running at any size?

nursesamanthajo
nursesamanthajo Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi! I am fairly new to myfitnesspal, and have a question about running/jogging. I have very little time to exercise w/ working fulltime and being fulltime grad student. I have always been an anti-runner, but have been thinking lately that maybe I should start b/c I literally only have 15-30 minutes a day to devote to exercise and want to get the most bang for my buck. I am a large woman, >300lbs, 5'9". I don't want to do this if it is going to be too hard on my joints considering my height and weight, any ideas. Oh, I am 32yo, so not very old. would love some feedback.
~Sammi :happy:

Replies

  • mmsilvia
    mmsilvia Posts: 459 Member
    Look into the C25K program. I loved it!! Just remember to listen to your body.

    I also like the 30DS workout for a nice 20min totaly body workout.
  • Roderunr
    Roderunr Posts: 65 Member
    I am not a runner but always wanted to try...I'll be interested in any feedback to this post as well! I too am worried about the pressure on my joints and the stress on my knees if I begin running!

    Thanks for putting this question out there!! :wink:
  • raeleek
    raeleek Posts: 414 Member
    This is going to sound so silly but I started running inside lol! I would walk a ton outside but I started running just by going slowly back and forth in the hallway. Some people can run at any size but it killed my knees. Once I lost a few pounds I started lightly jogging on the walking trail in my neighborhood. I think anyone can do it but I did have to work up to it. I actually really enjoy it now.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    It's going to be a lot of stress on your joints for sure. Some people have luck running at 300lbs+ and some don't. Regardless, it will definitely put some extra wear and tear on your body. Hell, I don't even run and I'm down to 228 now. There are so many lower-impact exercises you can do that will burn the same (or more) calories. Unless you're dead-set on becoming a runner, I'd consider other options if you want to minimize the risk of injury (elliptical, arc trainer, bike, etc).
  • Wendy595
    Wendy595 Posts: 28 Member
    I started running at 205 and I'm 5'4". I started with Couch to 5K. I lost 15 pounds doing that program but I fell off the wagon and gained 8 of it back. So back I go to running!
  • R_is_for_Rachel
    R_is_for_Rachel Posts: 381 Member
    you know the old adage? don't run before you can walk?
    there's no way i can run at the moment due to weight and poor fitness, however i'm fast walking on a daily basis instead which tbh burns a fair amount of cals (today 25 min walk, 1.5 miles=175 cals) and leaves me hot/sweaty and out of breath!
    see how it goes though, as we're all different
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I can't answer you regarding hard on your joints, because i don't know what kind of history you have, etc.

    I started running at 255 pounds. When I say running, I mean wogging (walking/jogging). It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast. BUT, I was doing it. I set goals for myself when I started, do a 5k, do a 10k and my goal 9 months from when I started was to wog a 1/2 marathon.

    couch to 5k was not free and I didn't have any way to use a podcast or whatever it was on so I just started going. I would walk when I needed to, there is NO weakness in walking - you're still running faster than everyone on the couch!

    Currently I use the Jeff Galloway training plan which is a run/walk/run method. You can start 30 sec run/30 secs walk and move up. I'm currently running 3, walking 1.

    I'm nowhere near my goal weight (currently around 220) but REALLY enjoy running. I thought I'd feel like a nasty fat *kitten* out there running with my flab flying and boobs giving me black eyes and I thought others would look at me all disgusted but other runners are VERY supportive! They ALL say hi or good morning or what have you. It's a great community to be a part of.

    Now, with 50+ pounds until my goal, I have signed up to do a FULL marathon... 26pointfreaking2 miles - all at once. I surely won't be able to run the whole way but I'm gonna train my butt off (and hopefully some of this boob) and I'm going to complete it.

    So, done rambling but my point was YES you can do it (barring the doctor says for some reason you can't). Go at your own pace and comfort level. Walk when you need to.

    Side note, I work full-time, go to nursing school full-time and have 4 dogs. I do short runs during the week and a long run on the weekends. I've added yoga 2-3 times a week to help stretch those muscles out and help me strengthen and center myself.
  • NikkiSmo
    NikkiSmo Posts: 180 Member
    C25K is the way to go! I started running at night because I didn't want anyone to know or see that I was running! Now 5 months later I run 3-5 miles daily and on my 3rd 5K!! Take it slow (I'm a turtle) and take the rest days suggested by the program. Now that doesn't mean stop because your sore or just don't feel like it! Some of the pain you have to push through, I promise there will be pain but I also promise it will get better and you will feel great afterwards. On week 5 run 3 it will have you run 20min straight and let me just say I DID IT and then I cried because I was so proud of myself!!!! You can do it to, get out there!!!
  • tequillarose04
    tequillarose04 Posts: 30 Member
    I would also suggest the c25k program...you only run 3 days out of the week..there are free apps for your phone to tell you when to start/stop & take about 30 min... im only on week 2 but i love it so far...i feel very accomplished when a complete another day...something to keep in mind though, you dont really burn as many calories as you would think...the elliptical or going biking will most likely burn more
  • nursesamanthajo
    nursesamanthajo Posts: 2
    oh, i would totally plan on running at night, no way in H-E-L-L my fitness-freak neighbors are going to see me in action!
  • IveLanded
    IveLanded Posts: 797 Member
    First....you DO have the time. You are just prioritizing other things ahead of your health. Really....your health is ONLY worth a 15 minute investment of a 24 hour day? REALLY!!????

    Ok sorry.........just had to say that.

    That said, C25k is pretty awesome. Anything like that with tangible goals is super helpful.

    And......anyone who judges you while you're out there moving your body is probably someone who DOESNT. So try not to worry about what anyone thinks. If they are judging you it's probably because they don't have the guts to do it themselves.
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    I started C25K at 312 lbs. My joints actually got stronger the further I got into the program. (Going into it I thought I had bad knees, in reality I was bad to my knees). Like others have said, just do it. Take the days off no matter how awesome you think you are. If you feel like an injury is coming on listen to that information coming from your body. And if anyone sees you running....who cares, this is all about you.

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