OBESITY/RUNNING/WOMENT/MEN

Duck_Puddle

I was morbidly obese when I started running. I ran two races while obese. I'm now just overweight-and still running. I am probably the slowest runner on planet earth-but I don't care. I personally found "the" couch to 5k program too hard for me. Luckily, google will spit out no less than 7,000 iterations of walk/run "learn to run" plans and I was able to find one that worked with my nonexistent fitness level.

And as the slowest and probably fattest runner in the races I ran while obese, people cheered just as much for me as they did for the skinny girls who finished with me. No one has ever scoffed or sneered or made any comments about me as a fat runner-or about how slow I am or anything else. So yes, you can be an obese runner.

spoonful

It's a lot of strain on the body to go running around if you are carrying a lot of weight. I think it is best to walk briskly until you get down a bit. I notice that when I reach a certain weight I kind of "want" to run. It is probably best to listen to your body. If you start running and it feels like it is killing you then it probably is.

secretlobster

A 300lb man has a different body composition than a 300lb woman.

Do I think a 300lb woman (we'll say of average height) can run? Possibly. Is it worth trying? Absolutely.

I do think that an elliptical or other low-impact machine would be wise to start out on, just to get a feel for how your joints (particularly knees) feel. Also, if walking bothers your joints, then running isn't a good idea yet. There are times when a 300lb woman can start out running with no problems and then there are times when she would be better off building knee strength and losing a bit of weight before launching into a high-impact activity. It depends on a lot of factors but sure I've seen very heavy people run for good distances.

DEEDLYNN

Thanks everyone for all the comments. A lot of good information and encouragement. I already work out on an elliptical, and while I don't have a lot of endurance on it, it doesn't bother my joints.

The "push" for running, is that the boot camp I attend has started a running club and I signed up for it. The first "run" is tomorrow and all the sudden I find myself with cold feet. The entire boot camp operates on the basis of "this is your workout, go at your pace". So...I will be there at 7am...and I will go at my pace.

I have had the C25K program on my Iphone for sometime. I guess tomorrow, I will tap on the app. LOL.

Thanks everyone!!!!

I will let y'all know how it goes....but now...thanks to all the comments...I'm looking forward to a good time.

Katanthus

I read this about knees, as I have been rehabilitating an injured knee for months now:

"The accumulated reduction in knee load for a 1-pound loss in weight would be more than 4,800 pounds per mile walked," writes researcher Stephen P. Messier, PhD, of Wake Forest University. "For people losing 10 pounds, each knee would be subjected to 48,000 pounds less in compressive load per mile walked."

jcstanton

Thanks everyone for all the comments. A lot of good information and encouragement. I already work out on an elliptical, and while I don't have a lot of endurance on it, it doesn't bother my joints.

The "push" for running, is that the boot camp I attend has started a running club and I signed up for it. The first "run" is tomorrow and all the sudden I find myself with cold feet. The entire boot camp operates on the basis of "this is your workout, go at your pace". So...I will be there at 7am...and I will go at my pace.

I have had the C25K program on my Iphone for sometime. I guess tomorrow, I will tap on the app. LOL.

Thanks everyone!!!!

I will let y'all know how it goes....but now...thanks to all the comments...I'm looking forward to a good time.

I did a walk/jog/run class at my gym at the end of last summer. Most of the people in my group were light years ahead of me in endurance/fitness. I just made sure I knew the route the instructor was taking, then went at my own pace. I ran when I could, and went at a brisk walking pace when I needed a break. Don't let your fear hold you back. It's okay to be afraid or unsure. Just remember that courage is not the ABSENCE of fear, but rather the willingness to act IN SPITE of your fear.

DEEDLYNN

JCSTANTON--- I wlll remember that about courage. I love it.

I think some of the posters are right. I'm more concerned with what I think everyone else will think than my own fear. I have a bad habit of inflicting my judgement of myself....as judgement of others on me. If that makes any sense.

I have had some bad experiences in public with comments of folks driving by, normally kids, at our local walking park. I have had people yell out... FAT *kitten* and such when I'm walking. Well....time for me to put on my big girl pants and realize they are JERKS and I'm out here for me...not them.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow and it's not nearly as scarey and intimidating after reading these positive responses and realizing that I'm my own worst critic.