What should I do on C25K off days?

MandaElaine11

I starting walking 3 times a week about a month ago. I was doing around 4 miles each day and decided I was ready to try jogging. After doing some jogging "spurts", I decided that I could handle C25K. I started this past Monday and will complete day 3 tomorrow. What should I do on my "off" days?

I was thinking of doing some YouTube workouts, but I'm not sure which ones to try. I don't want to do something that will make me too sore to complete my C25K workouts, but I want to do some sort of activity. I'm not in great shape, so I am definitely looking for beginner workouts! Any suggestions?

refinedredbird

I did C25K in the beginning of my weight loss and on off days I would ride my bike, play basketball with my boyfriend, or I would do strength training like weights, kettle bells, squats, lunges, etc, Some days I would focus on legs, some on arms or stomach, etc. If you have a smart phone, the Nike Training Club app is free and has awesome workouts for strength.

MandaElaine11

Thanks for the suggestions! I will definitely look into the app! I have been considering getting some weights or kettle bells to use at home. I think that will be my next move.

bullsfan22

Another great cardio workout on off days is swimming. It is low impact (no impact really) so it works very well. I am on Week 6 and find that swimming helps me recover more than what I used to do which was walking/elliptical/etc. Also second the weights idea, can't hurt to maintain some muscle mass while doing heavy cardio (which is what it turns into week 5 onwards).

MandaElaine11

I have considered swimming, but it's not something that I could do often. I have a 6 month old, so I need things that I can do at home or with him. I don't have a lot of strength, so I think that weights may be good. However, I feel like I should throw some cardio in as well. I have a lot to lose, so I want to do everthing I can to get it off quickly without injuring myself in the process! :-)

Stlarenas

I am on week 4 of c25k. I started the same as you .... first long walks, then added in short jogs, then decided to start c25k. After the second week I was asking the same thing.

I decided to try the 30 day shred videos for the off days. So far it is working pretty good. The first week I did both together I did pretty good (week 3). The second week (week 4) I struggled with the c25k. I am not sure if it is because of the 30ds, or just because it is a tougher week in general. OR most likely, I have mentally told myself it is too much... I am also really hard on myself. On w4d3 I walked the last min or so of the last run...but I am going to repeat it until I can do it comfortably (and I believe I can go on to week 5)

So i guess for me this is working good as I am okay taking it slow and repeating days if need be. I also have a feeling I may stay on each level of the 30DS longer than 10 days for the same reasons.

timeasterday

I did P90X but any sort of strength training will greatly benefit your running.

Hellbent_Heidi

Strength training.

binglebandit

When I first started with losing weight I was doing C25K and yoga/pilates on a rotating schedule. I'm not flexible, and I started with weak everything and back pain, so it seemed appropriate for me. It helped because it still strengthened my core without wearing out my legs.

Now that I've lost weight and have less back/leg pain, I jog about 5k 2-3 times a week, bike a couple of miles 2-3 times a week, and then do JM's workout videos every day. I pick days for biking or jogging based on if I really need to bike somewhere, or if I think I can jog without my legs feeling dead afterwards. Unlike the yoga, JM's videos do wear out my legs, so there are days where I can't do both in the same day, which is why I jog only a couple days a week.

MandaElaine11

Thanks for the advice everyone! I considered 30 day shred, but I am worried about making myself sore or injuring myself and needing to skip days on C25K. I've also looked at Yoga and Pilates. I don't have much strength or flexibility, so I think I may start with something low impact (yoga/pilates) combined with light strength training.

saltedcaramel86

Strength training perhaps? I recently started You Are Your Own Gym (body weights) and I love it! No gym membership or fancy equipment.

I've heard good things about 30DS, PX90 and Insanity. Maybe some kickboxing videos on YouTube. Yoga, Pilates, swimming?

ssdivot

I have started doing nerdfitness.com Beginner Bodyweight Workout. It doesn't look like much but I haven't been strength training and believe me, I am sore all over for two days after I do it lol. No equipment required (well you do need something that you can hold that has some weight to it, he uses a milk jug full of water, or I will use a resistence band when I travel for one of the excercises).

good luck!