colby
09-26-2006, 04:32 PM
Alright, so I'm many weeks in and ramping up my marathon training, right... I am finding the HUNGER is settling in, especially for DAYS after my long runs. I finish eating a healthy sized meal (not HUGE, but 500-600 calories) and I still admire the sight of other peoples' food. A few hours later, I'm absolutely hungry again. Alternatively, I'll feel full but not satisfied, then a few hours later, THE HUNGER, she is back! On weeks where I don't have a long run, it actually ends up being similar miles in total, and I find myself spacing out at work and easily distracted, or feeling tired. On weeks where I do have long runs, I am hungry that day, the next day, the next day, and so on...
ARGH! This is frustrating. I have a serious mental block about eating too much, but being hungry constantly is killing me (not to mention becoming a space cadet). If I eat, I guarantee I'll feel like a lard butt, because I can see that the calories in are not equaling the calories out -- the miles I'm running during the week aren't THAT huge on a daily basis. Sunday might have been 18 miles and 2500 calories (or whatever), but today was 3 miles and 300 calories... if I eat extra calories, where are they going?
Maybe I need to plan my meals a lot better. During my runs, I have a gel at the beginning and then every 45 minutes following (but, if the distance is 5 or fewer miles, I do not consume a second gel when I am running). After my runs, I have a big glass of choco-milk, which satisifies me for a while. I may or may not eat breakfast aside from this (bad). Lunch is usually out around 3-4 hours after I finish my run, but not greasy food -- deli sandwiches, fresh mex tacos, or something in the office like soup. Anywhere from 200-600 calories, I'd say. Dinner is usually much later, probably 6 hours, and I usually eat massive vegetables, something soy-based as a main dish, and rice/potatoes/pasta in limited fashion. Not sure on the calories. Need to track closer. I drink lots of water during the day, at least 2 liters plus what I drink when I'm running (which sometimes is another 1-1.5 liters).
I have been craving bad things lately, WAY more than I did before. McDonald's fish sandwiches (gross). Krispy Kreme donuts, and donuts in general. Sugary drinks. Eggs (I hate real eggs, usually use substitutes). Cheetos. Brownies. Cookies. Donuts again. Nacho cheese.
I guess I'm not able to convince myself about the whole "you must consume lots of calories when you train for a marathon" thing... mentally, I see the heart monitor telling me what I spend, and I budget that in for what I consume. Today being a short day (3 miles), I consume less... but two days ago, I did 18 miles and there is no way I consumed 2500 calories in TOTAL that day, let alone on top of the normal amount I'd eat. Tomorrow, I do 5 miles, burn a moderate amount of calories and eat moderately.
I guess I'm whining, or maybe looking for suggestions on what I should/could be doing to get past this (I still have two months to go!). I feel like I need to eat more, but then I'd be eating too much. I'd rather be hungry than fat? :P But, I know my performance is what is going to suffer if I don't feed myself properly. ARRRGH. I never had this problem training for shorter distances or just getting regular exercise.
ARGH! This is frustrating. I have a serious mental block about eating too much, but being hungry constantly is killing me (not to mention becoming a space cadet). If I eat, I guarantee I'll feel like a lard butt, because I can see that the calories in are not equaling the calories out -- the miles I'm running during the week aren't THAT huge on a daily basis. Sunday might have been 18 miles and 2500 calories (or whatever), but today was 3 miles and 300 calories... if I eat extra calories, where are they going?
Maybe I need to plan my meals a lot better. During my runs, I have a gel at the beginning and then every 45 minutes following (but, if the distance is 5 or fewer miles, I do not consume a second gel when I am running). After my runs, I have a big glass of choco-milk, which satisifies me for a while. I may or may not eat breakfast aside from this (bad). Lunch is usually out around 3-4 hours after I finish my run, but not greasy food -- deli sandwiches, fresh mex tacos, or something in the office like soup. Anywhere from 200-600 calories, I'd say. Dinner is usually much later, probably 6 hours, and I usually eat massive vegetables, something soy-based as a main dish, and rice/potatoes/pasta in limited fashion. Not sure on the calories. Need to track closer. I drink lots of water during the day, at least 2 liters plus what I drink when I'm running (which sometimes is another 1-1.5 liters).
I have been craving bad things lately, WAY more than I did before. McDonald's fish sandwiches (gross). Krispy Kreme donuts, and donuts in general. Sugary drinks. Eggs (I hate real eggs, usually use substitutes). Cheetos. Brownies. Cookies. Donuts again. Nacho cheese.
I guess I'm not able to convince myself about the whole "you must consume lots of calories when you train for a marathon" thing... mentally, I see the heart monitor telling me what I spend, and I budget that in for what I consume. Today being a short day (3 miles), I consume less... but two days ago, I did 18 miles and there is no way I consumed 2500 calories in TOTAL that day, let alone on top of the normal amount I'd eat. Tomorrow, I do 5 miles, burn a moderate amount of calories and eat moderately.
I guess I'm whining, or maybe looking for suggestions on what I should/could be doing to get past this (I still have two months to go!). I feel like I need to eat more, but then I'd be eating too much. I'd rather be hungry than fat? :P But, I know my performance is what is going to suffer if I don't feed myself properly. ARRRGH. I never had this problem training for shorter distances or just getting regular exercise.