Hi! First-timer and thinking about 5k?

ladykdubb

Hello! I've been here about 3 weeks and this is my first post ever! My food diary has already helped me SO much just in recognizing what I have been eating wrong and also in portioning. I've been pretty faithful so far and have decided to commit to this lifestyle change. I know that I can't do it without support! I've never been part of an online community, so this is a new experience for me.

A little bit about myself:

Basically healthy 20/F 5'7, 223 lbs Married, no kids. Born and raised forever Texan!
My ultimate goal is to lose 80 lbs by October 2013. I try to walk my dog about 2.7 miles every week day, sometimes more. One challenge that I face is that I am currently unemployed as we JUST moved and we are on a budget. My vice is sweet tea and cheese. My husband can eat whatever he wants because he works hard. I somehow have to become healthy while living with this man's appetite and <$70 a week for groceries. I also abhor Aspartame and all fake/derivative sugars! I tried Keto once, but found that I could not afford to keep up my calories that way.

Also, I have been thinking of doing a charity 5k walk on the weekend I am supposed to meet my 50 lb goal. Has anyone ever done a 5k, and what is it like? Any fundraising tips? I live in an area where economy is great, and I was thinking of placing donation jars at a lot of local businesses. Training tips? I can walk 3 mi in about an hour, but after that I am dead, lol.

Thank y'all for being here and reading my first post!!

ladykdubb

Nobody?

Car0lynnM

I just found a beginner 5k training program at my local running store. I am on my first week of training. You might want to check out the couch to 5k (just google it). You can download the app to your smart phone. It's a slow easy way to work up to running. First workout will be something like a 10 minute warm up walk, run for 30 seconds, then walk for 1 minute, and repeat 10 times. You increase the intervals as you go. Make sure you have good running shoes (get them fitted at a specialty store by someone who knows what they are doing) and comfortable work out clothes (ie, pants that don't fall down)! Have fun, and good luck!!

LeenaRuns

You mention that one of the challenges is that you are currently unemployed? Make the most of that time and work out! I literally take days off from work so I can lift, go to yoga, AND run 10 miles.

crabbyab90

I definitely recommend c25k! I realized on week 1 day 1 that I really enjoy running! I second the good shoes and definitely pants that don't fall down (nothing worse than your first time running in public and having to stop to pull up your pants!)

Zomoniac

Well 5k is about 3.1 miles, so you pretty much already know exactly what to expect. Did you have a target time in mind? If you have JustGiving or other online sponsorship stuff in the US then get one of them and spam Facebook/Twitter with it. It's hard to say what to do to train without knowing your ultimate goal, but really it's just a case of trying to push a bit quicker each time.

tinad120

Fellow Texan here!

I've only done one "5k," which was a non-competitive mud run, so I don't have too much to offer..yet. I have my first 5k on Nov 17, which I'm sure I won't be completely ready for. But to help, I have been following the C25k program, and I love it. I can feel myself improve, it's amazing. I struggled with the 60 second intervals just weeks prior. Google it, and you will find it.

My fiance is carnivorous also, so it's been difficult. There's always the option to have different meals, but I personally like eating the same things. Skinnytaste.com has a lot of TASTY low-cal meals, or you can always have smaller portions.

Frozen veggies last forever. Fresh fruits and veggies are always cheaper than the more processed versions. Organic milk lasts longer than regular. Make chicken a staple. And make meals in bulk and freeze for an easy meal in the future.

Hope this helps!

SexyKricket

Hi Ladykdubb,
Good to hear from you! I just started the site a few weeks ago and so far I'm struggling. I have never made a post before either. I would like to lose 50 pounds and also run a 5k, 10k by next year. I am NOT a runner. Maybe we can help eachother! Just wondering if you have ever tried STEVIA instead of sugar , it's supposed to be natural. Also if you aren't working have you looked into free gym's in your area? Anyway add me as a friend if you want.

jhstroebel

Car0lynnM has some good advice if you're looking to run a 5k. You said you were going to do a 5k walk though. The 5k distance is only 3.1 miles, and you seem to be able to walk that already, so you should be ok! Just continue walking, making your walks longer and longer as you can, and pick up the pace occasionally as well. If you want to lose weight, you need to get your heart rate up during your exercise, which means faster walking or even doing some short interval type training (walking, short jog/run, walking, and repeat).

If you want to run, the couch to 5k program is pretty good, but there are plenty of other options out there as well. Adidas miCoach has a managed plan with their app that not only lays out a plan based on your skill level or target time, but based on the days you want to commit to and how ever many weeks you have. It will also coach you through each run in your headphones.

