Heart Pain
EggplantWitch
Posts: 2 Member
I've never used the message boards before so excuse me if I do something wrong.
I found a c25k podcast scheme on the NHS website and was eager to try it out, but less than halfway into the first session (in which you run for 60 seconds and walk for 90, I don't know if that's standard or not) I had to give up because my heart was burning so much. I was running as slowly as I could without it making it even harder to run, and there was no way in hell I would've been able to 'have a conversation with someone' like I've seen others saying you should be able to when jogging for the first time. I've looked around on the internet but I can't find anything about how much heart pain is normal for an unfit, overweight person trying to get back in shape. I found it very demotivating as the NHS comments praising the scheme seemed to be mostly from obese 60+ mother-of-threes while I, an 18 year old weighing 11st 10lbs, couldn't even manage the first session of the first week. My therapist theorised that because my heart was starting to hurt, I started to have an anxiety attack and made the pain worse while my mother says I just have a low pain tolerance (which is true), but even if that is the case I don't know how to fix that either. I've been too scared to try again because of how much it hurt, and I'm also too scared to book an appointment with my GP in case I really am just fat and unfit and pathetic.
Any tips on how to manage the pain, or if this amount is normal or not, would be really appreciated. Thanks.
I found a c25k podcast scheme on the NHS website and was eager to try it out, but less than halfway into the first session (in which you run for 60 seconds and walk for 90, I don't know if that's standard or not) I had to give up because my heart was burning so much. I was running as slowly as I could without it making it even harder to run, and there was no way in hell I would've been able to 'have a conversation with someone' like I've seen others saying you should be able to when jogging for the first time. I've looked around on the internet but I can't find anything about how much heart pain is normal for an unfit, overweight person trying to get back in shape. I found it very demotivating as the NHS comments praising the scheme seemed to be mostly from obese 60+ mother-of-threes while I, an 18 year old weighing 11st 10lbs, couldn't even manage the first session of the first week. My therapist theorised that because my heart was starting to hurt, I started to have an anxiety attack and made the pain worse while my mother says I just have a low pain tolerance (which is true), but even if that is the case I don't know how to fix that either. I've been too scared to try again because of how much it hurt, and I'm also too scared to book an appointment with my GP in case I really am just fat and unfit and pathetic.
Any tips on how to manage the pain, or if this amount is normal or not, would be really appreciated. Thanks.
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Before trying c25k, were you doing any other exercises? I would start by walking every day and build up your endurance. Before I began c25k, I walked 5-6 times every week for a month, and then I slowly began using the c25k program. The run 60 seconds/walk 90 seconds is the standard for how it begins. You absolutely have to start slow. If you've never done any exercise, you can't expect to just go out and run a mile immediately. You have to build up to it, and I would also recommend seeing a doctor to make sure your heart is healthy for that kind of activity. The doctor can recommend some low-intensity exercises that will be safe to get you started.0
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theycallmelinz wrote: »Before trying c25k, were you doing any other exercises? I would start by walking every day and build up your endurance.
I used to walk a mile to my college and a mile back again (sometimes twice, so 4 miles in a day) but it's been the holidays since the end of June and I haven't been able to find 'reasons' to go out very often, apart from doing the food shopping once or twice a week. I get bored just walking into town for no reason, and while there's a nice forest nearby I'm absolutely terrified of getting lost. My friends are always too busy to come with me, and my family all walk much faster than me and I can't keep up.
I guess I'll go see a doctor (at least making an appointment is a reason to get out of the house) about the low-intensity exercises.0 -
You should be walking 30 minutes (at least) at a time easily before you attempt c25k. Getting a checkup and ok from the doctor is a good idea.0
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EggplantWitch wrote: »theycallmelinz wrote: »Before trying c25k, were you doing any other exercises? I would start by walking every day and build up your endurance.
I used to walk a mile to my college and a mile back again (sometimes twice, so 4 miles in a day) but it's been the holidays since the end of June and I haven't been able to find 'reasons' to go out very often, apart from doing the food shopping once or twice a week. I get bored just walking into town for no reason, and while there's a nice forest nearby I'm absolutely terrified of getting lost. My friends are always too busy to come with me, and my family all walk much faster than me and I can't keep up.
I guess I'll go see a doctor (at least making an appointment is a reason to get out of the house) about the low-intensity exercises.
I would definitely get lost in a forest haha. I walk/run a trail, which I actually discovered by getting on Google maps and looking at the area around me to see where sidewalks were, and I found it. I would also try just searching for walking trails online. I believe their are websites online where people list places to walk and run. Definitely go to the doctor, and I agree with Just_Ceci about being able to walk at least 30 minutes easily before attempting C25K. I think I was walking 45 minutes and really pushing myself before I attempted it. Good luck!0 -
How tall are you?0
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No heart pain is OK. If your chest hurts, stop!!! Slow to a walk, or stop completely and rest. I can walk for hours, but I couldn't do the first week of C25K. I had to start with shorter intervals, 20 seconds walk and 20 seconds jog (very very slowly, more bouncing up and down than going forward).0
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Go get yourself checked out by your doctor, chest/heart pain is not something to be played with. Once you're cleared for exercise, do the walking and then get into the running. Even if you start off much slower.0
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