Couch to 5K, my story

douglasmobbs

At the start of the year I did next to no exercise and weighed in at 396lb. It was time that I started to sort myself out, this time my head was in the right place. I worked out what I was doing wrong, why I stopped my weight loss attempts before and worked out a fad free plan to get back in shape.

When I started exercise I could barely do anything, 100m was my limit in one go, and I pushed myself in 50-100m bursts to 500m. Most of the time I could only work out in the gym as the time available to me was in the dark evenings. I pushed myself in the gym on the elliptical and weights gradually increasing how long I was doing cardio and how much I was lifting.

After about 1 month I managed to do 500m none stop but still felt very tired and my legs were like jelly after that. I managed to up my frequency at the gym pushing myself harder and harder, the sweat patch on the front of my top was quickly creeping down to my bellybutton.

About a month ago I really pushed myself and did 2.5K none stop and was really pleased with my effort.

This weekend I had a good opportunity to try for further. Yesterday I managed 3K and felt that I had a bit left in me, but I had to pick my son up for a birthday party so was forced to stop. This morning I set aside a good chunk of time to see how far I could go. After about 4.5K I was staring to tire, but realised I was so close to a landmark distance so put my head down for the last 500m and did 5K in total.

The one thing that makes this different to other couch to 5K stories is that my knees are in poor condition and I was advised not to do jogging, and stick to elliptical and swimming instead. So those distances quoted above were the distances I did in the pool. I swam 5K (200 lengths) in 2h 1m.

nationalparklover

What an amazing job! Have you lost 75 pounds since January????? If so, that is truly amazing.....great job!

skinnyjeansdiva

i think it's so amazing you are taking it one day at a time, and look how far you have come, congrats to you

melsy21

Congrats on getting that far.. I look forward to hearing more of your successes keep it up! :drinker:

MissYogapants

I want to be able to run too, but get dead tired basically immediately so I'm working with the elliptical and am doing weight training too. Your story is very inspiring! Thank you for sharing it!

fittertanme

well done on doing somthink you like as I to are doing the 5K runs and the last time I ran was when I was in school so a long time away but started off slow like you and built upto it and not doing them most saturdays with others who run them in 15 min's me I can do it in 30 min's and last week did it in 29 min's so getting better but feeling so much better so stick with it and see how you go

BeanyFrog13

This is inspirational!! You've done so well!! Good on you!

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hdacmom

you are an inspiration! Keep up the fabulous work! I have slacked for the past couple of weeks. I have been letting things going on in my personal life to effect me and take over the goals I have set for myself. I have committed to myself once again, starting today, that I have to push through my personal crap and focus on what I need to do for me. Thank you for sharing your story and being an inspiration to me Good luck on your journey:)

douglasmobbs

What an amazing job! Have you lost 75 pounds since January????? If so, that is truly amazing.....great job!

Thanks, yea that is 75lb since 4th Jan, faster than I planned or expected but I am not complaining, and the doctors are happy with how things are going.