LESS Hunger (Judgement)

My running nutrition coach told me to eat like a marathoner for a least two days after my race (Moore, n.d.). I guess I thought that meant my hunger would decrease significantly thereafter. That has not been the case. Rather, despite my rapidly reduce mileage, I have been very, very hungry.

I judged my hunger as "too much," which made me feel yucky eating "so much," but then again, I hate being hungry, so I ate to satiation anyway. And so I decided my LESS this month would be to judge my hunger less, to eat intuitively, and see what happened.

My running nutrition coach told me that I needed to fuel better, and I was (Moore, n.d.). I started implementing more of her suggestions post race (to make sure that they did not upset my stomach as I finished training). I expected that increasing my consumption of things like healthy fats and more whole foods would lead to increased satiety. Not so. Even with adding in all these thngs, I still felt very hungry. And so I ate, and ate some more.

My running nutrition coach warned me that I would gain weight as I fueled better. I had already gained a bit of weight by the time of my marathon. What I didn't expect was for it to continue, at a rather rapid pace. It was fine. I could stand to gain weight. It just didn't feel good.

Instead of judging my hunger, I tried to be curious. I played around with timing of my meals, meal composition, etc. A few times, I experienced less hunger, but overall, it was high. Maybe my stomach was just used to being more full, and it needed some time to constrict back to its normal size? (How do you convince your body you no longer need as many calories after the marathon?, 2024). A few times, I tried to eat not quite to satiety, what I "used to" eat when I was running less, but that didn't feel good either. I was pretty terrified of getting an underfueling injury if I ate too little. I wanted to get back to training. So I just ate. 

I researched explanations for my hunger. I heard on a podcast (and then later read) that increased hunger, even when training less can be a result of underfueling (Alm, 2026, Senior-Runner, 2025). My nutrition coach did tell me that she thought I was underfueling, so maybe that was it. (I wasn't losing weight, so I thought I was okay. I guess not.) I read about post-race weight gain due to inflammation, but that didn't explain my hunger, or the fact that I seemed to be continuing to put on weight over a month post race (Krapcha, 2024). I saw on Reddit that weight gain is common in the back half of marathon training, and afterward (Becka_Swan, 2026). I even saw on one forum that it is normal for weight to go up for months post marathon, and then eventually stabilize (JRMischler, 2017). I assume hunger being higher would go along with that. I also saw the hypothesis that longer running efforts just made the body hang onto more to be "safe" (SpinorsSpin4, 2026). That all made sense.

In the end, I wanted to run more than I wanted to be back to my "old self," so I worked on hunger acceptance. This is not my old self. This is a new, two-marathon run body. Maybe I've gained muscle. (I did up my dumbbells to 15 pounds again, but I am still only training strength about twice a week.) (Hnatiuk, 2023; MankyPants, 2025). Maybe I've gained fat. Whichever, whatever the case, I need to honor hunger. While here at the end of the month, it has seemed to abate some, I am also returning to training more, which means I need to eat more. I said I was going to do the work to fuel better, and I guess this is all part of it. So here's not to less hunger, but to less judgement of it; to honoring it and seeing what it feeds.

References:

Alm, M. (Host). (2026, February 13). Q&A with Maddie - 24. (S2 E03) [Audio podcast episode]. Fueling forward. https://rss.com/podcasts/fuelingforwardpodcast/2545725/

[Becka_Swan]. (2026, February 26). Have done 2 marathons now - with both I lost a little bit as I started ramping up, but then when [Comment on the online forum post Have you gained or lost weight when marathon training?] Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/XXRunning/comments/1rf3225/have_you_gained_or_lost_weight_when_marathon/

Hnatiuk, S. (Host). (2023, November 11). Why you're gaining weight (despite so much running!). [Audio podcast episode]. The fuel run recover podcast. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/stephanie-hnatiuk/episodes/Why-Youre-Gaining-Weight-despite-doing-so-much-running-e27kg16

How do you convince your body you no longer need as many calories after the marathon? (2024). [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Marathon_Training/comments/1cncxa2/how_do_you_convince_your_body_you_no_longer_need/

[JRMischler]. (2017, February 10).  I normally gain about 5 to 8 lbs in the 3 to 4 months after a marathon.  During that time [Comment on the online forum post Post-Marathon Bloat/Weight Gain]. Running ahead. https://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/1009a4b2c6754233964e5ecc838cff81

Krapcha, K. (2024, February 26). Run tri mag. https://runtrimag.com/weight-gain-after-ultramarathon/

[MankyPants]. (2025). Ha! I gained 10kg, and I’m petite. It happens. On the upside I’ve run multiple PBs during my training and [Comment on the online forum post Feeling lost after my marathon, struggling with binge eating and unsure about London next year]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Marathon_Training/comments/1omrj9c/feeling_lost_after_my_marathon_struggling_with/

Moore, E. (n.d.). The Dietitian Runner. https://thedietitianrunner.com/

[Senior-Running]. (2025). My initial reaction here is that you're overthinking this?

