Fitness

I've always been a runner, but I do it because it makes me feel good and I don't necessarily push myself to go farther, longer, or faster.  So I normally run about 2 miles on average.  I also go through phases where I will run for a few months and then I might just not run at all for a week or two.  Anyway, I'm trying to lose a few extra pounds I've put on and I can't no matter how I try to.  I diet without running and stay the same weight (fluctuating by a pound or two) and now I'm running and dieting and I actually gained weight.  Is this just muscle weight?  If it's muscle weight wouldn't I notice my fat slimming away?  I don't look or feel any skinnier but I have gained weight.

Is it possible that my body is storing away fat because I'm not eating enough calories to fuel my body with my activity level?

Should I push myself while I'm running to burn more calories so I can lose fat or keep doing what I'm doing and see if it works?

It's not really possible for you to gain muscle weight from running. You're certainly not going to gain it if you're eating under your daily calories because that's impossible. I would seriously do a recheck of what you've been eating because something is not adding up.

You didn't say how much weight you've been gaining. If it's small amount, our bodies fluctuate a lot. I mean if you're a woman, forget about it. I'll gain and lose 5lbs of bloaty weight once a month.

Hate to sound like a broken record, but weights are much better for losing fat than cardio. Someone less lazy than I will post all the studies to prove it.

 

You left out the only 2 pieces of information that make any difference in weight loss, how many calories you're eating, and how many calories you're burning.

I've changed my diet over the last two weeks and am drinking two shakes a day (breakfast & lunch) in replacement for those two meals.  So the only meal I eat is dinner for the most part. With other protien snacks here and there, peanuts, or a banana, sometimes a wheat roll.  I eat healthy things when/if I snack.  I don't take in more the 2000 calories a day and I run between 2 and 3 miles everyday or every other day, depending.  I'm 5'6'' and weight 134lbs which is a healthy weight for me but I put on ten pounds when I went to college and would like to get rid of it.  I'm pretty active throughout the day and my running should burn about 200 plus calories on top of what your body burns naturally.

Sorry to leave this information out in my first post.

I weigh the same as you, and for our weight we burn around 1800 calories...maybe you should try for a couple hundred less calories, because 2 miles of running can't make up for a poor diet. Plus too much protein isn't going to magically give you muscle. Try eating real meals and not just meal replacemtns. Also try zigzagging your calories like eating 1500 one day, 1800 the next, 1400 after that, etc.

Although spirochete is right, and weights are great for fat loss, if I were you I definitely wouldn't give up on the running (I say this because I love to run). Lifting is good too, but running is such a great way to not only lose weight but explore your area, spend some time in nature, and connect with yourself. If you're only out to lose weight maybe that doesn't matter so much, but I think you can easily fit both weight training and running into your schedule (I do!).

Anyway, you probably need to run a little more if you want to lose weight. By "always been a  runner" do you mean you've always run 2 miles or you used to run XC or something? Because, 2 miles probably won't do it. Last year I started running again after a hiatus and could only do about 2 miles at first too. Now I'm up to 5 a few times a week with cross training on my days off (biking, spinning, hiking, swimming). And the more frequently and farther that I have ran, the more that I have lost. 

If distance isn't your thing, try intervals. Go to a local track and sprint 400m (a lap) and walk 400m, etc.... Shake it up. Run the bleachers. Do push ups and sit ups in between. Intervals supposedly help a lot and I try to do something like this once a week and trust me---it's really hard!

Also, if I were you I would eat real food. Liquid shakes might have the same calories or protein but honestly I know I am never full if I don't get some real food (and real chewing!), lol.

Hope that helped!! Good luck with your running :)

Thank you both!  You have great advice.  When I say I've "always been a runner" I mean since I was in the 5th grade I've been doing independent running, because I also love running.  I want to run longer but I also have a problem where I don't sweat the way that I should (my mom is the same way), I rarely sweat at all and I drink water like it's going out of style so that's not the reason.  So I overheat extremely easily.  I know I could increase my mileage if I went up slowly but I'm not sure how much patience I have, I always leave the house thinking "today's the day I'm going to push myself to be better" but then after 2 to 2 1/2 miles I'm ready to throw in the towel.  Anyway, thank you for your wisdoms.  I will try cutting back on calories and switching my intake up a little bit.

I've read in a health magazine that if you want to lose weight with running, you have to slowly increase your distance over time, but no more than a few minutes per week to avoid injury.  I'm a runner too, and although I've maintained my weight I haven't lost any.  Even if you stop runner for a week or two, you have to start running longer distances, or you could try interval training (slow/fast/slow/fast) to boost your metabolism.  That would probably work best if you can't seem to make it past 2.5 miles.  My running is always off.  There will be days where an 8 miler is a piece of cake, and then a few days later 3 miles is a struggle.  If you're having trouble with the heat, maybe you should try swimming in the summer, or going to an air conditioned gym so you can work out longer.  I live in Kansas where the summer's are unbearably hot and humid..I try to stick to indoor running as much as possible during these months, so maybe you can run longer when it's cooler outside.  Hope this helped.

Your body has probably gotten used to your running routine and is no longer burning as many calories as you think it is.  You need to change up your routine a little. And you should definitely add in strength training, if all you do is run that is the best way to LOSE your muscle, which is just a horrible cycle you do not even want to begin

As you get older your body changes in hormones and effectiveness of exercises as well...I have found that changing my routine workouts helps instead of running which has worked for you in the past have you thought of taking up swimming or other types of workouts?...your body has gotten used to running so in order to burn calories you may need to change your type of workout. It thinks of running as the same old, same old and doesn't need to take that extra effort to do anymore...