Runner's appetite!

I run and do at least 45 minutes of cardio. All of my running makes me soooooooooooo hungry! I was thinner when I did not work out as much because I did not need as many calories. I woke up this morning and had gained a pound. My calorie intake is high (1, 660 yesterday), but I burned about 640 running (over 5 and a half miles). I am considering knocking my calorie intake down to 1500 or 1400. Is this a good idea? I just can't handle gaining when I am working so hard and monitoring my calories. I have been at this for at least a year. . . . Any advice would be great. Thanks. . . .

You ran 5.5 miles AND 45 minutes cardio? You need more calories not less, in my opinion. 

Ha! No, I wish! That would be extreme. . . . I either run about 4-6 miles or I'll do the elliptical for 45 to 60 minutes. One or the other. Not both. . . . I'd get home at midnight if I did that. . . I feel like I am the incredible growing woman. No matter what I do i gain and now I am thinking I might be eating too much. . . . Any thoughts???? I am thinking about knocking it down, but I do not want to be in starvation mode and I want to avoid binges. . . However the scales are creeping up and up. . . . .

You are gaining muscle not fat, you still need to eat more... you might screw up your metabolism by not eating enough food energy (calories) to sustain your high level of activity.

GAINING WEIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS BAD!

But it looks like fat! I wish it were muscle. . . My body is always hungry. I mean VERY hungry. I struggle to stay at around 1600-1700. I feel like I could eat five times that much! Everyone always comments on how much I eat. I feel like I am an eating machine. I am very frightened to hit the 120 mark on my scale. I haven't been 120 in YEARS!!!!

I agree with ravenlark...gaining weight is not always bad.

I also think that you should figure out a way to move your meals around so that you're not so hungry after working out.  I am a marathon runner and triathlete...my normal runs are between 6 and 10 miles with my weekend runs being over 14 miles.  I usually don't feel hungry after running.  I eat enough carbs in advance of the workout to help with burning calories and keep excessive hunger away.  You may want to try eating a banana or apple about 1/2 hour before working out...or a 1/2 a bagel.  I generally eat a half bagel before a long run.  It gives your body that little extra it needs to not feel hungry.

If you're burning about 640 calories and eating 1660, that gives you about 1000 calories intake. (of course, you need to take into consideration what you normally do in a day burns calories too).  You do need to eat more, not less.  Listen to your body...it's hungry because it REALLY IS hungry.  You are not gaining fat if you're on this workout regime.  It's muscles.  Don't trust the scale.  Go by how you feel and your clothes.

That's my 2-cents.

Do you ever wish you could just pick up the phone and talk to eachother?. . . . That is good advice. Wow neeners I admire your running capabilities. Do you mind if I ask you how many calories you are consuming to maintain that high level of activity? I am actually about to begin training for a mini marathon 15 miles. . .  

Lk,

Just curious, but how tall are you?  120 sounds tiny to me but I'm 5'10" and I haven't seen my target weight of 156 lbs in 11 years (since I had my son).  However, I'm now down to 168 and I feel and look good (I started at 188 in Nov 06).  My body likes this weight and I don't feel fat so I'm not worried about it.  I am trying to build muscle so I need to ignore the scale a little bit. 

Hope this helps you feel more comfy with where you are at!

I don't feel hungry after working out, I usually have a meal or a carbohydrate filled snack beforehand like a banana and then I have a smaller protein filled snack like nuts, cottage cheese or a Nature Valley Bar afterwards to help build muscle, even though I'm not that hungry.

120 sounds like a good weight for someone between 5'4" and 5'5" so if you're that height then maybe your body is telling you that you need to be that weight to be healthy.

I wonder if there is a height to weight scale. . . You are probably right.  I don't think I would have a problem with 120 if I hadn't previously been five pounds lighter. It makes me think that I am actually supposed to be lighter and the five pounds is extra that needs to come off. Blah, blah, blah. I am annoying myself. Starting to sound silly. You all are correct. I should just be content. I think I always have "freak outs" when I gain a pound for no apparent reason. thanks for the support. . . .

The BMI calculator on this site should give you a good indication of your overall weight vs height ratio.

If you are an athlete, however, it will not give you an accurate reading.

lk1234...I maintain by eating around 1800 calories a day.  And, that includes the days I workout.  I typically have a huge deficit in my diet but I'm not losing any weight, nor am I gaining.  I've been the same weight now for about a year.  I'm 5'7" and 135-140. 

I have to admit, there are days (like weekends) where I'll eat around 2500 because I've gone out or had a few drinks (usually wine).  But, I'm doing an awful lot of running right now.  I tend to not get too hungry doing that.

Now, in May, I'll be picking up the pace quite a bit because it will be after the marathon and onto the training schedule for my Ironman competition in Madison, Wisconsin.  An Ironman is a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and marathon...all in one day.  It'll be my fourth and I'm psyched about it!  On my really long training days where I'm riding 100 miles and running 10 (on the same day), I'll likely consume near 3,500 calories.  But, I'll also burn a ton.  Every body is different.  I know people who consume close to 5,000 calories doing similar workouts to mine.  My husband eats far less...he consumes about 2,000 calories.  However, I have to confess, 75 percent of my calories on those days are carbs.  I need them.

You should create a profile so that we can get to know you a bit more.  Good luck with the running.  It really does get to be fun...and a bit obsessive!