Jogging while overweight...

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  • tannammm
    tannammm Posts: 11 Member
    With my doctor's okay, I started the C25K program at 280lbs. I highly recommend that program for a new runner just starting out. You will be amazed at how fast you can progress and build up your endurance. I completed that program on the treadmill and then once I got my courage up I started running outside. The treadmill is easier on my body, but so very boring! Good luck!
  • JONZ64
    JONZ64 Posts: 1,280 Member
    Talk to your doctor before beginning any new exercise program. That being said I see no reason why you cannot start a C25K program and slowly move up from there.

    There are plenty of people much heavier than you who run long distances:

    http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/sumo-wrestler-breaks-world-record-for-heaviest-man-to-complete-marathon-032011

    With C25K feel free to repeat workouts as many times as necessary. Walking is part of the program and nothing to feel bad about. Keep working and you will achieve your goals!

    THIS! C25K is great and you can repeat sections until you work your way up. Also try to find a local running group. Here in VA we have Point2Point running and every saturday they meet, Runners/Walkers/Joggers of all levels meet up, pair up and motivate each other!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    OP,

    I started the C25k when I weighed over 260 pounds. I lost close to 30 pounds in those two months, and 'nary a joint problem!


    ETA: For real, the C25k isn't a "running" program. Most folks who start on it trying to run have found they can't keep up with the program. It's about endurance, not speed. My first time through it, my "jog" was more like a brisk walk, but I went from getting exhausted from walking a single block to managing a slow jog for a full 30 minutes.
  • BenKnowsFitness
    BenKnowsFitness Posts: 451 Member
    Listen close to what the man below is saying. As for me, I have a family history of arthritis and I can tell you that everything hurts more when I am not running regularly. Oh, and I was getting close to 300 pounds when I started running. I got down to 185 pounds using running as my primary exercise.

    Running puts tremendous stress on the joints.

    One of the best for cardio is swimming, but that's not always a viable option.

    Do the treadmill at a walking pace, if you want to up the workload just use the incline.
    Honestly, jogging hurts a lot of peoples knees (including mine) so I would be careful, how about swimming? super good on the joints :)

    Serious misinformation alert........

    Study after study have repeatedly demonstrated that running does not wreck your knees and/or hips.....

    http://www.runnersworld.com/beginners/will-running-ruin-my-knees

    http://www.mensfitness.com/training/endurance/fact-or-fiction-running-ruins-your-knees

    there are risks associated with the morbidly obese and running, obviously, is contraindicated for those with chronic joint problems but it has been demonstrated to actually alleviate symptoms of early stage arthritis.

    Many runners will experience some form of knee pain during their running careers most of the time, however, the pain does not relate to an actual knee injury but to muscular imbalances, IT band problems (overuse) etc.

    To the OP, I started running in my early 50s at 235 lbs. Start slowly, build gradually and cross train (swim, bike, row, lift weights etc)
  • SHHitsKaty
    SHHitsKaty Posts: 301
    I've never been all that heavy, 138 at my heaviest and I'm down to 120 now. I also have never been a runner, until probably 3 years ago. I decided doing races looked and sounded like fun and dove into it head first without any sort of training program. I wasn't wearing the proper shoes, as you stated originally, which caused me great pain and 8 weeks of physical therapy on my IT bands.

    Once I got fitted for proper running shoes and had my trainer watch how I ran and try to tweak somethings, I wasn't having problems with my knees/IT bands but that is not to say that they still don't act up. I ran a 10k on Thanksgiving morning and my IT bands were bothering me at mile 3, only half into the race.

    Proper stretching before and after running, getting fitted properly by a running store, etc. for running shoes, strengthening exercises triggered to those areas that do bother you also help. I did a lot of hip strengthening exercises when my IT bands were bothering me. Wall sits, monster walks (walking while squatting with a resistance band around your calves), etc.

    A lot of people think that their knee is bothering them when they are running when in reality it is their IT bands. It connects from your hip down to the outside of the knee and for the longest time, I thought it was my knees till I realized that it was where my IT band was connecting to my knee.
  • ksntls63
    ksntls63 Posts: 5 Member
    I used to jog while counting to 100 then walk to the count of 100. When I felt I was ready I would up my jogging steps by 25 and lower my walking by 25. By counting it kept my mind off the actual running. Hope his helps
  • Sarahnade42x
    Sarahnade42x Posts: 308 Member
    I started C25K at about 215 pounds -- the jogging intervals weren't easy at that weight (a speed of about 4.0 was my 'jogging') but it was doable and played a big part in getting to my current weight and running ability. At the end of the day, I think the best thing you can do is listen to your own body; if you feel serious joint or back pain when you jog, then it might not be the best idea just yet. It sounds like you already have a really great workout plan anyways!
  • jensiegel39
    jensiegel39 Posts: 163 Member
    Thanks again everyone for your comments! I really appreciate all your input.

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