Ideal weight

My current BMI is 24.3. In the "normal" range.

I run marathons, and would like to know what my ideal weight for racing would be.

Is 125 a good number to aim for?

I'm 5'3 and 137.4 pounds currently. I am a size small in Nike running shorts, a size 5 in jeans, and a size small in most tops, even in junior sizes.

137 sounds like a big number for someone my height, but I'm not "big" at all. So I'm sure a lot of it is muscle.

I run 30-35 miles per week. 40 at the most. I spin 4-5 times per week (usually 5-6 hours total) and strength train 2 times per week, which I know is what I need to do more of. I'm very physically fit, can run far, and love racing. Favorite distance is the half marathon, but I enjoy the full marathon training. The feeling after accomplishing a 20 mile run is amazing.

You already have a topic about this.. Why another one?

Also, you ran a marathon in May 6th, congrats. But saying "I run marathons" may be hyperbole.

Just sayin'

Original Post by armandounc:

You already have a topic about this.. Why another one?

 

Also, you ran a marathon in May 6th, congrats. But saying "I run marathons" may be hyperbole.

 

Just sayin'

Actually I didn't ask the same question, but thanks for thinking I did.

Actually, after running one marathon, you become a marathon runner. Sorry if you haven't reached that category yet, but I am there.

Aren't marathons more about "time" not how big a runner is?  I work out with a girl who is about 5' even she had lost 80 lbs in the last year and she runs and lifts weights.  She qualified for the Boston Marathon during her first marathon ever she ran it in a little over 3 hours which for this years marathon was astonishing accomplishment due to the heat.  Anyway she probably weighs 135 and would be considered a high BMI but her legs are like tree trunks.  she doesn't have much belly fat she is a beast though when it comes to her running and weight lifting.

I don't pay too much attention to the scale, I look mostly at my pant size.  I weigh more today than I did in 2005 by 10 lbs, however I wear a size smaller pant.  I am more muscular today.

Thanks for your post. You are right.

I am just trying to tone and lose the remaining pounds. I don't have much left to lose, but I will stay focused, and see what this coming week brings me on the scale. I'll settle for 130 pounds if I have to. I'm not worried about the number, mainly being healthy and feeling good.

You said "I run marathons"

Last I checked the s makes it plural, as in more than 1.

Just sayin'

Also, don't feel sorry for me, I have accomplished more as an athlete than most people.

Original Post by armandounc:

You said "I run marathons"

 

Last I checked the s makes it plural, as in more than 1.

 

Just sayin'

 

Also, don't feel sorry for me, I have accomplished more as an athlete than most people.

Good for you.

PS. unless YOU are a marathon runner, you have no right to judge what I say may be true or not, based on your opinion.

There is no ideal weight. BMI is a range for a reason the ideal weight varies from person to person based on your exact body makeup and composition.

What is your real goal?

To compete faster on your next marathon? Will losing weight help you get there?maybe maybe not depends on what type of weight and if you lose muscle or fat and where.

To fit into smaller jeans? Will losing weight help you get there?maybe maybe not depends on what type of weight and if you lose muscle or fat and where.

To be healthier?Will losing weight help you get there? Maybe maybe not depends on body fat% disease in family history and what methods you use to lose weight .

So no there is no ideal that anyone else but you can set if you want to lose a little weight and see if you like where that gets you then you are probably ok as long as you stay in the normal bmi but do it slow and assess as you go if this is an improvement or not and how your hunger level energy level how you look feel run and everything ele to determine what makes and defines YOUR ideal.

I have run numerous marathons (as well as other races), and over time, I've learned exactly where my ideal "racing weight" lies.  It was a lot of trial and error because, as I lost weight, I got faster.  Until I didn't anymore, and actually started slowing down instead.  For me, that was right around a BMI of 19 (5'3'' and 107 lbs), but it is different for everyone.  And it takes some time to figure out--and more than a single marathon.

