How fat is TOO fat for C25K?

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Replies

  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    Pain is not gain when it comes to the knees. Listen to them. Have fun!
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Despite all of the encouraging answers, one can be too heavy to run. Please discuss with your doctor any knee or back pains along the way - take your time and possibly include some core exercises to strengthen your back.

    Take your time walking at least a couple of kms before moving into the C25K program. You can do it! Just take care of yourself not to hurt yourself along the way and thus blow your program.

    The reason the C25K program was developed is that too many people take on too much too early and drop it out of pain, frustation or injury. You can make it, take your time - it's a voyage!
  • It's not a question of being too fat for C25K! I think the more important thing is that you check with your doctor - especially regarding your knee health. I started C25K, and went to my personal trainer to brag. He looked at me and said "you have no business running if you want to keep your knees". Didn't believe him so I went to a highly recommended sports doc, who told me the same thing.

    So my comment is twofold:
    1) How AWESOME is it that you are at a point where you are ready to take on this challenge!

    2) Make sure you are doing it in a way that is safe for your body! Last thing you want is an injury... knee injuries suck and will put you on the sidelines for a good chunk of time. Running is a great way to get in shape, but it's not the only way! Since I can't run I stick to speedwalking - much less impact and I am almost as fast as some runners at this point.

    Good luck!!!!
  • Francesca3162
    Francesca3162 Posts: 520 Member
    I tried it at 200 lbs, and could not do it.. But I am 50, ex-smoker and have MS. So I decided to dial it back and do walking, until I lost some weight.... . So I did walking, increasing 1/2 mile a week till I got to five miles. then I worked on my pace and got that as fast as I could walk without running then gave C25K another shot, and now I am in week four. Which because of heat and MS, I am actually repeating.. but up to this point I have been able to do all it asks me to do..... I always give the next week a shot, but if I cannot complete at least 1/2 of the day according to the walk/jog schedule, then I repeat the week before, or stay on the tough week until I can do it three times.

    Just try it, you have noone to answer to, except yourself!!! Do what you can, make your own rules, as long as you keep moving!!!!!! Just do not give up on yourself!!!!!
  • NikkiGetsFit185
    NikkiGetsFit185 Posts: 93 Member
    I agree with everyone else your never too fat to do it, i just recently myself started the C25K, and my jog is a little faster than a walk, and i still completed the first day. I'm starting over again this week because i was only able to do it once last week. But if you can walk 4 miles than you can do this. I am also a heavier person, and wondered how i would look or feel doing this, but i like that fact that because of this site and seeing other people im challenging myself to step out of the box and try new things that i normally wouldnt. Good luck with this and keep us posted on your progress. Just think one day you will be a runner!!! thats what im looking forward to.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    If you are walking four miles, you can do C25K. I couldn't even walk 1/4 of a mile when I started it. I had to repeat week one, but I just completed week two and starting on week three tonight. My starting weight was 263 pounds.
  • syllables
    syllables Posts: 17 Member
    It's not a question of being too fat for C25K! I think the more important thing is that you check with your doctor - especially regarding your knee health. I started C25K, and went to my personal trainer to brag. He looked at me and said "you have no business running if you want to keep your knees". Didn't believe him so I went to a highly recommended sports doc, who told me the same thing.

    So my comment is twofold:
    1) How AWESOME is it that you are at a point where you are ready to take on this challenge!

    2) Make sure you are doing it in a way that is safe for your body! Last thing you want is an injury... knee injuries suck and will put you on the sidelines for a good chunk of time. Running is a great way to get in shape, but it's not the only way! Since I can't run I stick to speedwalking - much less impact and I am almost as fast as some runners at this point.

    Good luck!!!!

    This is a brilliant point. I will keep it in mind and def. discuss with my doctor- in the meantime I will do speedwalking (or the fat-girl-jog-shuffle) instead of running until I get an okay. I'm SURE at my weight my doc veto running.
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 930 Member
    I will do speedwalking (or the fat-girl-jog-shuffle) instead of running
    hey, did you see me out there?! :laugh: :drinker: :flowerforyou:
  • NOBODY is TOO 'fat' for a C25K!!!! You can do it! Everyone is right, go at your own pace. You will surprise yourself, trust me! and once you accomplish this, you will be hooked on running... no matter how fast or slow you go! I have been running for about ten years now, and I still run pretty slow! But who cares!?! Certainly not me... I'm just glad that I am able to do it!

    Once you are hooked... find some fun 5k runs in your area. The one that I am most looking forward to this year is 'color me rad' run, those types of races will excite you and motivate you to keep going!
  • MommyofLily
    MommyofLily Posts: 149 Member
    Go for it!! I'm doing it at 200 lbs + and doing fine. It sounds like you are an otherwise healthy active person now so as long as you take it slow and listen to what your body is telling you, you will do fine. I think it's great that you want to try it. I've been too scared to run since high school (10 years ago), but this program is proof that I can do it. Slow and steady. I'm following the program and each week gets a little bit harder, but I'm still doing it and still succeeding, but I take rest days when my body is telling me I'm too sore to do it and I slow down if I need to. Good luck!! And congrats on your success so far with becoming a healthier person!
  • repertoire
    repertoire Posts: 53 Member
    This thread has totally inspired me to try it too! :) I think I'll start with walking and speed walking and slowly work up to a jog :) You can do it!
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 930 Member
    If you have a running store, I would suggest getting a good pair of shoes. They can make a world of difference. I need to take mine back because I think I need either a wide or a 1/2 size up. They felt fine in the store but after a while my piggies feel squished and tingly. :grumble:
    Update: I went back and the guy helping me agreed that the ones I got initially weren't right for me. I tried on about 4 or 5 more pairs, some wides were too wide, some non-wides weren't wide enough, but just like Goldilocks, we found one that was juuuuuusst right. I had a different guy helping me the 2nd time, and this time I did a test jog on the treadmill so he could see how they were or weren't working for me. I went up a whole size in a different brand, from a Brooks size 9 to a Saucony size 10! :noway:

    Have you tried anything yet?
  • ilovemybuggy
    ilovemybuggy Posts: 1,584 Member
    "Too fat" is a mentality- You can do anything you put your mind to! I currently weight 250 and I started c25k- the first couple days are a little tough- but your endurance builds up quickly as long as you stick to it!! You can do it :)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I was at 260 pounds when I started C25K. I'm at 235 now. Try it!