So...we've all been there...trying to lose weight, and it may work short term, but the long term effects just aren't there! Here are 5 pointers that may help you out....

Drop Pounds Early If you're going to slash calories,   do it before you start training or during the first 4 weeks of training, when   the mileage and intensity are low. The closer you get to race day, the more   you want to focus on adequately fueling and recovering from those speed sessions   and long runs.

Take It Slow Aim to lose 1-2 pound per week, which   means cutting about 250 calories per day—the equivalent of an energy bar or   soda. Over the course of the week, that's 1,750 calories, which is 1/2 pound.   By slowly tweaking your diet, you'll avoid severe feelings of deprivation. You'll   give your body time to adjust to the reduced calorie load, and you'll have a   better chance of sustaining it for the long term.

Stay In Balance In order to stay energized for   your runs, and therefore perform well and burn the most calories, you're going   to need the same balance of calories that all runners do: Roughly 55 percent   of your calories should come from carbs, 25 percent from protein, and 20 percent   from fats (more on calorie balance here). Take out one of those nutrients, and   you'll find your workouts will feel harder, you won't recover as well, and you'll   feel drained all the time. Just make sure to include high-quality foods from   each group.

Get The Timing Right You're going to need food   most before and right after a run. Before a run you'll need carbs to get fast   energy; right after a run you'll need carbs to restock your glycogen stores   and protein to help repair muscle tissue. Eat your highest carb meal of the   day a few hours before your workout. If you need a daily indulgence, have that   sweet shortly after a run—during that 20-minute window when your muscles can   quickly soak up the sugar to replace spent energy stores.

Eat Real Food Many diet foods are too low in carbs,   fiber, or protein to give you the nutrients you need to train, feel satisfied,   and keep your body in peak condition. There's also the potential to go overboard   on diet foods, figuring that if the Oreos are low-fat, that's license to eat   the whole package.