Weight Change

Ummmm, muscle?

I figure that's only part of the story. Is there something that happens, normally, from ages 19 to 31 that would cause a 15-20 pound weight gain, while not gaining body fat.

I don't know your whole story, but I have the same problem. I think maybe it is in college and high school you have to walk to classes and you are probably a lot more active with things that don't show up on a running log.

In college I ate all kinds of junk, but I walked a ton and played other sports. Now, I eat healthy, but sit at a desk all day.

Just my two cents.

Metabolism...that's what it all boils down to.

A young adult (18 - 25 years old) has a hell of a lot faster metabolism than someone in their mid 30's.

I agree that metabolism is a big factor, but my body fat percentage is not that high and my pants size is still pretty close.

Some people just continue to mature and add muscle even after college. I weighed 119 in college and now weigh 133. I'm not fat. I'm not taller. Just not quite so boyish. I have more muscle all over than I didn't have then.

Last night on The Tonight Show, Pete Sampras was a guest. He's 31 now. They had a clip of him when he was 19 on with Carson after he won his first US Open. He looked like a little twig compared to the Pete Sampras of today, and Sampras is not fat at all.

Eat well and run and don't worry about the weight unless you start to get fat.

You sound just like me. I ran in college at 145. I am now 160. I eat much healthier now and my % body fat is low. Same pant size. Bottom line, my body changed. My shoulders are broader and my chest is a bit thicker. I too stopped running for 10 years and I am no longer the frail runner I used to be.

Stepay, I'm sure you're right-on. I just wonder if I were college weight, would I be faster. Or does the additional muscle add to running strength.

Thanks

You said - "Stepay, I'm sure you're right-on."

Pretty much that could be the answer to any of my posts! :-)

Not sure about the added weight thing. I'm sure that optimally there is the perfect balance of weight and muscle mass, but I don't know what that is.

Doug-

How long have you been back at it? How does your performance compare to HS/College?

Stepay, I guess I was asking for that.

David:

I am back at it seriously for about 10 months(As serious as you can be with a family, career and mortgage). I got as heavy as 186lbs (Jan 2002) (now 158-160, 6'0"). Times are definitely slower. I lost my aerobic capacity/economy over time, but it is coming back. Leg speed is still strong (53 sec 400m in June), but now training for a marathon and trying to develop aerobic capacity/economy has sapped me of a little speed. However, I do feel stronger with more muscle. When I tire toward the end of a race/time trial, I feel like my upper body strength can help carry me through. I may never be as fast as I was, but everyday I work toward the goal of catching my younger self.

Doug, what marathon are you training for?

Don't worry brother. You'll see that I don't slam people here. I'm all about a good time - that's it.

Chicago Marathon 18 days away!!!

Guys, I am or was in the same boat as you. But look in the nooks and crannies of your body and you'll probably see they've been filled with fat. Everyone tells us we are skinny and we tend to believe it. Put ourselves next to the high school and college runners and you'll see the difference. Bullshit on the filling out with age stuff other than it is simply fat. My 2 cents.

I'll agree that for the most part you are right, but it isn't true for everyone. Again, I go back to the Pete Sampras example. Say what you want, but that man is fit as they come, and he has next to no fat on him yet I bet he is at least 15-20 pounds heavier than when he was a 19-year-old. But mostly you are right.

Getting Skinny:

You are wrong!!! Clearly my body changed. At age 22, I was still maturing. My hips were wider than my shoulders. I looked like a teenager, still somewhat out of proportion. Some people mature later than others. My %body fat is still what it was in HS/College.

Dougruns26,

Just so we're clear, I fully believe that what you are saying happened to you happened to you. I've known guys who actually got taller until about age 25, so there has to be the ability to mature while perhaps not getting taller while in your early 20s.

I do think though that most of the time, the person is just a bit fatter than he was in college. As far as my 119 vs. 133 goes, I have hardly any fat on me at all right now. Can see the six pack and ribs and serious muscle definition. Just didn't have that muscle mass in college even though I worked out with weights way more then.