, but not being consistent, is another issue that goes unnoticed. If, on most days of the week you intersperse walking and running and do that intense run once a week only, then you may have to amp it up. Start running 2-4 days a week, log in your miles and you will then be in a better position to interpret your results.

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Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Running will cause micro tears in the muscle tissue. Your body tends to store more water to repair damaged muscle fibres, in order to deliver more oxygen to working muscles. Also, to compensate for the dehydration that may occur due to sweat loss in the running, it is mandatory to drink more water. All this can also add to the weight.?

ALSO READ:?Why is important to train for marathon?

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

The more you exercise, the more you exhaust your nutrient stores, and the more you feel you deserve to eat. While it¡¯s very important to refuel your body, it¡¯s equally important to analyze what you eat and how much. Are you eating enough nutrient-dense foods or just eating to satisfy that hunger spike?

ALSO READ:?Nutrition tips for marathon runners

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

Running is one of the highest calorie burning exercises. But just because you¡¯re causing a huge deficit by burning, are you supplementing it with a big burger? One hamburger is equal to two meals. So, time to ponder about this.

ALSO READ:?Training for marathon: Part one

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

How about ¡°hidden calories¡±? ?The need for convenience foods at times drives one to choose foods that seem suitable but are they appropriate enough? The ready to eat cereal bar, the energy drinks, gels etc. have a bountiful of high glycemic carbs and fats. If you are running for less than an hour, water is enough to fuel your run, unless the weather is very humid and hot and you are losing a lot of fluids.

ALSO READ:?Inspired To run marathon? Check training tips

Why Am I Not Losing Weight Despite Training For a Marathon?

So, the next time you question yourself, thnking that if all runners are supposed to get thin and lean, why I am not reaching my goal? Ponder on the blunders you may be unintentionally and unknowingly making.

In the next article, we shall discuss the right nutrition for a marathon runner, pre-event, post-event snacks, water ration etc.?

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