General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training? Rss Feed  
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2013-02-20 12:56 PM

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Subject: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
ladies, Im training for my first IM ( Tremblant in August) . Right now Im averaging about 11-12 hours training during base building Im also training for a 30k runnning event in March , so my long run is currently at 24k / 15 ish miles.

Given that Im doing all this exercise the needle on my scale seems to be heading in completely the wrong direction. I'm up around 4lbs since I started back in December. I don't think I am eating any more than before and my choices are healthy, oatmeal for breakfast, lentil soup for lunch, salmon, quinoa etc for dinner.

Not sure what to do as I would like to be leaner for biking and running.


2013-02-20 2:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
Do you count calories? 
2013-02-20 4:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
I don't count calories anymore just focus on eating clean , lots of fruits and veggies, lean protein, limited red meat and limit Gatorade to workouts of 2 hours or more. maybe I should start using myfitnesspal again
2013-02-20 6:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
In my experience coaching, yes a lot of women gain weight although they look leaner
2013-02-20 6:33 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

didn't gain weight, but definitely didn't lose weight either.

Are you in Ontario?  you should stop by the Ontario boards.  I assume you are training for around the bay.  I've always wanted to do that race, but can't make myself run that long in the winter.  Maybe next year when I am on Mat leave...

2013-02-20 6:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
I am in Ontario - I sometimes stop by the Ontario boards, but find them pretty inactive during the winter.You are right , I am training for Around the Bay- it's a great race , but definitely not easy! Especially when you are lugging extra weight around the North Shore Hills!I guess I should accept this extra weight and concentrate on keeping my diet as clean as possible!


2013-02-20 8:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

in my experience, this is somewhat common among female athletes. 

I suspect that it has to do with increased appetite and the food choices that one makes.  Especially after long rides. 

2013-02-20 9:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
ADollar79 - 2013-02-20 9:52 PM

in my experience, this is somewhat common among female athletes. 

I suspect that it has to do with increased appetite and the food choices that one makes.  Especially after long rides. 

 

Every body is different but my choice is clean, less sugar, and low sodium diet except when training. I eat every 2-3 hours in small amounts, and what I eat is always based on my activity level following intake.  It works for me, but every body is different. Hammer has good information. http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/endurance-athlete-s-guide.fh.html?navcat=bookstore click on the link The Endurance Athlete's Guide - free download copy.

 

Good luck!  Smile

2013-02-21 1:20 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

Some women experience weight gain due to increased muscle mass. 

I personally gained weight training for my first IM, and then discovered I had a thyroid issue.  It is likely nothing, but if you haven't had your thyroid checked recentlly, you might want to.

 

2013-02-26 9:52 AM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

I'm not a lady.  Here's my IM training and weightloss experience:  I lost about 35# back in 2004/2005 and have kept it off since then.  I trained for IMCdA in 2009 and Vineman in 2011.  During both IM's, my weight stayed fairly constant (maybe down about 5#) but my body composition changed a LOT!  If you look in my albums, you can see pictures from 2011 about a month before my IM.  I had a number of people comment on how much weight I'd lost (or at least how much weight it looked like I lost) and a few were concerned that I was getting too thin.  (I did look somewhat gaunt a few weeks out from each of those races.

Body composition is a better metric.  I had a couple "Bodpod" measurements done in 2005.  In essence, muscle mass density is about 1.1 g/cm^3 and fat about 0.9 g/cm^3.  The scale doesn't readily give you whether a change in weight is due to a change in muscle mass or a change in fat mass. 

Have you taken body measurements?  Waist, hips, bust, thighs, calves, biceps?  If not, I encourage everyone training for their first IM to do so early in their training plan and again during taper.  These measurements are probably a bigger indication of your progress than the needle on the scale.  (As a proxy, how do your clothes fit?  If the scale isn't changing but you clothes are not as tight, you're probably converting fat mass to muscle mass.

