I’m a runner, but I thought I’d post as this forum seems to attract the most informed endurance athletes on the internet.
The details: I’m 30 years, 5’ 11", 145 (< 10% body fat), and male. I have hypothyroidism and moderate IBS - and no other health problems. I run 80 - 110 miles per week (mostly rolling hills) at a 7:30 - 9:30 pace, and I eat approx 2500-3000 k cal per day (macro are approx 40 C/ 40 F/ 20 P).
The problem: For the past year, I’ve struggled with massive bloating issues during and after runs: I leave the house with a normal stomach - and then return severely bloated (think 6 month pregnant look - and I’m a male). My stomach turns into “a balloon” and “bread dough.” I can literally grab hold of it.
If I do nothing except sit and relax for three to four days, it eventually returns to normal. If I run or train in any way within the next few days (as I always do), the bloating it persists. In short, the only way to return to normal is to “reset” and do nothing for 3 - 4 days.
I don’t know if this is water retention or gas…However, I’ve noticed that my weight seems higher in the evening and days after runs. I’ve also noticed that if I do “reset” - that is, do noting for 3 - 4 days - I actually lose weight (several lbs). This makes me think its water.
Has anyone experienced this? Any advice on what this is and what to do?
I have not experienced that, but I have to ask: was a gastroenterologist the one to diagnose you with IBS? Are they aware of these symptoms if the answer is yes? I’m just wondering if there’s something else going on here- I have Crohn’s Disease. It has many different clinical manifestations. Not trying to freak you out, but a doctors visit could be worth your time.
I’m a runner, but I thought I’d post as this forum seems to attract the most informed endurance athletes on the internet.
The details: I’m 30 years, 5’ 11", 145 (< 10% body fat), and male. I have hypothyroidism and moderate IBS - and no other health problems. I run 80 - 110 miles per week (mostly rolling hills) at a 7:30 - 9:30 pace, and I eat approx 2500-3000 k cal per day (macro are approx 40 C/ 40 F/ 20 P).
The problem: For the past year, I’ve struggled with massive bloating issues during and after runs: I leave the house with a normal stomach - and then return severely bloated (think 6 month pregnant look - and I’m a male). My stomach turns into “a balloon” and “bread dough.” I can literally grab hold of it.
If I do nothing except sit and relax for three to four days, it eventually returns to normal. If I run or train in any way within the next few days (as I always do), the bloating it persists. In short, the only way to return to normal is to “reset” and do nothing for 3 - 4 days.
I don’t know if this is water retention or gas…However, I’ve noticed that my weight seems higher in the evening and days after runs. I’ve also noticed that if I do “reset” - that is, do noting for 3 - 4 days - I actually lose weight (several lbs). This makes me think its water.
Has anyone experienced this? Any advice on what this is and what to do?
Paul
On days you train what is your fluid intake before during and after training? If you are eating a lot of carbs taking in salt and taking in a lot of liquids your body will retain water.
Some people do seem prone to bloated stomach. Certain foods cause more gas and different combinations cause more gas with some people. For me anything sugary and bread bloats my stomach, but worst of all is vegetables particularly if uncooked.
Have you tried reducing/eliminating gluten? I’m also a runner just starting my journey into multi sport and found when I tried out a paleo diet, my stomach was much better and since my last marathon in October, I’ve gone back to a normal diet where I started feeling more bloated and then reduced my gluten again and found that is my trigger so I’ve about eliminated that from my diet.
Give it a couple weeks if you do it so your body can adjust. Might not be your trigger but worth a shot.
I run (most days, 10 - 15 miles; some days 20+) in the early morning.
I don’t eat or drink prior to the run. I also don’t eat or drink during the run.
When I return home, I drink water and take 1-2 Hammer tablets (though this doesn’t seem to make a difference). Thereafter, I’ll have breakfast (fruit, nuts) or lunch (breakfast + fish, salad).
This is the OP. I should have also noted that in the prior months, I’ve had intense night sweats and noticable declines in performance (taking more effort to run the same pace and def running slower).
Thanks. I eliminated Gluten - and it does make a difference in terms of more typical GI issues. However, it hasn’t influenced the water retention problem.
I run (most days, 10 - 15 miles; some days 20+) in the early morning.
I don’t eat or drink prior to the run. I also don’t eat or drink during the run.
When I return home, I drink water and take 1-2 Hammer tablets (though this doesn’t seem to make a difference). Thereafter, I’ll have breakfast (fruit, nuts) or lunch (breakfast + fish, salad).
Thanks,
Paul
That’s a lot of distance on empty and a pretty light bfast. For 10-15, I’m usually a banana and banana at least and anything 15+ I’ll add a hard boiled egg. During those runs I have water and Stinger gels and grab a decent protein based meal afterward with something salty to get my body back in order.
It’s not to lose weight. I have a sensitive stomach and run in the early AM, so it makes sense to just “get up and go.”
Thanks for mentioning this, though…maybe I should try adding something light and drinking some water during.
This seems related to a friend’s thought on the problem: Cortisol (too much training) + dehydration during = significant water retention for the remainder of the day…
good for you! have you searched the forum at all? i seem to remember having read a post from someone like this - bloating stomach (but not night sweats). this ONLY happens after runs? too weird. i’d say look at diet but so weird about only after a run. but if you want to look at diet, i’d try the specific carbohydrate diet (made for IBD folks) http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/
also have you tried doing salt beforehand to see if that makes any difference - like those salt capsules?
It’s not to lose weight. I have a sensitive stomach and run in the early AM, so it makes sense to just “get up and go.”
Thanks for mentioning this, though…maybe I should try adding something light and drinking some water during.
This seems related to a friend’s thought on the problem: Cortisol (too much training) + dehydration during = significant water retention for the remainder of the day…
Paul
I think you’re on the right path and it’s a fairly easy test. I agree with he cortisol in that based on your few posts here, sounds like your body is just defending itself and retaining what little it has. That said, water alone might upset your stomach as well and make you feel water logged so you’ll have to experiment with what works for you.
Hope the best for you. This is not a fun problem to have.
Most likely diet related.
I am not sure where you are located but… My wife practices integrative or functional medicine and with your issues you sound like many of her patients. Her clinic does lots of testing (food sensitivity, genectic, blood, urine, stool, hormone) looking for the base issues in cases like yours. The hypothyroidism and IBS may be solvable issues if the culprit is found. Look up someone that practices in your area or my wife practices at KUMED.
She will look into her contacts and I’ll get back to you.
She is thinking your cortisol levels are shooting up due to not eating before your hard workouts and your body already being stressed. The other issues are probably food related (may not be just gluten) and are also boosting your cortisol levels. Be careful! Long term cortisol inflammation can have nasty results.
Living in CT, I would look at tick borne diseases.
I had night sweats and slept very poorly, had a decline in performance and increased fatigue. Turned out I had Lyme and also a malaria like tick born disease called Babeosis. Having two things made all my symptoms worse. I was able to keep training and racing with worse and worse performances for 2 years but have since left the sport due to the damage done to my knee. Once I was treated for Babeosis for about 9 months, I was able to sleep normally again. I’m probably about 75% of where I was health wise prior to being infected.
Testing for tick borne diseases is poor and not very accurate so if your primary care runs elisa for Lyme often it will be negative and you still may be infected which can be seen by a Western Blot. There are specialists who treat Lyme and other tick borne diseases. Sadly there is quite a divide in the medical community over what is appropriate treatment.