Running or really brisk walking - advice please:)

I'm not a fan of running due to the impact but if you're only 40 lbs. overweight and only talking about doing C25K (which alternates walking and running until the very end, and a 5K is pretty short), I think you'd be fine with either.

What is your goal? To burn more calories in a shorter amount of time? To run 5Ks faster? To enjoy your time spent exercising?

I started c25k at 50lbs overweight. I had to redo some weeks but after 4 months I had completed the program. After 6 months, I had nearly doubled the distance and had run more than an hour straight. I'm still about 21lbs away from being a "normal" weight but I feel better than ever.

I had 40lbs to lose when I started running again. I would suggest trying C25k and if the running is ever painful, stop running. If you're otherwise healthy (with no prior joint problems) it will probably be fine- it's not like you're in a situation where you can't stop if it hurts. C25k is a well designed program, such that it builds the running slowly enough that your joints have time to adapt to the impact. I would not suggest going out and trying to run through a 5k tomorrow- pushing it too fast is what is damaging to the joints.

I would suggest warming up with dynamic stretching and making sure to stretch your ITB (google it if you don't know what it is). People often think they have joint problems from running when the real problem is tight ITBs.

Im 263 and I started running at 278, and im only 5'3. I have bad knees, and havent jogged since high school, so I was always afraid to even start. I dont do the c25k program, even though im sure I could now. I was too afraid I couldn't jog for 30 seconds at a time. What I did was went at a time hardly anyone is on the bike path, and I use the light posts as distance markers. Each time I would make myself at least try to run the distance of one more light post, and tell myself I have to run one more to look hot in a mini dress dancing at the club lol. Now im jogging more than I walk, and I started last month. You got this! My advice though is to buy a good pair of running shoes. I got mine at kmart for 40 bucks, and they are way better than regular shoes, but I do wish I could afford a better pair.

Also, start slow...dont give everything you got all at once and start running as if you were being chased by a lion. I jog slower to make sure im in tune with my body so I cant pay attention to my knees. And be sure to stretch 15 mins before and after. There is nothing worse than feeling great after a run, and not being able to do it for a week because your muscles are so sore.

IF you are otherwise healthy and *want* to start running.....then start. It doesn't matter how fast you go. In fact, starting S-L-O-W will be a benefit!! Invest in some well fitted running shoes. Expect that you will have new aches and pains to figure out, manage, and then learn to prevent. I started running at nearly age 40, 160 lbs on a 5'5" body. Certainly not svelte. I'm only down to about 140 these days. I have finished 1 marathon (04:08:57) and am filling up my 2014 running calendar with half marathons, 5k, 10k and 15k races.....I fell in love with running.

I hope you catch the running bug, too!!

I'm doing c25k treadmill right now (but more spaced out than 9 weeks because my lifting schedule demands it) and I'm about that much overweight, and it's pretty much all in my hips/thighs too. I have to go ridiculously, crazy slow, as in, I could walk as fast or faster, but I can now jog for 30 minutes without stopping. The speed comes later.

I'm pretty proud just to have done it. I didn't care how slowly I "ran", I just wanted the sense of accomplishment. I say go for it!

I'm 60lbs overweight and recovering from surgery/leg injuries and such. The advice I got from my doctor is for a progression to running program. You can google it if you want, but it's basically this:

Start off at walking 30 minutes, which it seems already is fine with you at a brisk pace without pain.
Then the next step is doing walk 5 mins, run 1 min, walk 5 mins, walk 1 min, etc for a total of 30 mins a day, three days a week with a day of rest in between. If you can do that for a week and have no pain, then you can go to the next step, with is walk 4 mins, run 2, walk 4 run 2, etc for 30 mins a day, 3 days a week with rest days between. If you experience pain, drop back to the walking phase and work back up. The next phase is walk 3 run 3 for 30 mins. Then the next phase is walk 2, run 4. The next phase is walk 1, run 5. Then you move on to running 10 minutes at a time, then 15, etc until you can go 30 mins at a time. Then you can think about working on speed should you desire.

This is a guideline that I like to use whenever I start running from a long period of time of no running. ANY pain whatsoever, stop immediately and walk. Listen to what your body says, go slow. There is no need for speed at this point. Definitely run outside, preferably on a track. Treadmills are notorious for creating shin splints and other issues, plus they don't prepare you well for something like a 5k where you're running outside, as a treadmill "pulls" your stride so you aren't working your muscles as hard as you would just running outside. A track is preferable to pavement because it reduces impact and is a little bit better for you. Definitely invest in good shoes and/or inserts. You would not believe the number of issues in all areas of your body that stem from your feet!

Hope this helps!

get good running shoes and go for it. I was 250lb when I started jogging and could only go for 30sec I am up to 7 min jog/1 min walking most of the time iam still slow but getting better all the time.