2013-02-26 3:00 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

I gained for a while, then about 6-8 weeks out I dropped weight like crazy and got really lean.  I think for me, my body wasn't quite sure what I was doing to it - but once things normalized, the weight came off.  Also, I think when I started upping the mileage/time, I started eating more.  I ended up going paleo (plus potato) for the last 8-10 weeks of training.  

Interestingly, as I've started ramping back up for a May 1/2 Ironman, I'm noticing the weight wanting to come back on.  



2013-02-27 11:55 AM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

Very common for women to gain weight while endurance training.  Ben Greenfield did a podcast and talks about it.  Below is a link to the transcript.  (scroll about half-way through the transcipt to get to this part of the discussion)

http://www./2012/11/episode-219-full-transcript/

 Women more than men tend to have this issue.  And there are a few different reasons for this. The first is something that can be glaringly obvious but a lot of people don’t really think about it and that is the fact that when you start to train for endurance training, your body enhances its ability to store carbohydrate. You can actually train your body to store up to 60% more carbohydrate.  Storage glycogen primarily in your muscles, you really can’t amplify what your liver’s able to store but your muscles are able to store up to 60% more carbohydrate once you start into an endurance training program.

2013-02-27 1:40 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?

I was going to mention Ben Greenfield's podcast as well. This happens to me as well and it is so frustrating! The only thing I really got out of his podcast was it was common for long distance, female athletes to gain weight and he talked about the need for detoxing the liver. I haven't tried doing this yet. 

2013-02-27 3:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
SEADOCHA - 2013-02-27 11:40 AM

I was going to mention Ben Greenfield's podcast as well. This happens to me as well and it is so frustrating! The only thing I really got out of his podcast was it was common for long distance, female athletes to gain weight and he talked about the need for detoxing the liver. I haven't tried doing this yet. 

The liver does a remarkable job of regenerating itself.  Just don't go overboard with the alcohol.

2013-02-27 3:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
AbbieR - 2013-02-27 12:55 PM

Very common for women to gain weight while endurance training.  Ben Greenfield did a podcast and talks about it.  Below is a link to the transcript.  (scroll about half-way through the transcipt to get to this part of the discussion)

http://www./2012/11/episode-219-full-transcript/

 Women more than men tend to have this issue.  And there are a few different reasons for this. The first is something that can be glaringly obvious but a lot of people don’t really think about it and that is the fact that when you start to train for endurance training, your body enhances its ability to store carbohydrate. You can actually train your body to store up to 60% more carbohydrate.  Storage glycogen primarily in your muscles, you really can’t amplify what your liver’s able to store but your muscles are able to store up to 60% more carbohydrate once you start into an endurance training program.

So you are suggesting a lower carb diet?

2013-02-27 3:17 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
KateTri1 - 2013-02-27 1:05 PM
AbbieR - 2013-02-27 12:55 PM

Very common for women to gain weight while endurance training.  Ben Greenfield did a podcast and talks about it.  Below is a link to the transcript.  (scroll about half-way through the transcipt to get to this part of the discussion)

http://www./2012/11/episode-219-full-transcript/

 Women more than men tend to have this issue.  And there are a few different reasons for this. The first is something that can be glaringly obvious but a lot of people don’t really think about it and that is the fact that when you start to train for endurance training, your body enhances its ability to store carbohydrate. You can actually train your body to store up to 60% more carbohydrate.  Storage glycogen primarily in your muscles, you really can’t amplify what your liver’s able to store but your muscles are able to store up to 60% more carbohydrate once you start into an endurance training program.

So you are suggesting a lower carb diet?

The info above I cut/pasted from Ben'd Podcast, sorry forgot to throw it in quotes.  



2013-02-27 5:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Question for the ladies - anyone else gain weight during IM training?
Very interesting and good to hear that Im not the only one. my guess is that it's a combination of increased muscle mass and some slight overeating my clothes are not too tight so I think it's mainly increased muscle !
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