ME, Be Athletic?

Nlongenecker

I just need your thoughts and motivation. I have never been athletic. My family, me included have always been overweight. As a kid I hated gym and any form of running. One of my friends would always want me to accompany her for a morning jog when I spent the weekends w/ her. After a couple minutes, I'd find a bench and wait for her to come back around and I'd jog home w/ her for that short distance. I've always been the out-of-shape, lagging behind friend.

But lately I've been thinking about changing that. Not just losing weight and doing some exercise, but really becoming athletic. I'd just like to be able to say that I can do active things. I've never ran any distance at all. But I found this program called "Couch Potato to 5K". It is a beginner's program to get you up and running. I'd like to do it. And my hubby is really into biking. Every summer he wants me to enter a bike ride with him. One being the "Hilly Hundred" here in Indiana. I'm sure by the name you've figured, it's 100 miles and extremely hilly. He's done it once already and would like me to accompany him. He joined this site to lose about 30 lbs. But a few years ago, he was riding his bike 50 mi/day.

I guess the whole point of this is that I finally have a desire to do some of these things, but in the back of my mind I here this voice saying, "I'm just not cut out for athletic things." "That's just not my thing, I've never done it and I don't know if it's in me". Has anyone else been in this boat? What have you accomplished? And what are your words of wisdom?

Nlongenecker

I just need your thoughts and motivation. I have never been athletic. My family, me included have always been overweight. As a kid I hated gym and any form of running. One of my friends would always want me to accompany her for a morning jog when I spent the weekends w/ her. After a couple minutes, I'd find a bench and wait for her to come back around and I'd jog home w/ her for that short distance. I've always been the out-of-shape, lagging behind friend.

But lately I've been thinking about changing that. Not just losing weight and doing some exercise, but really becoming athletic. I'd just like to be able to say that I can do active things. I've never ran any distance at all. But I found this program called "Couch Potato to 5K". It is a beginner's program to get you up and running. I'd like to do it. And my hubby is really into biking. Every summer he wants me to enter a bike ride with him. One being the "Hilly Hundred" here in Indiana. I'm sure by the name you've figured, it's 100 miles and extremely hilly. He's done it once already and would like me to accompany him. He joined this site to lose about 30 lbs. But a few years ago, he was riding his bike 50 mi/day.

I guess the whole point of this is that I finally have a desire to do some of these things, but in the back of my mind I here this voice saying, "I'm just not cut out for athletic things." "That's just not my thing, I've never done it and I don't know if it's in me". Has anyone else been in this boat? What have you accomplished? And what are your words of wisdom?

Shannon023

When I was overweight, I never considered myself a athlete either, but last summer completed my first 1/2 marathon.

Once I changed my mindset that "I AM a runner" then I became one.

A lot of people on this site have done the couch to 5k here & sounds like it's a good program. Join the MFP Runner's Club too for support, tips & motivation. (There used to be a bikers club, don't know if there still is.)

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

jessmomof3

I agree with Shannon, change your mind set. You WILL be athletic, and you CAN be athletic.

That was me 5 years ago after having my 3rd child. Out of shape, overweight, and after not even running a mile in high school I never thought I could run. Then 3 1/2 years ago I ran my first 5K, and by the end of the year I had run a half marathon!!! The next year I tackled a full marathon, and now I am a triathlete!

You can do it, find a program and stick to it! Good luck to you!

Jess

arewethereyet

I personally do not run, but I admire people who do.

I think that anything you put your mind to, you can acheive.

I was playing around one day after reading the 100 push up challenge posts...and tried to do one pushup. I completed one very sloppy, on my knees, grunting, pushup and immed. fell to the floor. I laughingly posted this on the thread and mechanicmom responded warmly and encourged me to try again!

Now I can do 3 sets of 10 pushups on my knees. (I started with wall push ups and worked my way down!) My next goal is to do 3 full tilt pushups along with my 30.

I actually completed 60+ one day when I was competing in the pushup challenge. My dr told me not to overdue it due to a neck inj, so I had to stop.

My point is if I can do 30 push ups that is PROOF positive that if you set your mind to something, you can DO it!!

Good luck, dont give up!!

johnblake

change is not easy and the old ways are comfort, I used to weight 250 with beer gut bigger then Tami belly is going to get. This past fall Idid my first bodybuilding show and I loved it.
I was wonding where that voice went to I haven't heared it in about 6 months, some days that voice was the motivation that kept me going saying things like what are you doing I'm not good enought to be in a bodybuilding show, you'll never make it ,your to lazy, it would be so much easyer to watch TV.
I found it easyer to inbrace the voice and say ya I can't do, there are other things I could give up on.
BUT this time just this once I going to get into shape and do this thing after that if it doesn't work I sit on my A## and do notA, but it hasn't worked out that way. I did the show now I'm in shape, I'm a little older and alot more ulgy, but I think I'll head to the gym and start getting ready for the next show

iftcheiaf

My husband laughs at me now because a year ago, when we signed up for the gym, I told him I would only do the aerobic classes because I HATE running and biking. A year later, I'm down to an 8 minute mile in running and take cycling classes 2 to 3 times a week and love them. As you begin to feel more fit, you start wanting to challenge yourself I think. Just take it to the next level slowly. You'll be amazed at yourself!!! Keep up the great work.

Nlongenecker

I just have to say...I DID IT!!! Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I did the first day of Couch to 5K. I'm sure I didn't go as fast as most and I took (4) 30sec breathers, But I did it, it was hard to breath, I got a cramp, my shins hurt and I got a blister. But I did it and it felt AWESOME!!

cmriverside

I just have to say...I DID IT!!! Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I did the first day of Couch to 5K. I'm sure I didn't go as fast as most and I took (4) 30sec breathers, But I did it, it was hard to breath, I got a cramp, my shins hurt and I got a blister. But I did it and it felt AWESOME!!

YOU DID IT!!!! That was the first step. Every day will get a tiny bit easier and in a couple weeks you will be amazed at your progress. That's Terrific! :happy:

Shannon023

I just have to say...I DID IT!!! Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I did the first day of Couch to 5K. I'm sure I didn't go as fast as most and I took (4) 30sec breathers, But I did it, it was hard to breath, I got a cramp, my shins hurt and I got a blister. But I did it and it felt AWESOME!!

Consider yourself a runner now!

Welcome to the club! :drinker:

arewethereyet

I just have to say...I DID IT!!! Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I did the first day of Couch to 5K. I'm sure I didn't go as fast as most and I took (4) 30sec breathers, But I did it, it was hard to breath, I got a cramp, my shins hurt and I got a blister. But I did it and it felt AWESOME!!

wonderful! fantastic! out of this world! :flowerforyou:

jessmomof3

I just have to say...I DID IT!!! Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I did the first day of Couch to 5K. I'm sure I didn't go as fast as most and I took (4) 30sec breathers, But I did it, it was hard to breath, I got a cramp, my shins hurt and I got a blister. But I did it and it felt AWESOME!!

Woohoo! WTG! Don't you feel great?? (other than the cramp, shins, and blister! :laugh: )