You mention a difference in mileage of 25 miles in a [Comment on the online forum post Struggling with hunger after a training block]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Marathon_Training/comments/1njbwb6/comment/nep36rs/

[SpinorsSpin4]. (2026, February 16). I gain weight when my volume gets higher too. I think when I'm consistently doing longer efforts, my body just [Comment on the online forum post Does anyone else gain weight when running more?]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultramarathon/comments/1r6fcte/does_anyone_else_gain_weight_when_running_more/

Ten Ways to Cope with Crippling Anxiety

The crippling fear. The tightness in your chest. The feeling that at any moment you might panic and lose it. Yes, I know these things. Though I have never experienced a full blown panic attack that I know of, I have for years struggled with anxiety. I've taken medications. I (still) take supplements. I try manage lifestyle factors and exercise, and still sometimes anxiety takes me surprise. It tries to knock me down, but by God's grace, I try to cope. Here are at least ten of the ways I do so:

1) Talk about it. A college professor told me that Satan has power over what we keep in darkness. So vulnerable as talking is, and often with embarrassment, I talk, usually to my husband, sometimes to my mom, sometimes to a trusted friend. I don't broadcast my struggle to everyone who needs to know, because that wouldn't be helpful. But someone needs to know.

2) Drown it out. There is a time and place for coping with anxiety, but sometimes I just need to drown out the noise in my head with something else: sermons, podcasts, music, my own singing, you name it. I just need noise.

3) Walk. Exercise can become compulsive, especially when you struggle with anxiety, but in moderation, it helps. The simple movement of putting one foot in front of the other reminds me that I can keep moving in life as well.

4) Get some sunshine. This kind of goes with the above, but sometimes the Vitamin D helps.

5) Eat. I didn't know that anxiety can be a sign of hunger until I read Rachael Hartley's blog post. If I am feeling unreasonably anxious, especially in the morning before breakfast, I try to stop what I am doing and eat. That often helps, if not takes care of that particular version of crippling anxiety.

6) Sleep. Not always possible, but sometimes just laying down helps calm my nervous system. Bonus if you have a weighted blanket. I am not sure if there is empirical validation for using weighted blankets with anxiety, but they are warm and comforting and keep me still, again, calming my nervous system.

7) Self-talk. I tell myself, "This too shall pass." I tell myself that I can keep going, that it will get better. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. It's worth a shot.

8) Get a hug. Did you know that hugs release the feel-good chemical oxytocin? Not everyone is privileged to be around safe people who give hugs, but if you have those people in your life, use them!

9) Phone (or text) a friend. I am blessed with a few friends who really get anxiety, mostly because they've been there, or are there themselves. If I reach out to them, they can empathize and often encourage and pray with me. They make me feel less alone.

10) Look to the Lord! Pray. Access the truths of the Bible. Recite those truths over yourself. Work to believe that there is a power greater than anxiety (because there is!) And if you do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, let your anxiety drive you to him for saving faith.

Is my anxiety crippling*? It feels that way. It tries to tell me I am unable to go forward. (That's the definition of crippling.) The truth is that, most days, my anxiety is not crippling. It is debilitating, sure, but I can walk with a limp. And when I walk with a limp, I can somehow get to the next place. And that's what I'm trying to do when coping with anxiety. I am trying to get to the next place, to the next season, to a place of greater functioning. These strategies help.

*Some anxiety truly is crippling and utterly debilitating. Always seek professional help when this is the case, preferably before an all out crisis emerges. Sometimes our brains need medication to calm the anxiety down. Sometimes we need therapy. Sometimes we need biblical counseling. Sometimes we need mentoring. Please seek all and any of these services as you see fit. My sharing is in no way to replace or supersede professional advice, or to in any way make you feel guilty for whatever (healthy) coping skills you use to deal with anxiety.