why im i not losing?

I'm 5' 6.5 ish, 18 years old, I workout everyday with a rest day doing 60 mins of cardio 30 mins of weights 3 days a week, the other 3 days anywhere from 50 mins to 75 mins of cardio depending on how i feel. its mostly running but lately i've been doing a lot more cross training because of shin splints. I'm training for a half and full marathon this year. Usually I've been maintaining my weight fine, but lately I'm eating about 1500 calories a day just cause I ususally plan meals figure it out later and its not enough by nighttime (i'm a full time students and have a part time job) and I've gained weight!?!??? what's the deal?? I thought 1500 calories was normal for weight loss.

there are a lot of people postin about eatin more cals to lose....

esp if you're that active, your body is possibly in starvation mode on 1500 cal.

bein so young and doin so much cardio you need more fuel.

look into threads about eatin more to lose & stuff.

Hey DiscoQueen!

I'm looking at your profile and your gallery (you're gorgeous btw), and I'm wondering why you're trying to lose weight?

I saw you had posts re: ED.. and it looks as though you've definitely gotten pretty darn thin there in the past.  Just wanted to do a reality check here and see if you should really be posting in Weight Loss, or if you might be slipping back into wanting to lose? 

Your workouts sound pretty darn intense so 1500 might be on the WAY low end.. Have you been to a nutritionist or dietiican?  They might be able to help you eat right for marathon training AND eat in order to achieve or maintain a healthy weight appropriate for your body.

Hope this helps :)

Dana

I agree with dls - considering your stats (especially your age) and your workouts, 1500 is too low.

I also agree. Not too mention you appear to be VERY thin in your profile... if I were you I would stop trying to lose weight and just try and get fit for your marathon. I would say weight loss is probably unhealthy if you are still that thin and will only hurt your chances of completing the marathon.

Thanks for all of the advice!! I don't want to lose at all. I like where I am, that's why I don't understand while I'm gaining. Maybe I should have posted this in the maintaining section. I did have a severe restriction problem about two years ago, the one picture in my profile is when it occurred I was about 105lbs. But its just really challenging and still hard not to be afraid to gain on so many calories especially when I feel an hour of cardio is just so normal

You don't want to lose? But your post title was "why am i not losing?" See the confusion?

How much do you weigh now?

And has anything changed from when you were maintaining your weight - are you eating more or less? Working out more or less?

it was " why am i not loosing" because it seemed that the calories i was eating would cause me to lose, due to time restraints and hectic college life i've been trying to up my cals but at the end of the day im just not that hungry. also i think im still recovering from starvation mode maybe. i don't have hunger cues anymore so trying to eat "when im hungry" results in me never eating cause i never "feel" hungry. my calories can very greatly in the past, sometimes from 1500 - 2000 but its also hard cause when i drink on the weekends, yay college life, i don't eat as much either cause i know alcohol has calories, so its hard to account for that too.

Ah, I get it.

If your body is still recovering from restriction, you might gain some, but it should mostly be water weight. If anything, you'll want to eat more, to support your training. It's hard, especially at school, but do try to plan ahead so that you get enough calories by the end of the day.

I hate to be all doom and gloom, but you are going to get really sick (and I am not referring to the shin splints) if you keep on doing what you are doing. Training for a 1/2 marathon and a marathon takes proper nutrition. When you are working out an hour or more a day-at a competitive pace--at your age (18) and activity level (active college life) you should be eating in excess of 2000 calories a day. With all of your cardio you should probably be eating even more than that!!! You will need to build muscle. Training while eating at a deficit will use your muscles for fuel. I had a friend collapse during a marathon and spend 2 weeks in the hospital... nearly didn't live... seriously... running (or even walking) a marathon is serious business and if you are thin to begin with, it can be deadly. While you build muscle, you will most likely put on a few pounds... but it is muscle NOT fat and that is a GOOD thing. You are going to damage your bones and THAT can become a problem you will live with FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Good luck. Be smart. Do some more research on what you are doing to your body. 

Carolann- 

Thank you so much!! I don't know if what I'm doing is a competitive pace or what you're referring to it as. I do about 25 miles a week now, last week I wasn't feeling so hot so I only did 20. So far this week I've done 4 and I think I'm just gonna do cross training for a bit to let my legs recover and I just don't think I burn as many calories with cross training that I do running. I've also talked to some personal trainers in my gym and they have shown me resistance and weight exercises that I've now begun to incorperate into my routine since I usually don't train my legs for fear of soreness... which sadly came true. So i have another question... 

On a day like today (yesterday I did 30 mins of weights full body, 4 mile run on the treadmill and finished up the reamaining 26 mins of cardio on a stairstepper) where my quads are sore, what exercise should I do. Should I just push through soreness since its most likely due to the new exercises, or another form of cardio?

I would do something low impact like eliptical on a setting not too high. I hope you are increasing your Calories though. If you are having trouble fitting all the food try going for Calorie dense foods like nuts and adding oils to your veggies those add up quick and won't make you feel extremely full.  If you want fruit go for a banana they are relatively Calorie dense for a fruit and you can even spread some peanut butter on it.  Yum!

you're not eating nearly enough