To fat to run?

I was 339 pounds when I started running. You move slow and you take smaller steps, but it is completely doable. I researched how to run before I started. I wanted to know the proper form, how to warm up/cool down, and what NOT TO DO while running that could cause injury. The heavier you are the more careful you have to be because that is a higher amount of weight slamming into the ground through your legs. Take it slow and make sure you are running properly (your cadence, your foot strike, not landing with your knee way ahead of your hip etc.)

Start walking now but include intervals of jogging. Walk for a while then jog slowly for a short time, then go back to walking. Increase the length of your jogging intervals as you are able. Pay attention to your joints, ankles, knees and hips and don't progress too fast in the beginning. Let your body adjust to your new exercise routine so you don't injure yourself and set yourself back. Interval training is also very effective for improving cardiovascular health and endurance. Your heart gets almost as good a workout as if you were going all out instead of doing intervals. Good luck!

No one is too fat to run.. as long as you start slow. I am working on losing the same 80 lbs post baby and running was how I did it the first time and how I shed 20 lbs towards my goal so far this time. I am currently 60-80 lbs overweight. As long as you are safe, anyone off the couch is doing better than the person too scared to start. I have worked myself up to a 12 min mile and will get back to my 8 min mile by the end of it. I would suggest looking into a learn to run program (they even have one in my community of 500 people), just to start out, but there is also good information online about posture and foot placement. I would also strongly advise investing in a darn good pair of shoes that fit not only your feet, but your gait. Dont be discouraged, its a great way to get outside and is also FREE (minus the good shoes!!). I also would look up some good runners stretches for before (to prevent injury) and after (to become more limber), especially some hip stretches. Running is for everyone.. I might not look the best doing it, but at least I am! Good luck, would love to hear how you do with it.

I used to be 120 kg and personally I started running when I got to about a 100 and 'til this date I can't say I have any joint problems.(and I don't run on a track - I run in a park where there are uphills and downhills).I ran at 120kg weight but if I can't call running for 300-500 metres and walking for 100 a run because I was going to spit my lunges out.

I agree with everyone that says 50 pounds overweight is in no way too fat to run. But, you might want to make sure your joints are ok just because anyone can have joint problems.

I also want to give a shout out to walking. Walking is also great exercise it doesn't burn calories as quickly but, well let me show some math here.

A 30 minute jog could be a 400 calorie burn, less if you weigh less. Or you could walk an hour for the equivalent burn. But, if you can't actually run yet then it isn't a bad idea to go for the longer walk to get that amount of calories burned, especially if that is the level you are at. Or if you are me you might just walk a bit longer than the hour to get a bit more of a burn.

Oh hell no! I started running at 230+ pounds. One of my friends suggested I wait until I lost a little more weight. Ha! That motivated me to work harder. You can do it! Just take it slow and work your way up! Good luck!

You're only too fat to run if you think you are..... just do it! I am 50+ lbs overweight and have run 4 marathons and many half-marathons. I like to eat - what can I say!! Good Luck!

I love to run. I am currently about 55 pounds over where I want to be. I've been jogging a long time. I jog 5 minutes walk 2 minutes ect.

If you can't run, walk...

Go swimming if its based on joint problems... Release/reduces stress on them!

good to hear it is going well! Take it easy. C25K is hard core, at my weight I cannot do it. Im a little over 50lbs overweight and using Zombies, Run 5k trainer. Just listen to your body and run how its comfortable to you

I started the C25K program when I decided I wanted to run. Started it very overweight, and got through it without injury - and now I am addicted to running. Spend the $ on good shoes, which helps. You can do it on a treadmill if you're not ready to run it outside. Love that program, it's what got me to run.

Such very good info and motivation in this thread. Thanks y'all.

I'm 50 and currently at 275 lbs and down from a peak weight of 346 lbs. The weight so far has come off through changing my eating patterns and from getting back to swimming.

Was an athlete in HS (Water Polo and Swimming) and College (Rowing) and let it all slip away after graduating in 1985.

Was always much more comfortable in the water, but did have to run daily (anywhere from 1 to 6 miles) during my rowing years. Was always terribly slow on the runs, however, and hated every minute.

All of the years of swimming has the positive - and negative - effect that I'm really efficient with my technique and I've come to the realization that (as much as I hate it) I need to get running/jogging back into the PA repertoire in order to mix things up for better results.

That said, I went out running (ok, actually more of jog/walk truth be told) for the 1st time in decades on Thursday evening.

1.75 miles total - VERY slowly.

Currently carrying about 75#'s more than I would like to be on my frame so I certainly did feel the burden of lugging all of that extra "baggage".

Jogging was at an embarrassing slow pace, and ended up alternating walk-jog-walk intervals but, hey, it's a start right?

Definitely felt it in my legs yesterday, but nothing that a nice warm bubble-bath and some Epsom salts couldn't handle.

Looks like I will try and make a commitment to keep this in the weekly rotation a few days a week in addition to the swimming.

Don't really have designs or interest in signing up for any competitive 5Ks, but everyone's suggestions of the C25K program has my interest in checking that out to slowly get back into the swing of things in the running/jogging depart.

Thanks for those suggestions.

Sounds odd but I am about 80 lbs overweight. Cannot run. I jump rope. I started out with 30 second bursts and now I can go for a good minute or two of really hard jump roping, rest for 30 seconds and start again. It's easier on my knees and just less painful overall. Sounds odd, but

I was 50 pounds over weight when I started my journey. I am now 30 pounds away from m goal I did lots of cardio like running( easiest to start out for me was to jog in place and do some jumping jacks as well), walking fast, dancing anything that got my heart beat up and my blood flowing. Remember diet is 80% exercise is 20%.