It's interesting how I've gained about seven pounds during this training cycle. I have not been as disciplined with my diet, despite running more miles than ever to get ready for this marathon. I was running 5-6 (usually six) days every week and logging over 150 miles every month. Still, I gained weight. Just how many calories was I actually consuming these past few months?
However, ever since I started tapering after that twenty miler a week and a half ago, I finally saw my body changing. And, so has everyone else. I've had so many people comment on my "weight loss" and change in body shape. However, I'm not.
I'm noticing my waist is a bit slender and I'm comfortable wearing belted shirts again. My pants are a bit looser in the back and in the legs. And, now I'm proud to wear running skirts around the neighborhood, and am not embarrased about how they snug my tooshie and hips.
Still, my weight is up from before. However, just this week I've lost three pounds. After running my lowest mileage week in months. Go figure.
That number on the scale just gets me. I should be more focused on that time on the clock on race day.
What's your experience with
the taper?
EXACTLY why I don't own a scale. Go by how you feel!!
ReplyDeleteMe and tapers - well we don't play nicely together. ;)
have you ever read nancy clark's nutrition guide for marathoners book? she makes me feel like i'm not eating enough!!!! the more i eat the less i weigh!! every summer i run less and eat more and i always lose weight/inches. during the fall and winter i KNOW i do not eat enough, all the food i eat is clean and low in calories and fats, i try to add in higher calorie foods such as granola when it gets closer to the marathon. i really don't think i eat enough. i know it sounds totally opposite but its possible, i mean, i have plenty of fat on my body but it never gets burned maybe bc my body is holding everything i eat and turning it to fat bc i need more fat? i have no clue. but nancy clark will say you should eat like 3000-4000 calories a day based on how much exercise you do, yeah, i'm way off from that number.
ReplyDeleteI'm tapering right now, too, and keeping a list of all the ways it freaks me out!
ReplyDeleteI'm a newbie... and this eating with running thing is the hardest to figure out for me... is it to much?? not enough?? Thank you for your blog... it inspires me!
ReplyDeleteDon't go by that scale, I mean how much liquids have you taken in? That can be a 5-7lb change right there.
ReplyDeleteI think you should go by how your sexy self feels and how your clothes look..besides your a ROCKSTAR!
Ignore the scale...your clothes are fitting, you've logged the miles, you're good to go!
ReplyDeleteJust remember that muscle weights more than fat.
ReplyDeleteI'll take weighing more with a fit and toned body over weighing less and being less fit any day!
ReplyDeletesorry Runners Fuel BUT muscle does NOT weigh more than fat. 1 pound of muscle is the same as 1 pound of fat, it just the muscle takes up less space! i.e., you can look slimmer!
I know that I haven't done nearly as many miles of running as you have in a week, but I know that after weeks and weeks of hard workouts and then an easy week, I lose some weight. I sometimes tell myself that it's the muscle taking time to conquer some of the fat! LOL
ReplyDeleteFOrget about weight as there's nothing you can do about it before the race anyway. I'm a tapering head case.
ReplyDeleteOK, good to know I'm not alone! I've been putting more hours in than ever before and my weight hasn't dropped at all and I'm a bit puffy around the waist, truthfully. I'm about to go into my taper so hopefully I'll drop a bit of that. I think the weight must be your body's way of conserving or something because when I was my thinnest when I worked out an hour/5 days per week vs now when I'm putting in a lot of hours! There is hope for me yet...
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others- ignore the scale. Especially during taper. If you feel good, that's what counts!
ReplyDeleteThe scale is EVIL
ReplyDeleteScales are not gospel - you have to take notice of your body...Take measurements and just know how you feel. Perhaps you hold water more when you up your miles...There's a lot of reasons you could have been up and I'm sure you'll figure out the right balance to be the best/happiest you - which I think you're doing a great job of by the way :)!
ReplyDeleteNo clue there. But I'm still trying to figure out the weight/running too. I think I may also be in that category of not eating enfu = retain the fat. But I'm too scared to eat more!!
ReplyDelete