A couple of thoughts --
First, you are already very small and close to goal. I'm about where you are, and it takes a long time for me to lose anything. Smaller bodies just don't need as many calories, but it's not healthy to drop too low, so it just takes time to rack up the calorie deficit needed to drop additional pounds. I'm 1.5 pounds above my maintenance "red line" right now because of holiday overindulgence, so I'm trying to drop a few pounds too, even though I'm technically in maintenance. Based on my tracking over time, I have figured that my baseline (sedentary) caloric need is only 1200 calories per day, plus whatever I burn off in exercise. That's not all that much, considering my 5 mile run burns only about 400 calories. Now I'm a lot older than you, at 49, so I'm sure your metabolic rate is higher. But for me, even dropping to 1200 calories per day AND working out every day doesn't translate to rapid weight loss. I can lose about 1 lb per week if I am PERFECTLY on plan. (and I seldom manage that)
Second, I have a TERRIBLE time losing weight when I'm racking up high mileage. Trying to lose additional weight while fueling enough for athletic performance is a tricky proposition. If I'm not eating enough, I just get so freakin' hungry that I ultimately risk bingeing and undoing whatever caloric deficit I had managed to build. Plus, not having enough fuel impacts performance -- you bonk. So my strategy is to eat a little more complex carbs the night before a long run (200-300 calories), and eat a little more the day of the long run (300-500 calories, divided up for before, during and after), and hope that is enough to stave off the major hunger, while still maintaining something of a calorie deficit. A 12 mile long run is only about 900 calories burned for me, so I really can't eat a lot more to compensate. One binge can wipe out a whole week of diet effort, or more.
I'm also taking any opportunity to increase my general activity level. My husband and I got into kayaking this year, so a Saturday kayak 4-5 hour excursion can burn off a few extra calories (and keep me out of the fridge at the same time). I'm also trying to increase crosstraining intensity, drink lots of water, avoid simple carbs (which are a binge trigger for me), and make sure I'm getting an adequate amount of high quality lean protein. That, and be patient!
I hope that helps a little -- good luck!! Half marathon's are great fun, my favorite race distance. This running season (winter, for us in Florida) I'm signed up for 5 in 5 months. 2 down, the third is in a couple of weeks. Like you, I know that I run a little faster when I'm lighter, so I hope I can lose a pound or two and be within my maintenance range by then, but we'll see!!
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. Does anyone have any adivce that comes from personal experience? Thanks ladies! Also I'm currently eating between 1500-1600 calories a day.