Good luck!

cecee27

5k's are great! They are a great way to start out. I walk/run charity 5k's a few times a year, and they are a great way to get out and show support for your community.

When training for my first 5k I used the "Couch to 5k" training plan. There are a number of them out there, but the one that works best for me is found here: http://www.fromcouchto5k.com/articles/training/the-couch-to-5k-training-plan/

Charity 5k's are great! My first 5k was Thanksgiving last year, it was snowing and freezing cold! And yes, I'm doing the same 5k this year, and I'm expecting it to be even wetter and colder than last year!

As long as you take the time to train before your 5k you shouldn't have any problems. Especially if you are already walking 2.7 miles! You're already headed in the right direction!

Due to some medical conditions I had to quit running in May of this year, which happened to be when I was trainig to run my first 10k. I just got an "ok" from my doctor to start running on Monday, so I am starting from scratch with the 5k training program.

Good luck to you!

BrawlerBella

Howdy Fellow Texan! What a wonderful idea to raise money for a charity! I love doing 5ks. I started out by walking after completing C25k I can now run them. lol My suggestion just get out there walk, run whatever you can do and have lots of fun.

newcs

I walked a 5K but haven't gotten to the point that I can run one yet. If you can walk 3 miles, you should be all set! As far as fundraising goes, the jars in businesses is a good idea as long as you can trust them to take care of the money until you pick it up (unfortunately I worked in a place that the charity change collection containers had to be bolted down because they got stolen).

I would try to come up with a story too...something short that is either about why you're doing the walk or what their money can do to help. When I did one a few years ago, they gave us info on what they could do with $5, $10, etc so people felt like they were really doing something with their donation, even small amounts.

Does Texas have a bottle deposit? If it does, you could also do a can drive. In MA, we get 5 cents for each can and people are usually pretty quick to donate their cans.

ladykdubb

Wow, thank you guys! I'm looking into that couch to 5k. For now though I am just going to walk it. Once I did try running intervals for a few weeks and ended up with the shin-splints I think my shoes aren't helping. As soon as I can afford it I will look into some running/walking shoes that will help. I have researched a bit and it seems to me that Asics might be the way to go. I'm wearing Nike's right now, but when I come home after a long walk my knees and ankles are sort of popping. Is that something I should be worried about?

I don't really have a goal in mind for where I want my walking to be, I just want to be able to do the 5k and not be so tired! And thanks jhstroebel for the app tip! It sounds awesome.

And I have also found it annoyingly difficult to keep my pants in place while running!! What kind of pants do you ladies reccomend? I'm currently wearing those dri-fit capri's from wal-mart. They are great for walking. Not running.

Last but not least, does anybody have that little FitBit tracker thingamabob?

Thanks for the fundraising tips, too!!

tbrancs

I use to run years ago and I have started to walk my dog about 3-5 miles anywhere from 45-60 minutes. I started my weight loss/lifestyle changes back on the 7th and started to get moving. This week (kind of late) I decided that I am going to enter a local race this Sunday. I figure even if I can't run 3.1 miles straight and I have to walk here and there I will still complete a 5K. Right? I mean you are faster then those sitting on the couch right!?!? I went to the gym last night and ran and actually was able to run a full 3 miles without stopping. You can do this!!!!

SexyKricket

oh I forgot to add runnersworld.com has training plans for beginners. And I wear Asics I think they are great. Make sure you are doing your stretching, I use to get shin splints really bad. Hope this helps

jhstroebel

I have a Fitbit as well. They are great little devices that are basically pedometers. They will track all your steps throughout the day, and your workout as well (a button allows you to tell it when to start an "activity" that it will give you data on separately. I use it to adjust my calories based on my activity level (I work at a desk, but in construction so my activity can be very active in the field to not at all active on days when i'm in the office) as well as track my exercise. It has pushed me to be more active tho. I'll walk to the grocery store or walk more to watch my step count break 10,000 or 20,000 in a day knowing all the calories I'm burning.

The new fitbit trackers are supposed to sync with newer cell phones to update throughout the day... I believe their Fitbit One is set to ship in the next week or so, and the new Zip has been available for half a month I believe.

iWaffle

Wow, thank you guys! I'm looking into that couch to 5k. For now though I am just going to walk it. Once I did try running intervals for a few weeks and ended up with the shin-splints

I'm working through that off and on myself. My outer shins get a tad sore. It's a combination of tight calf muscles and weak shin muscles. What's helping me the most is stretching, icing after runs, and doing some toe-lift exercises.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_5/196.shtml

I think I have mine mostly whipped. It just takes time for your body to adjust to the new work you're asking it to do. Don't try to increase your pace or distance too rapidly when running/jogging and try to avoid heel-striking (landing on your heel).