First up, here’s last week’s training:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 6 mile run
Wednesday: Swim 30 minutes
Thursday: 5.25 miles speed intervals
Friday: Yoga
Saturday: 8 mile run, 10 mile bike
Sunday: Strength workout, 15 mile bike
Only one swim. First time back in the pool post vacay and chest crud. To say it sucked would be an understatement, even though the trisCuit rocked.
Sunday’s strength session with the Caveman was the first really hard workout since before vacay too. I’ve lost a little strength on the bench but my unassisted pullups are intact. Did not expect that. We did a “time under load” workout that pretty much wrecked me. Still sore.
This is an email I get quite often. Karen J. writes: I’m training for my first half marathon and the day after my weekend long run, I notice I’ve gained weight. Lots of it! Up to 5 lbs sometimes. What am I doing wrong??
Karen you’re doing nothing wrong! When you run long or do a tough workout you break down your muscle tissue. That’s why recovery is such an important phase. It’s when your muscles rebuild and come back stronger. Most of that weight is simply fluid retention. I make it a goal to stay off the scale the day after. For fun I got on this week after Sunday’s killer strength fest. I was up 3 lbs. So you’re not alone.
Have you gained weight after a tough run or workout? How was your workout week?
I’m Linking up with Erika, Patty and April for Tuesdays on the Run.
I immediately lose weight from massive sweat loss. I simply can’t drink 5-7 pounds of water in a short amount of time to replace it. But then the pounds comes back with a vengeance within the next few days. I try to avoid the scale most days. It messes with my mind.
But isn’t weight gain while training for long distances fairly common? I have been reading a lot lately about how to prevent that and why it happens.
Yuuuup, I’m always up after a long run because of the way muscles break down and heal. I was up today and it was crap, but I also know there’s absolutely no way I ate enough to be up 3 pounds, so I’ll move on 🙂
Weight “gain” is tricky! It seems I tend to gain a to few pounds after a hard lifting session or long run, I try to stay away from the scale because even though I know it, it still messes with my mind a bit.
When I was marathon training overall I lost, but while injured I went right back to normal weight.
I try not to step on the scale that much especially after a hard workout/long run. Since I expect a loss and am usually disappointed;)
Interesting! Since I don’t ever weigh myself (I can judge by the way my clothes fit) I wouldn’t know if this has ever happened to me, but I’m going to go with it next time I feel off!
I gained weight during marathon training, but I’m pretty sure it was because I felt like I could eat all the foods after running so many miles haha.
I smile every time I see the TrisCuit reference. So funny!
I NEVER weigh myself after working out because it does seem to fluctuate a lot. Either water retention from trying to stay hydrated, or water loss if I am dehydrated! Either way, it messes with my mind, too!
I try not to weigh myself very often because if I see a weight gain it upsets me too much.
Yes used to happen to me all the time. I stopped weighing myself over a year ago and I am so much happier.
I don’t know how it happened, but my scale is broken. 🙂
I used to weigh myself after a long run to see how much fluid I lost. It was so nice to see the low number, but the day after, the number was back up again!
My workout week is going great (so far), loving the new strength training program I am testing out. I definitely gained a few lbs half marathon training this winter, hoping to take it off with this new program!!
I never weigh myself so I wouldn’t know. I do know people who are dedicated runners that have never lost a pound though. They find that tough since so many people start running to lose weight.
Yup a few days after any long run the numbers can be up and then drop right back, I think it’s fluid and carbs which both like you said increase water weight.
Despite what many people, weight gain after an intense workout is very common.
I know I gained weight after running my first marathon. I was a bit horrified to see the extra four lbs on the scale after all that running. But running a marathon causes muscle damage and muscle damage causes fluid retention. It had all gone in a couple of days. So the next time I ran a marathon I didn’t bother to weigh myself.
I find it is hard to lose weight when marathon training, only in the final four weeks of high mileage do the pounds come off (then they come back soon after the race is over). Maybe it was just water weight all along…
Oh, yeah! After this past week’s back to back 18 milers, my weight was WAY up. 5 days later I’m finally back to normal. The good thing about this marathon training cycle is that I didn’t gain any weight. The bad thing is I was already up 5 pounds before I started. Ugh.
Ya know I never weighed myself after a tough run or tough workout but now I am curious if my body would respond the same way.
I never weigh myself, so I don’t know if I gain weight post workout. It’s all about how the clothes fit.
Oh yes – and right now I’m saying my extra is because of so many consecutive long run days for weeks:)
I think I also tend to eat more and not always great choices after long/hard runs!
i don’t own a scale. i gave it up in a move 6 years ago – was the best thing i ever did 🙂
Weight fluctuations are so common for me after working out and then even mores after a LONG workout or half marathon etc. I don’t weigh myself as much anymore honestly!
Another way our bodies keep us on our toes and sometimes guessing 🙂
hugs. I try not to weigh myself too much. that darn number on the scale has too much power over me. :blush:
I can’t really remember the last time I weighed myself, but cardio tends to make me lose water weight since I sweat everything out!
wow. I’ve been out of the gym for a bit and my unassisted pull ups were probably the first thing to go. Working my way back to where I was is gonna suck haha
Interesting – I don’t think I’ve ever weighed myself the day after my long run but I’ll be sure to keep this in mind. I love that you are rocking the unassisted pull ups 🙂
DRIVE ME CRAZY, lol! Thank goodness it goes down the next morning, LOL!
I’m up 10 lbs since 2012 when I started this full marathon craziness. It’s driving me nuts in all honestly. 🙁
First of all did you just have a total blog makeover. Love the clean look of your blog! Secondly I do sometimes feel heavier after long slow miles but tend not to get on the scale.