At what weight should I run ?

I started at 310 and I'm 280 now. I started the c25k five weeks ago and I love it.

I was 265 when I started, although my 'run' would probably be considered a 'jog.' I have completed 4 half-marathons though in the last two years, all at 250 pounds and above and finished them just at 3 hours. I'm working on getting this weight off so I can improve my time.

One thing that has helped me is wearing a heart rate monitor while running. I got one for $30 at a sporting goods store. Staying in my target heart range helps me keep pace and go the distance.

I run now at 280... I am doing it more to help my stamina and lung capacity then anything else... I started running one block and then walking one block... I'm now up to .8 of a mile in the three weeks I have been doing it... working towards a mile...

a lot probably depends on you height as well... I am 6 feet tall... I would think 280 at 5'6" would be a different story...

good luck

I don't think it's going to be a particular weight that really matters as to when you should start running. Your body composition, stamina, the state of your joints, and how long you've been obese/sedentary for all matter.

I started jogging again when I started attempting to lose weight. I was 285. However at the time I worked 10 hour days on my feet all day walking around. I knew I had the stamina and I'd been a cross-country runner in high school at close to the same weight.

On Sunday- a little over 6 months in and weighing in at 235 I did a 7.5 mile trail jog followed by a 3.5 mile hike.

I guess that my point is that when you decided to start jogging should be up to you and your doctors and not dictated by a certain weight.

I started out doing more elliptical and walking at first. Around 250lbs I started running. I did a c25k type program to get my running endurance up. I'm ~230lbs now and I'm running 3-3.5mi 3x a week now. It takes time and persistence.

Yes at times I can walk 5 miles in one walk. I usually ride a bike for excercise and switch off with a walk and some times I do a 5 mile walk and a 8 mile bike ride the same day.

That's promising. But seriously, I would check with a doctor re joint vulnerabilities. They can occur with people of all ages and all sizes, but obviously the more weight put on the joints the more vulnerable they are. You do not want to blow out a knee.

A doctor or approved trainer might be able to suggest a transitional method: maybe you could start out by jogging (not running) for 30 seconds,and then walking for two minutes until you work up to being able to jog, then run for the entire period.

My name is Steve Farris and I have lost 78 lb. I am around 300 lbs. My question is what would be a good weight to start running ?
I was told a few years ago when I was around the same weight by a doctor that 300 lbs was too heavy for my feet . What are your thoughts n this ?

Have you been walking at all? You might start with walking first, or a program like Couch to 5K to ease you into it. Stop if you feel pain in your knees or ankles.

Well I'm certainly no doctor... but they have 500lb people run on the biggest loser and Extreme makeover weightloss edition... do you WANT to run or do you just feel like you will get a better work out by running? If you want to run... then start out slow... maybe walk for 5 minutes, run for a minute, and so on until you can work your way up more... If you don't really want to but just think it will give you a better exercise, then try an elliptical... same motion and increased heart rate as running but not so bad on your joints... Or skating... plus that one is more fun too.

You can run at any weight!

I love running, it's so stress relieving.

You do have to be in semi shape to run, so start out slow so you can work yourself into getting used to it .

Do the Couch 2 5 K, that one helps.

Intervals, walk 2 minutes - run 30 seconds.... create intervals like this to help you get used to it. Even a slow jog is fine.

I'm right around 300 lbs and I can't run at all because of the strain on my knees and my ankle that I injured years ago. I focus on low impact (there's a great machine I use called a precor that depending on how fast you go ranges from a stair climber to an elliptical) or if I am doing treadmill, I walk usually at a 3.5 but I crank up the incline. That way the pressure on my joints isn't so bad, but my heart rate is still getting up as high as if I was running because of the incline.

You can start running whenever you feel like starting! Couch to 5k is a great way to get started. I used a series of programs from Cardio Coach.

Just remember to pace yourself, I run a lot of races and I see people that go all out and by mile one they are pooped, you don't have to run fast to be a runner, slow and steady wins the race, speed will come later! :bigsmile:

Get some good shoes and walk! The idea is just to get your heart rate up. As you lose more, go faster!

First, you need to have some leg strength. If you can do squats and lunges, leg lifts and crunches, you'll be a good candidate for running. Plus you are walking a lot already!

Second, get shoes that SUPPORT your weight. I have inserts made for me, but in many cases a good running store can set you up.

Third: I would try the elliptical for a few weeks to see where you are at. Your feet maybe fine and your knee may give you trouble. Just go slow.

Of course, checking in with a doctor is a great idea. However; you are the one that needs to listen to your body. I am assuming that you don't have any other issues like heart trouble or something.

I started running at 276 and have never looked back - well, except for a heart attack and knee surgery, neither of which were because of the running. In fact, the running saved my life.

I say go for it!

I don't think weight has much to do with it, rather the state of your joints and your stamina. Also, running or jogging on a treadmill is going to be a little easier on your joints than running on pavement - there is a little more cushion.

I was a runner in high school so my stamina is still there, I do have a bad knee but have been working out with a trainer that has me running (at a jogging pace) again. One of the reasons we started working it into my program is because I had to work too hard to get my heart rate up (even with the treadmill at a 15% incline), we started working the jogging in at 30 second intervals. I now do a few jogging segments for ~90 seconds with the incline at 6% and speed at 4.0. I have a long-term plan to run a half-marathon in December 2013 so I do a lot of zone training - I do interval training on the treadmill on my own, usually wallking for 3-5 minutes and then jog for 3-5 minutes. The thing that I have always love about running is that it gets your endorphins going, to the point that you don't want to stop once you start. Its something I have always loved, so makes me happy to be doing it again. :bigsmile:

I don't believe that how much you weight should determine whether you are ready to run. It is how you have prepared and prepped yourself for a higher degree of exercise. You need to train and build momentum for any type of strenuous physical exersion.