Weight gain - started running

[jmscp2015]

Ok so I've started the couch to 5k and have been tracking calories, but I've gained weight? Is this normal?

I'm 8 months PP and my stomach has definitely reduced in size and 'lifted' so when I weighed myself I was really surprised and somewhat disappointed

TIA

I think running can make you more toned but without reducing calories it can be hard to lose weight.

It could be a lot of things - starting a new exercise can cause water retention in your muscles which will go pretty quickly. You're also likely to retain water just before your period.

Are you tracking food and exercise calories?

If you are more toned and clothes are fitting better, does the number on the scale matter?

If it does, weigh yourself at consistent times, first thing in the morning, no more than once a week. Water retention etc can amount for up to 3/4lbs of fluctuation (either way). I second what PP have posted about calories, myfitnesspal is great for monitoring your intake. When used properly (no cheating) you'll be surprised at how few calories you really need.

I did the whole C25k programme and, from about half way through, had comments of "you've lost weight" or "you're looking great" type thing. By the end of the programme, I had gone down a dress size but had stubbornly remained at 10st4 the entire time (I'm 5'4" so that's only just within a healthy BMI). When I added doing the 30day shred on my non-running days and cut my food intake right down (I seem to recall I mainly ate vegetables), then I gradually lost weight. It was definitely a case of staying away from the scales and looking at your clothes instead.

My advice would be to take your measurements and to count your loss in inches instead of in weight. I find weight to be a very dangerous thing to monitor and people can easily because depressed or obsessed when trying to lose weight, it's much better for you to track the inches lost and this shows you that what you're doing is having a positive effect on you physically.

Of course this is only my opinion and doesn't work for everyone, but I don't actually know how much I weigh and haven't weighed myself in years, after becoming obsessed with weighing myself and doing so at least 5 times a day.

I've done couch to 5k and now regularly run three times a week
I'm pretty similar in weight to before (about 60kg) on the scales but am so much more toned and get lots of nice comments about my figure. My legs arms and Tummy particularly have improved loads with running.

Running to lose weight without restricting calories won't ever cause significant results unless you are burning at least 600 calories per session for 5 sessions a week, ie putting in serious miles.

Running is fantastic for overall health and this is what I would focus on.

I'm using MFP and counting calories yes, and not eating a load of crap, healthy meals etc. I've got a lot to lose, although the running is more for fitness / health than weight loss primarily, I still expected I would of lost something by now, not gained it!

Maybe it is water retention, thank you. Will keep plugging away anyway, I'm actually starting to enjoy it

Also will take measurements today and track those from now on too!

Thank you all.

You're not going to lose weight from couch to 5k. Any weight fluctuations will be from change in diet and/or water retention. Try to think of therunning in terms of general health and fitness, and focus on the diet for weight loss.

Couch to 5k is great to get you into running but the distances and speeds you're likely to be doing will not be enough to make a noticeable difference to your weight. Eating at a calorie deficit will though. You just have to be scrupulous about tracking your calories, and be patient. Adding in some resistance training or HIIT workouts could make a noticeable difference to your body shape, although again, it may not make you actually lose weight, especially if you develop a bit of muscle tone. (It will make you healthier and look better though.) Once you have completed C25k, if you keep running at least three times a week and gradually increase your speed and distance, you will eventually start burning enough calories through running for it to help you lose weight.

Thank you I have done it primarily for fitness and health so that's not a bother and it's understandable it's not going to make me lose weight, I was just quite baffled that I'd gained it to be honest!

OP - this happened to me. I started running about 18 months ago and now routinely run 3 times a week.
I initially had a weight gain which I put down to building muscle in my legs that hadn’t done much for many years. For the same volume, muscle is heavier than fat so in the early days you build muscle but don’t lose much fat and so get a weight gain.
Eventually I lost about a stone but better than that, quite a lot of bulk and have dropped a trouser size.
Previous posters are right about watching what you eat. At best, running while on low calorie diet seems to work well. At worst, running while partying/celebrating etc just offsets everything.
Keep going - I’m sure you’ll see a weight loss soon!

Yes, I put on a stone in my first year running but dropped a dress size. Keep going, enjoy getting and feeling fit and ignore the scales. Becoming a runner is the best thing that's ever happened to me (sorry DC )