Couch to 5K SUCCESS! Down nearly 100lbs! (Before & After Pictures)

shawneelaraye

I wanted to make a short post in between the one I will make when I reach my goal weight.

I am proud of myself.

My highest weight ever was 280lbs. Last summer, in the beginning of August I weighed 266lbs. I decided I wanted to live a long and healthy life. So I started walking. And then I started running. And then also lifting off and on (I want to get more into that!) I now weigh 189 lbs!

I just decided a few months ago that I wanted to start a program to start running longer distances. I've been running on my treadmill. So I downloaded a couch to 5K app! Today, I ran 3.1 miles in 31 minutes!

I am now planning on increasing my speed and running outside instead of on my treadmill since the weather is getting nicer, and then enter a 5K race! And then after that,

10K here I come!

First photo is from last summer. I was around 265-270lbs.

The second photo is today after completing the 5K run! 189lbs.

The third photo is a recent photo of me.

Shull_rachael

You look amazing! I've thought about downloading that. You're inspiring I think I will! Congratulations!

Merrysix

Wow! really inspiring. Thanks for sharing both the process and the photos.

tealtortoise

You look fabulous! It amazing to see what can be accomplished when one really sets their mind to something! Thanks for posting and way to go!

jroth261

Outstanding improvement in less than a year's time! I completed the C25K outdoors this spring (could barely stand a minute when I started!) and have to work on my speed/time as well. It's amazing how much you can achieve if you just keep putting in the work! Add me if you like. I'd love to see your continued progress

starfruit132

Congratulations! You are such an inspiration!!! Looking great and look very happy too!

havronab

Amazing job! You look incredible and absolutely should be proud of yourself!! I'm kind of afraid of running, and keep telling myself I'll try doing a couch to 5k when I lose a bit more weight. @shawneelaraye If you don't mind me asking, how much did you weigh when you started running and how difficult was it?

KirbySmith46

Very impressive!

snowyne

So awesome!!! You look happy & fabulous -- congrats! Kudos on the 5K -- that's fantastic!

OY74NmFGBL

Great job! You look amazing! Keep it up

jrowden0711

Great job! I've recently started a similar program with the intent that I'd like to someday run a half marathon. I've slacked a bit this week but your post has inspired me to get back on track tomorrow morning (treadmill is in the bedroom and hubby is sleeping). Thanks for sharing!

Housebound2017

Wow amazing difference between first 2 pics. What is this Couch to 5k with a treadmill please? Can you start by walking on the treadmill with it rather than running? ..and how often do you need to go on it in a week?

cameronheel

Great job, you look great.

I also recently started using the C25K app. I'm a 50 yo 5'8 male and when I started in Dec. I weighed 225 (BMI around 34). I was not as dedicated to the weight loss program at first with my diet but I did run as scheduled and was down to 220 in Feb at the completion of the program.

I ran my first 5K on Feb 22 in 35 minutes. Since that 5K I have really started to eat healthier and that along with the running has really caused the weight to drop. I now run 3.5-4 miles a day and ran another 5K in April which I finished in 29 minutes. My weight this morning was 189 (BMI 28) woohoo, no longer obese, now only overweight. For people that enjoy running, this program works.

Thanks for sharing your stoy.

Penthesilea514

Congratulations- C25k is a great program. Way to go and good luck with your 10k

kathakraz

Well done!

Lovemybody75

Wow! Just wow! You are truly an inspiration!
.

tinkerbellang83

Just about to start couch 2 5k myself, more for health than the weight loss aspect. Great inspiration though, well done!

RedsGirl73

Awesome job!

shawneelaraye

havronab wrote: »

Amazing job! You look incredible and absolutely should be proud of yourself!! I'm kind of afraid of running, and keep telling myself I'll try doing a couch to 5k when I lose a bit more weight. @shawneelaraye If you don't mind me asking, how much did you weigh when you started running and how difficult was it?

I started running from almost the very beginning when I was 266lbs, but a very light jog on the treadmill (I want to say 4.5 mph maybe?) and only for 5-10 minutes at a time. In high school, I had run on the treadmill fairly often so I was thinking I could just jump back into it but boy, those 5-10 minutes were hard!

