So, I know this will not be the most popular post of all times. I know that some people feel that those who can’t keep weight ON have it easy – but, that’s really not true.

I am one who has had trouble throughout the years with keeping a good weight (meaning not being too thin). I think the issue has a few underlying causes: first, I have a very high metabolism; second, I am and have always been really active; and third, I don’t really take the time to count calories the way that I should.

When I start training for distances, my weight instantly drops. In the past I didn’t pay much attention to this but, let me tell you, once you get close to forty you don’t want to be uber-thin. Wrinkles show much easier when you are older and skinnier.

Actually, much like friends of mine who have been unhappy with an extra ten or twenty pounds, I am unhappy having to always work on keeping my weight up.

So, now this has become a concentrated effort on my part. As I train for this next marathon, I need to make certain I keep my weight steady.

For some reason, in Georgia on our house hunting trip I lost a few pounds. I don’t know if it was the heat, the humidity, or the fact that I got so sick that day. Since being home, I have not done any long runs (I was supposed to do 11 yesterday morning but since the wee one was sick I did only 4 miles). Still, my weight has not gotten back to pre-Georgia weight and is hovering at 134. I was at 135, but in all reality wouldn’t mind going up a few more pounds.

I thought I’d keep a journal of all I eat and how much I exercise to see what I can do to increase my weight at least by four or five pounds. Maybe keeping track of it will make me more able to see what it is I need to be doing to push that weight up. I know I could always add a high-caloric snack or two a day, but in all honesty I’m not a sweets eater, so that is tough. I also don’t like red meat, and generally eat fish or chicken, and some meals keep vegetarian with lots of beans. The beans make up my protein but, of course, don’t add a lot of fat or calories to the meal.

So, here goes my attempt at food journaling. I have been bad about this in the past, but this is my goal.

According to my Garmin, I burned 1880 calories last week running and 1600 some this week running. I haven’t been swimming and biking, so that would add another 300-600 calories burned per week.

I have found that Sparkpeople.com really is a great way to keep track of calories, so that is how I am going to do this. I’ll list my foods that I eat and the exercises I do here, and I’ll keep track of calories by using Sparkpeople to add them up. I have a tendency to snack all day here and there, a handful of nuts, a banana, a hard boiled egg, so I’ll try to be really careful to write it all down so I have an accurate account.

I’m wondering if any other people out there who have this same issue – keeping weight up with a highly active training schedule – can offer some advice as well.

So far today, which is my day off from exercise, I have had:

Breakfast:
bowl of oatmeal at Cornery Bakery (strawberries, bananas, apples, oh yum!)
piece of rye toast
two cups of hot java!
few bites of cinnamon muffin

Snack:
Homemade apple sauce (my daughters and I made it today after watching a show the other day where they made it – it was yummy!)

Lunch:
Turkey and cheese sandwich, cup or so of grapes

Snack:
Banana with peanut butter

Dinner:
Chicken breast (grilled) sandwich
fresh tomatoes and basil from garden (yum!)
fresh cucumbers from garden
carrots
french fries

UPDATED:
I put in my food for the day at Spark People and this is what I found:

I ate a total of 2,267 calories today.
345 carbs/68 fat/ 86 protein
This breaks down to : 59% carbs, 14% proteins, 26% fat.

I probably had a bit more than this, as I know I snacked on a handful of nuts here and there, but without having a chance to write everything down as I do it, it is hard to go back and remember.

So, to maintain my weight I would need to remain around 1500-1800 calories. To gain a pound, I’d have to add 250 calories each day to that amount, 3,500 calories per week, or around 2000 or so per day.

The issue is that I always burn at least 250 a day and most days much more-anywhere from 300 (half hour run or swim) to at this time in training 1,100 (11 mile run). I just don’t know how to get those extra calories in the diet. I already eat constantly as it is!

I wound up doing my ab and arm exercises today because I am hoping to get up early tomorrow and do a seven mile run (or so). With that I doubt I will have time to come home and do abs and arms. No cardio today, other than playing soccer with the girls! And that wore me out!

Now, I’m off to bed. We have had such a busy week with the sick wee one that I need some rest!