I’m linking up today with my great friends at Tuesdays On The Run! You really must head over to the link-up and check out all the bloggers with all the words. They are remarkable humans.
Recently, I got a Fit Bit. I anxiously watched all the fun data that came in – I celebrated every time I got to that coveted 10,000 step mark and, even when at work, would give a little “woohoo” when that display gave me my happy little fireworks to commemorate the daily occasion.
But after a few weeks, I noticed a shocking trend.
On days when I ran, and in particular on days when I ran LONG, I got FEWER steps.
Wait, What? How is that possible?!?!
What did it mean? Well, I may not have a degree in exercise physiology, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out.
After long runs, I am LAZY.
And what’s worse is that after long runs I am LAZY and STARVING. Which meant that not only was I not doing anything to help my weight on my long running days, I was actually WORSE OFF from a calorie burning perspective (almost) then if I had never run at all.
It was like a huge, lazy-assed light bulb went off and I realized why I have gained weight during every training cycle ever and why the weight gain has been highest when I’m training for a marathon. The truth, the hard, awful, no bagel and cream cheese truth, is that you actually CAN’T get away with doing nothing and eating whatever you want just because you went for a 10 or 12 or 15 mile long run.
Add this to the list of the world’s most unfair things.
So, this time, as I train for a half and hope to shed a few pounds (not GAIN them), I am going to do better. I’m going to still walk the dog, maybe clean the house (I’m just kidding let’s not go crazy), or at the very least park a few spots further away at the Le Madeline.
My hope is that the extra steps on the running days will help me maintain or maybe even loose and will get that Fit Bit past 10K steps on ALL the days, not just the non-running ones.
The more you know.
Ugh – I hear you. It’s sooo not fair!! I’m 8 weeks into marathon training and have definitely gained weight. Even though I’m doing more exercise than I ever have in my entire life!! But my diet really sucks – brownies, ice cream and lots of peanut butter on bagels. I need to get it under control before my weight goes up even more!
Good luck with the marathon training! It’s so hard to keep track of my eating when I’m putting in that kind of mileage. And also, too, now I want brownies and ice cream.
YES things have changed dramatically with this years marathon training. I used to think that I deserved some sort of food reward after a 15, 16, 17 mile plus run. This year? Not so much. Just eating normal meals, nothing extra greasy and fatty and fruit when the runger hits. no weight gain so far and I’m happy with that!
That is HUGE, Nellie! You are rocking those miles – I am very impressed by you!
On my non-running days, my step count is often abysmal. I have been promising myself to eat healthier starting this month but I still struggle! Hope it all goes well!
That’s where I need to focus – as long as I stick with eating clean, the calories don’t add up as quickly and I can curb my hunger. Thanks for reading!
I recently got a fitbit and I love getting my weekly email to see my stats. I am always way beyond 10,000 on days I run and when I don’t since I am a server. But I also am lazy when I don’t work after my long runs and just want to veg the rest of the day.
Yeah, I’m in retail so it’s pretty easy to get those steps in at work! It’s those long run days with no work that I get into trouble.
3 rescue pups, really? We have 2; one is a recent addition and man, he’s been a crapload of work and is keeping me up at night far too often. Good thing he’s also sweet.
I walk the dogs on most days I run — occasionally not on long run days just because when I can run with my group, I just have to get up far too early (although I did it last summer when one of my dogs was in heart failure and couldn’t tolerate heat at all).
Anyhoo . . . my run days I definitely get in more steps than my none-run days, but it’s also really easy to be lazy afterwards. My vivoactive beeps when I’ve been inactive too long — sometimes that helps 😉
Yup, my fit bit does, too. I have just gotten really good at ignoring it! And I need to update that as we lost our oldest rescue in November. She was the best dog ever!
I guess I’m cheating by using my vivofit and my Garmin at the same time… I try to keep up my steps on a rest day but it’s hard… I’m 10 days away from my marathon and all I want to do is REST, DRINK BEER and EAT. Not necessarily in that order. I’m trying to work on my diet a bit more this time around but it’s tough. I’m trying to find a balance. I just recently went to a sports dietician so I hope she can help me pull all of this together. Just keep trying to hit your goal daily, maybe walk the perimeter of the supermarket a few times, park the car farther away, take some stairs… it all counts!
Right? It DOES all count! And before I was a distance runner I seriously never even would have known this was a thing, but clearly I am not alone:). Thanks for reading!
I’m right there with you sister! It’s only reasonable to expect to kick back a little and refuel (maybe a lot) after those long runs. Apparently now that I’m “of a certain age” I can subsist on air. Ugh. My step count goes to hell on days I don’t run.
Uh, yes, I should have been clear that none of this was a problem even 5 years ago! Age definitely plays a role. Stupid age;).
I totally take advantage and usually chill after a good long run. Either that, or I walk alllll the miles after. It is always one extreme or the other!
Yeah, I tend to be at either one end of the spectrum or the other. The truth is, though, I really do feel better if I move more after a long run. Sitting makes me tighten up! Thanks for reading!
Very good insight. I am in th emiddle of marathon training and did not want to gain weight, so I signed up for a 6 week carb cycling program, and I have definitely lost weight and kept with my training. Bye bye belly fat ! I am feeling so great about it.
That is a fabulous idea and not one I think many would even consider! I’ve thought about working with a nutritionist during marathon training. And hurray to no more belly fat! That’s what I’m trying to shed as well. It’s that 40 something middle – I’ve never had weight there before! Again, UNFAIR;).