yet another thread about running...

Running and walking burns the same amount of calories it just takes longer to burn them when you're walking. Personally I just do light jogging/ fast paced walking, I don't think running is too bad for the joints makes your legs stronger and healthy.. As long as you don't go overboard go at the pace you feel comfortable with.

I have been running for a year, so no expert here, but I am 5'5 1/2" and started running at about 150 lbs (ab 130 now) - didn't notice any problems, but I was not very overweight. I know there are a lot of overweight runners - just listen to your body. Make sure you are using good form (goodformrunning.com) - most running injuries come from form issues. Use a Couch to 5K program - it works you in slowly with walking and running intervals. That is how I started, and I am now training for my second half marathon.

I've had people tell me the same. I've been running for almost a year, no problems (and I'm 44!).

I started slow with the c25k program, which worked great for me - check it out. Starts you slow and builds you up gradually so you ease into it - less shock to the joints and muscles, because it's definitely a lot different than just walking. I'm still running just three days a week, and have always been careful to not do too much too soon. I have had a few run ins with knee pain, but each time it was solved by backing off the distance (trying to go too far too fast), or by getting new shoes. Good shoes make a world of difference.

If you really want to run, I say go for it! If it's something you love, you'll stick with it, and if you're wise with how to go about it, you won't have any problems with injuries or your joints. :bigsmile:

I just ran 7 miles today - my longest distance ever! I feel fantastic. :drinker:

couch to 5k....enough said.

couch to 5k....enough said.
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and I ran my first 5k this last spring and I weighed 235!

I try to jog on the treadmill. I was up to 3mins at a 4.6 speed..then I developed a heel spur..not sure if it was from the weight and all that it brought to my feet...I really love the treadmill and I am in recovery now with my heel and started jogging again but only a minute at a time..eventually I would love to be doing it longer. I won't run outside as I am always nervous to be outside alone..its my NY mentality and I am only 5ft tall..so yea..lol the tread it is..my advice is get EXCELLENT sneakers..wish someone had told me that originally...

I started the Ease into 5K app at 250 and was able to finish the program without joint pain. I did have shin splints in the beginning but stretching after my run and 2 Aleeve before my run got me through it and in a couple of weeks I felt pretty good. When I finished the program, I was running for 30 minutes, my distance was about 2 miles so I wasn't running fast but I was running and was 30 pounds lighter. This week I start W2 of the Bridge to 10K app. Get a decent pair of running shoes and go for it!

Don't be upset with your mom, what I did was fixed up my I pod with slow and fast songs, and "waggled" is what they call it, when you walk then jog. A soft jog is better than running, she is right I have heard that a lot also about running. Hope that helps you in what you plan on doing.

Your mom is right. Lose some weight first, then run.

Do you have any known problems with your joints? If you do, ask your doctor/specialist before you start running. I have rheumatoid arthritis and both my regular doctor and my rheumatologist told me I needed to start out by walking and to build up my leg muscles before I started running because I needed stronger muscles to be able to support the added stress on my joints (ankles, knees, hips). When you run, your posture will change a lot. If you haven't started out by walking then you are going from basically sedentary and your muscles not needing to support your joints at all to runing and your muscles needing to support joints at all angles and paces and you can risk doing yourself an injury.

Having said that, a program like c25k is great. I had started out losing weight not really having the energy to even walk to the letterbox. I started walking 10 minutes a day and building it up from there. Once I had the endurance to walk for a longer period of time without wanting to drop in a heap, I started to do the c25k program. The first 60 second jog...I thought I was going to die...literally. But it does get easier. 6 weeks after that I ran my first 5 km at 104 kg (229.28 lbs) and I am signed up to run my first 10 km in the last week of Feb (currently 97.2 kg - 214.29 lbs).

It doesn't really matter what weight you are...it matters how you let your muscles develop. You need to build endurance muscles to jog/run. Don't expect to be able to run first time out the gate. Both my doctor and rheumatologist have said that the way I've slowly gone into this is great. My rheumy said that she was happy for me to keep running as long as I kept building muscle to support my joints. She did, however, make me promise never to run a marathon..,she didn't think that my joints would be able to cope with the jolting for so long.

Hi everybody. Relatively new here and I have been contemplating running. I just text my mother to tell her and her response was " I wouldn't recommend hon, orthopedics say too hard on joints. Not good for overeight, need runner's body. Sorry, just what I've heard. Walking is better"......smh.

I am 5'6 and 198 pounds. She is usually very encouraging so I am kind of pissed at her response.

How hard is it on your joints ?

Your thoughts and encouragement please.

I have heard from more reputable sources (a doctor i once saw) that obesity is worse on your joints.

You need to stretch properly before (and after) running, have proper and supporting shoes, do a proper warm up (don't just go straight into jogging/running), do a proper cool down, drink plenty of water before, after (and during) running and run on a flat surface until you have built up enough muscles to be able to support all your joints properly (before running on uneven surfaces). Failing to do these things will cause shin pain.

Even if you don't have joint issues, the rest of my first post still applies. It is just amplified if you do have existing joint issues.

ETA: You are only 90 kg. You weigh less than me. You are not too heavy to run. But if you've never run before, you need to ease into it.

i started running at 192 lbs! if you can walk for 3 miles fine then you are ready to add running in your walking routine. add 1 minute intervals for every 5 min that you walk, as an example. start slowly. You can do it!! Just make sure you do not run everyday!!! Rest in between. Best of success. Do not listen to anyone but your own body. Ok. Take care

If done properly can't be worse than being overweight!