need c25k advice, please...

chanstriste13

i started c25k last spring and hit a brick wall at week 4. so, i was out for the count for a while. since august 25th, i have been taking a ton of classes at the gym, which i love. they are huge calorie blasters and have really improved my endurance. last week, i randomly hopped up on a treadmill just to toy with the idea of jogging again, and was blown away to see that i could jog for 5 minutes, no problem. in the spring, i struggled to try and do that for *weeks* and it never happened, so i was ecstatic!

now, here is my predicament: i'm ready to move on with c25k - i did the w4d1 a couple of times on an outdoor track, so i know i'm ready to do it. but in order to continue c25k, i'm going to have to give up probaby two of my classes - i don't have the stamina to do both class and c25k in the same day. i'm worried that dropping to a 30 minute c25k session from an hour long circuit session will adversely affect my weight loss.

has anyone dealt with this? is c25k worth it? i'm trying to make my decision by monday so i can start up my new routine. thanks for any advice!

melodymartinez

It would be worth it in the long term if the c25k program gets you to a point where you can run for 20 or 30 minutes. To me, the big benefit of that is you can do it anywhere. You don't have to drive to the gym, just put on your shoes, go outside and run. It won't adversely affect your weight loss as long as you are still under your calorie goal.

tracybarnhill

I am with melody, C25K is great for long term, I haven't been back to the gym after starting it, and I am doing my 2nd 5K, and trust me I burn way more calories running than I go in the Gym. I don't like taking classes though...

agibsonky

I did the C25k starting last march...I, too, got stuck on week 4 and again on week 7, but now I can run 6-10 miles without even getting out of breath. I don't do classes at the gym, just weights and some type of cardio, but according to the machines, I burn the same amount of calories running on the treadmill as I do on the elliptical or the bikes in the same amount of time. Typically I can burn 250-300 calories per 30 minute workout...sometimes I run longer, occasionally less. For me running was a big confidence booster...there are LOTS of 5k races around and while I haven't won any of them, crossing the finish line is a big boost! I always cross with a big smile on my face!

Good luck!