Treadmill Issues - Questions for those who were very overweight and sedentary when they started

firef1y72

avengeflipper wrote: »

I started back on a diet and fitness plan a month and a half ago. I joined Planet Fitness (loving it) and am working hard. But, I am having some issues with speed. I was at 2.5 for 15 minutes (18 if you count the cool down) and had a rough time with it. I had been doing 2.5 and 2.7. I am not asking for medical advice. I have a doctor for that.

I am asking where you started on speed? Would 2.0 even be worth using it? As I said, I am sedentary and close to 300 pounds.

I see women who are as heavy (or heavier) than me on the treadmill who appear to be going much faster. So, I'm just curious.

When I started out I weighed 290lb and struggled to complete 5 mins at 3km/hr (note that's km not miles, I think it works out at around 2mph), so that's what I did. Then the next time I added 30 seconds, the time after another 30 sec and within 5 weeks going to the gym twice a week I had doubled the time I was walking. I then started adding a minute a session until eventually I could walk for 30 minutes without stopping at 3km/hr.

After that I started the C25K program, only I didn't have running intervals I had intervals where I walked at 3.5km/hr, then after 4 weeks I re-started, only this time around my base speed was 3.5km/hr and the fast intervals were 4km/hr, after 4 weeks I changed it up again until eventually I completed it with the highest speed at 5km/hr.

Then I finally started adding actual running, not fast running, think it was about 6.5km/hr, but it was running. Personally I found running outside easier at this point (still do), but 21 months after that first 5 minutes on the treadmill at 3km/hr I've run countless 5ks and 10ks, have completed a cross country half marathon, have another coming up next month and am halfway through a month long running streak (of at least a mile a day). I may not be fast, but considering where I started I think I'm doing pretty well.

darkshadowlouise

When I started I was doing a 1.8 and I was going slower than everyone there, I'm now up to 2.2. I know it's not much but I'm tiny(5ft) and going faster just now doesn't work for me at the minute. My incline was 1.5 now it is 2.5. I'm over 300lbs and just started my gym a month ago. Starting slow and working your way up is best I think, don't try to compare yourself to everyone else there. Good luck

spiriteagle99

Nice that you figured out the shoe issue. I find that when my body starts feeling random phantom pains it is usually because my shoes have lost support. With some that starts at 300 miles, some can last until 600 or more. They look the same, but the feeling is really different.