Also, as a runner, you are going to lose performance if you try to lose weight too quickly.  Even when I was losing, I never ate at more than a 250-400 calorie deficit per day.  When I did, my runs suffered significantly.  Take it slow, experiment with shorter races, and eventually you'll find your ideal spot.

Your best bet would be to contact a trainer in your area. They will be able to adjust your food intake and your exercises to exactly what it needs to be for you to achieve your "ideal" weight to achieve your fastest time. Each person differs. Someone said that after a certain weight there body slowed down, this is true your body will feel as if you are entering a "starvation" mode and will "slow down" which will cause you to slow down. If you work with someone that has had experance in running Marathons you will be able to achieve your personal goal. 

To the Ass that keeps talking about you stating Marathon or Marathon(s) just ignore him/her it is obvious that they just Hate on people who are proud of their achievments! 

If you run one marathon or 100 marathons you always feel the same AWESOME afterwards!!!!!!

I have never ran a Marathon because running is not my strength but I have done a couple of Tri's and a few Bi's (not in the past 7 years) and I am pretty amped just thinking about crossing the finish lines.

Look past the Haters and continue on your Journey!!!! 

There used to be a good website, called "racing weight." Nice discussions of how to figure out what your best performance weight is etc. Then the guy wrote a book with the same name, and the website is now mostly an advertisement, and a personal training site (you pay him, and he gives you programs etc.)

I read the book, and it wasn't nearly as useful as the old website was. Anyway, the two main points were that your best performance weight is found mostly by trial and error, but you need to be very cautious about going below it. And, your best training weight is higher than your best performance weight.

It isn't worth worrying about this stuff unless you are pretty darn fast. You can make huge improvements in your speed, endurance, lactate threshold etc. while being a bit higher than your best performance weight. It is better to concentrate on those things for a long while, before trying to cut it close to the line of getting as lean as you can, safely.

Original Post by armandounc:

You already have a topic about this.. Why another one?

 

Also, you ran a marathon in May 6th, congrats. But saying "I run marathons" may be hyperbole.

 

Just sayin'

dude, come on. why discount her achievement(s)? running a marathon is a big deal. I don't see why you have to be a dbag about it..?

congrats, marathon girl :)

Thank YOU everyone for your input!!! I appreciate it a lot!!! Very helpful.

I'm going to be more careful and not have more than a 900 calorie deficit. Looking to lose 1.5 pounds per week, I think that would be a good goal. I'm not training training again until mid July/August, so that'll give me time. I'll take it one day at a time...Maybe this weight is good for me, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, and I won't limit my success to the scale. Clothes will be a good indicator as well.

I see nothing wrong with a little confidence and calling myself a marathoner :D I'm going to be doing the Disney Goofy Marathon and Half Challenge in Walt Disney World in January!!! Which will be a half marathon on a Saturday, and a full marathon the next day, Sunday. 39.3 miles in 2 days!!! (I'll start 'training' in July, but the training plan starts with 5 mile runs, which obviously I can do, so "real" training won't start til mid August, when I build my mileage a little bit. Although I plan to keep it high that way it's not a shock to my body. I enjoy my 10-15 mile runs on the weekends! :D I will also be doing a couple half marathons this fall, for fun though).

Thank you so much to everyone whose replied!!! Very helpful information. 

Original Post by armandounc:

You said "I run marathons"

 

Last I checked the s makes it plural, as in more than 1.

 

Just sayin'

 

Also, don't feel sorry for me, I have accomplished more as an athlete than most people.

I knew it! armandounc has the same number of letters as lancearmst. Your Lance Armstrong aren't you? I love that you banged Sheryl Crow, I think she's hot!

According to your post you weight 134 and are at a normal BMI. Aiming for 1.5lbs a week is too high.  Max at normal BMi would be 1% of your body weight which is 1.3 and even that is really high you would be better aiming at 0.5lbs a week