OUCH!!!

If you are just starting out on your journey, I would say that you are pushing yourself too hard. I did this and ended up injuring my knee - tendinitis and bone spurs. You do not want to be in this position as it makes life rather difficult (I look like an old woman when I walk...and I'm 31). Start by doing 15 minutes of really good stretching, do some walking (even fast walking) and then stretch afterwards. Work up to it. Jumping in will add stress to your body that it may not be able to handle right now. You don't have to run to lose weight.

Good luck on your journey!

Good for you fro starting!

I'd suggest C25k as a guideline, and I know some people are insecure about it, but I'd suggest running outside. I've found it to be way better on my joints. It's also less boring.

I still have about 150 pounds to lose, but I started 35 pounds ago trying to walk, too. I was doing 15-20 minutes around the track at the gym. I have really bad knees, and it was causing me quite a bit if pain, plus I really wasn't burning calories like I wanted to. I started using the elliptical crosstrainer. The first time I used it (before the walking) I was only able to go 3 minutes and I thought I was gonna pass out. After doing the walking for just twelve days, I was able to go ten minutes on the crosstrainer. It is WAY easier on my knees *and* I burn a lot more calories.

After just a few weeks, I'm up to 25-30 minutes on the crosstrainer, then 15-20 minutes on a recumbent bike (also easier on the knees than standard bike) and then I follow that with circuits on the nautilus machines and/or standard weightlifting for 15-40 minutes. I'm burning normally about 800-1200 calories at each gym visit and I'm going 5-6 days a week.

I hope this is helpful to you. Like others said, you have to start slow, but you'll build up pretty quick if you're consistent & diligent. If you don't have access to a gym, do the walking on a softer surface. The C25K program is awesome. Once I lose enough weight to make my knees more comfortable, I'd love to do it myself.

Good luck!!
~ Lynn

Don't stretch completely cold muscles, you can just end up causing tears and more pain. Walk for 3-5 minutes first, then stop and do some stretches. After that you can do your run. Though, as folks said, don't push yourself too hard too fast, build up to where you want to be over time. Also, listen to your body, constantly. My guess is that some of that pain your described started while you were still running. When that happens, you need to learn to evaluate when it's something that you can work through during the run and come out feeling better on the other side or if it's something that you need to stop and let your body have the rest that it's telling you it wants/needs via the pain.

My general rule is that if the pain doesn't subside within a couple of minutes, it's time to get off the treadmill and either try a different form of cardio for that night or to just call it a rest night. (mind you, I get on the elliptical and the bike and do the same judge on the pain if it's there, I don't just blindly do any of the options) If the pain is going to go away, you'll typically suddenly realize after awhile that you didn't even notice that the pain went away. If it's going to stick around, you'll know it.