The C25K app (couch to 5K) actually starts you out easier than how I started out in the very beginning when I was around 265lbs!! You run/jog 1 minute, walk 1 1/2 minutes alternating for 20 minutes! 3 days a week, and then it goes up from there! I started beginning of March on the C25K app and I weighed a little over 200lbs. Now I weigh around 189lbs! I also wear knee braces to help with the impact and keep my joints in check. My knees don't hurt, but I don't want them to ever hurt! So I try to take as good of care of them as possible while also getting in my exercise!

Also, as for your question about how hard it is. I started running on the treadmill back in August 2016 at my highest weight. So I had already built some endurance, but only at slower speeds like 4.5 mph on my treadmill. I wanted to start the 5K app with the intent on getting faster with my running and also building more endurance. I could already run 3 miles on my treadmill before I started the 5K app, but only at around 4.5-5mph. So I started running at 6.5 mph (but throughout the course of the program I decided 6.5 was too fast so I brought it down to 6mph and that's how fast I run on my treadmill now). I personally thought it was easy in the beginning when I was only running from 1-5 minutes at a time, and then the first time I had to run 5 minutes straight I was having a rough time so I brought it down to 6mph. And I went on from there! You've got to do what works for you! Now I'm looking to increase it again to 6.5 and try to get faster!

I hope I answered all your questions!

shawneelaraye

jrowden0711 wrote: »

Great job! I've recently started a similar program with the intent that I'd like to someday run a half marathon. I've slacked a bit this week but your post has inspired me to get back on track tomorrow morning (treadmill is in the bedroom and hubby is sleeping). Thanks for sharing!

I am so glad to have inspired you! I keep thinking that a half marathon is where I'd like to end up, but goodness! It's a ways away for me still!

shawneelaraye

Housebound2017 wrote: »

Wow amazing difference between first 2 pics. What is this Couch to 5k with a treadmill please? Can you start by walking on the treadmill with it rather than running? ..and how often do you need to go on it in a week?

Thank you so much @Housebound2017! I downloaded the C25K app on my phone! It has the whole program in it! You can start by walking if you'd like, and then build up to running. The first run is only 1 minute of running (you can do more like a light jog) and then 1.5 minutes of walking and you do that alternating for 20 minutes! It is 3 times a week.

shawneelaraye

cameronheel wrote: »

Great job, you look great.

I also recently started using the C25K app. I'm a 50 yo 5'8 male and when I started in Dec. I weighed 225 (BMI around 34). I was not as dedicated to the weight loss program at first with my diet but I did run as scheduled and was down to 220 in Feb at the completion of the program.

I ran my first 5K on Feb 22 in 35 minutes. Since that 5K I have really started to eat healthier and that along with the running has really caused the weight to drop. I now run 3.5-4 miles a day and ran another 5K in April which I finished in 29 minutes. My weight this morning was 189 (BMI 28) woohoo, no longer obese, now only overweight. For people that enjoy running, this program works.

Thanks for sharing your stoy.

@cameronheel your story is so inspiring! Congratulations on improving your time and for the weight loss! I'm sure you feel so much better too! You are going to get there and I'm proud of you!

FelinaDC

You're killing it, awesome job!

Kclee2903

This is great!

Debmal77

Amazing transformation! Well done!

shawneelaraye

tinkerbellang83 wrote: »

Just about to start couch 2 5k myself, more for health than the weight loss aspect. Great inspiration though, well done!

I did it for the health aspect too, but I had weight to lose!! So it's a plus plus! My endurance is much higher too! Thank you!

shawneelaraye

Shull_rachael wrote: »

You look amazing! I've thought about downloading that. You're inspiring I think I will! Congratulations!

I am so glad to have inspired you! I really hope you do, at least to try it out! I loved it because I love a challenge! And not falling into the same boring routine everyday!

ValeriePlz

Congrats!! I always find it hard to lose weight while training, because I run 2 miles and I feel like I can eat as if I ran 20. Your loss is an inspiration.

junodog1

OH. MY. GOD!! Your results are awesome! Great work.

joolsscott06

You look amazing, well done

SierraFatToSkinny

C25K is the best!

You're amazing!

How tall?