Couch to 5k

Lucy_6678
Lucy_6678 Posts: 63 Member
edited November 18 in Motivation and Support
I am a teacher and want to get healthier over the summer. I would like to start running, but I am scared. In June 2013 (I weighted 170-175), on my first day of summer vacation I started Couch to 5k. I followed the program for Day 1. Somehow I got a stress fracture in my foot. This laid me up for 2 full months. Before I tried to run I was walking 3-4 miles a day consistently.

Fast forward to the present, I weigh even more than I did in 2013 (currently 185). I am temped to try C5K again this summer, but I am scared. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Should I do it? Should I stick to walking? If I do it is there any advice you would give me? I REALLY want to lose weight and feel like I will have time to devote to it. I am sure there are people heavier than me who successfully completed the program.

Any advice and encouragement would be appreciated!

Replies

  • novasunflower
    novasunflower Posts: 29 Member
    Keep walking if you're worried about hurting yourself. You don't need to exercise at all to lose weight. Just cut your calories, weigh and track your food. (Calculate your TDEE and create a deficit from there) Walking is great exercise, good for the mind and body. If you do decide to try C25K again, go as slowly and gently as you can. You'll get faster as you get better at it.
  • charleykayesmom
    charleykayesmom Posts: 92 Member
    Sending you a buddy invite!
  • Autumnfilly2005
    Autumnfilly2005 Posts: 232 Member
    I'm 217, and was 235 when I began the C25k program. I graduated last week and am now working on the 10k program. My advice is to run slowly. Start off slower, and then go slower. It's more important to get miles on your feet than to go fast and burn out. You can actually run slower than you walk. Also, get yourself fitted for running shoes. Go to a running store, not a shoe store, and get fitted for shoes. They'll watch you run and bring out a bunch of shoes for you to try. It's more expensive than getting the tennis shoes at walmart, but so worth it!
  • myfitnessloselbs
    myfitnessloselbs Posts: 22 Member
    Hi,

    I just recently started running too (about three months ago) and just finished my first half marathon (super slow though like 2:30). So the way I started was -
    Jog 5-10 steps (just motion you really dont need to run super fast), walk 20 steps, Jog another 5-10 steps, walk 20, keep repeating this for like 1/4th mile. Do this for a week, not continuously but like 3-4 times a week. Once you achieve this feat, increase this to half mile, then 3/4th and then 1 mile. It took me a month to run my first full mile :). Once you achieve this, then slowly, make it 20 step run, 20 step walk or whatever your tolerance allows you to do, for the full mile. It might take another 2 weeks just to run first full mile without stopping, but it is definitely worth it to start super slow, build endurance and do the feat without an injury. Once the first mile is conquered, the rest of it will follow through. The biggest problem, I think with beginner runners who are a bit heavy like me is that we try to run too fast, end up with injury and then we cannot go back to running for long time if ever at all. I did not follow any program, but just what my body allowed me to do. After first mile, I went to 1.5, 2, and 3. From 3 to 13.2 I followed the training plan from here -

    http://www.halfmarathons.net/20-week-half-marathon-training-schedule/

    Let me know if you have more questions and I can answer them along the way. Good luck with running.
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