Endurance Training and Weight Loss
Discussion
popeyewhite said:
Not quite correct - the principle here is that the body will adapt to the rigours of training and will NOT need extra calories. It's possible the OP is ignoring the "NOT need calories" bit 
In truth most endurance runners I know, and I know a lot, have tiny appetites.
I'm a fairly successful endurance runner (Masters age-group team world champion) and often train with international athletes - we all have big appetites, but run big miles too. It's all about balancing the energy requirements with the training requirements. In truth most endurance runners I know, and I know a lot, have tiny appetites.If the OP is interested in food for endurance training the book "Training Food" by Renee McGregor is excellent. Explains the science, and provides great recipes.
ewenm said:
I'm a fairly successful endurance runner (Masters age-group team world champion) and often train with international athletes - we all have big appetites, but run big miles too.
Funnily enough I know a Masters age group team world champ..trains out of Crewe. He thinks he eats a lot, but he doesn't. His diet is actually slightly less calories than normal for a man of his age. I know powerlifters with appetites that would astonish you.. but to them it's nothing. All relative of course.
I read "Training Food" by Renee McGregor. Its a good book but still quite dogmatic with "you need a f
k ton of carbs". I prefer to use fewer carbs and consume them only around training.
I am back on track, have lost another stone and still continuing to improve my times in all events (obvs running improvement a lot comes from the weight loss) but I am back on top form swimming and my bike FTP has improved too.
Interestingly I think as I have got fitter my body has got much better at burning fat. This morning I did 17km, rolling terrain at 6:08 km/mile pace on an empty stomach. Some days it is hard to actually eat enough. Yesterday I did a tough 4km swim and 70 mins Z2 bike. Garmin said 2200 calories for them, I added 1400 to MFP but that is still 3000 cals with a 500 cal deficit to fill. Easy if you go for a pizza or couple of Mars bars but hard to eat that amount of fruit, veg, wholegrains and lean meat.
I am having one cheat day a week where I go nuts and then avoiding all sugar and refined carbs the other 6 days.
Bit worried that I might be losing weight too fast and it being muscle not fat, but my body fat is decreasing and as my times are improving I don't think I need to worry.
I weigh the lowest I have in a decade, set 3 running PBs this year, blood pressure is perfect (Was a little high when really fat).
Need a new set of clothes though.
k ton of carbs". I prefer to use fewer carbs and consume them only around training.I am back on track, have lost another stone and still continuing to improve my times in all events (obvs running improvement a lot comes from the weight loss) but I am back on top form swimming and my bike FTP has improved too.
Interestingly I think as I have got fitter my body has got much better at burning fat. This morning I did 17km, rolling terrain at 6:08 km/mile pace on an empty stomach. Some days it is hard to actually eat enough. Yesterday I did a tough 4km swim and 70 mins Z2 bike. Garmin said 2200 calories for them, I added 1400 to MFP but that is still 3000 cals with a 500 cal deficit to fill. Easy if you go for a pizza or couple of Mars bars but hard to eat that amount of fruit, veg, wholegrains and lean meat.
I am having one cheat day a week where I go nuts and then avoiding all sugar and refined carbs the other 6 days.
Bit worried that I might be losing weight too fast and it being muscle not fat, but my body fat is decreasing and as my times are improving I don't think I need to worry.
I weigh the lowest I have in a decade, set 3 running PBs this year, blood pressure is perfect (Was a little high when really fat).
Need a new set of clothes though.
100kg is heavy but at 6ft 5 and a big build it doesn't sound like you're in dangerous health territory so if you're able to do the exercise you want and eat the diet you enjoy then give yourself a break and concentrate on being happy and not chasing numbers, you're never going to be Alistair Brownlee.
You don't need to do a lot of miles to loose weight. Id take zero notice of the garmin or whatever on how many calories burned. Weighing yourself is a guide but can also lead you up the garden path.
Take a photo of yourself every Monday morning + you will know if clothes fit differently. You look at yourself in the mirror these are the best ways to see what you are doing is working.
Just track everything you eat + drink I find that's the most important bit, be accurate with how you do it use scales to weigh food. If you find you don't loose weight either drop the calories slightly or up the workout slightly.
Take a photo of yourself every Monday morning + you will know if clothes fit differently. You look at yourself in the mirror these are the best ways to see what you are doing is working.
Just track everything you eat + drink I find that's the most important bit, be accurate with how you do it use scales to weigh food. If you find you don't loose weight either drop the calories slightly or up the workout slightly.
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