Weight loss while training for 1/2 marathon?

Question
Hi Lela!
I'm 21 years old, 5'2" and have gained weight over the past year, from 112 to 118.  I know it isn't much weight, and as my measurements have not changed I am suspecting it may even be muscle gain.

My diet is a bit messed up.  As the Subject explains, I'm training for a half marathon in September (using Hal Higgin's program) and I actually just completed the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia (in 1:27:33 - my first race!).  I have some issues with eating to fuel workouts and training... and am unsure how many calories I should be consuming.  Right now I eat around 1600-1800 calories a day, but it's usually mostly in the evening.  Breakfast is usually 1 egg and 1 egg white with sprouted grain toast and coffee (unless I'm going on a short run; then I skip breakfast).  Then I usually only have time for a granola bar for lunch and then maybe a piece of fruit and some almonds around 3.  By dinner, I'm starving... and I eat healthy foods such as salmon, tilapia, chicken, salads, sweet potatoes once in a while, broccoli, spinach, whole grain breads... I eat a "normal" dinner, but then I am ravnous until I go to bed.  Sometimes I even wake up in the middle of the night and eat... leading me to restrict calories the next day. On nights when I wake up and eat, my daily calories can get up to like 3000. It's no good.

I feel like I wouldn't be waking up and eating if I knew how to eat better throughout the day.  I'm scared to start eating more during the day, however, because what if I still wake up and eat at night?? Then it will be even MORE calories..

Here is the thing with the half marathon training - I don't want to be gaining weight, because it is harder for me to run when I have more weight on me.  My measurments are 31"-23.5"-35.5", so I know I am in no way "over weight."  I'm not really concerned with LOSING weight, I just don't want to keep gaining; and ultimately, I need to know how to eat to better fuel my running and prevent me from binging in the middle of the night! (it's not emotional eating either... I am sure I am simply HUNGRY.  I crave things like peanut butter and whole grain toast.. sometimes I'll have Tastykake cupcakes, but it's usually healthy food instead - just too much of it)

Well, sorry that was like a novel! I really want to be feeling my best for the half marathon.  Any advice you can offer would be amazing!

Thank you! :)

Answer
Shannon,
The weight that you are gaining is muscle, and you will never be able to accomplish your physical goal (running marathons) if you restrict your calories based on your weight!

My suggestion is to THROW YOUR SCALE AWAY. Judge yourself on how your clothes fit, not on how much you weigh. Your body needs food to have the building blocks to recover from your workouts. It is EVIL of you not to feed yourself. No more skipping meals- For any reason- Ever. You work out too hard to ever be hungry!

BTW I weighed 15 pounds more than I do now at one point and I was a size smaller- weight doesn't mean a thing when you are very fit!

Hope this Helps,
Lela Simon
http://www.lelasimonwellness.com

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