To those big losers out there :-)

walk 3-4 days a week (an hour at either 3.5 or 4.0 MPH depending on the day). No interest in running.

^^This. It's almost been a year for me, and lately I may run a bit if I'm having difficulty keeping it at 4.0

I started at 274lbs. I have lost 121lbs and have 29 left to go. I have only ever worked out using DVD's or outside activities(ie mowing, bike riding, walking). If you like jogging go for it. I don't really enjoy it but have considered adding it to my routine. I always do what makes me happy. If I don't I won't workout. GOOD LUCK on your Journey.

I guess I would fit into your 'big loser' category! Running is not now, nor has it ever been to this point, part of my process. That's not to say I don't one day plan to do some running - - - but only for a very specific reason. My daughter is a runner and I want to run a 5K with her. I am sure I will not run anywhere near as fast as she can, but it's not about winning. It is about the fact that I was a morbidly obese mom all of her life. Now, she is 34 and I am 55, I am finally at a place where I may be able to run and I want to share that with her - - - once!! LOL

My exercise focused on very low impact stuff because my knees are bad. That has improved dramatically over the years as the pounds have come off, but the truth is that I have had surgery on one and should have had on the other. Becoming a runner in any kind of a serious way is not for me. It does NOT preclude me being healthy and able to participate fully in life, though. I read somewhere that each pound lost removes four pounds of torque pressure from the knees. Let me tell you how much better mine feel currently!! Walking, riding an exercise bike, doing low impact workouts, using an elliptical have all proven effective ways of burning calories as I have progressed through this journey. The key is to burn the calories somehow. Playing with grandchildren works nicely, too!! :laugh:

I have recently started jogging. At first I could barely make it two minutes and now I do 2.5 miles before I take a body works class twice a week. I was looking for a way to burn more calories before I did my class. I do think I drop weight quicker with jogging even though I am really slow.

I had over 110 to lose and am now over halfway. I don't run at all. I'm in my 40's and I have bad knees. I do use the bike, the elliptical and I work out with a trainer 3x a week. Being heavy most of my life has put a significant pressure on my knees and I am paying the price now. I can walk and have signed up to do a 5k fun run (I'll walk it) just to challenge myself.

Good luck.

I weighed in at 206 this am. I started here at 244 in March 2012. AT 244 I would go to a local track, walk a lap run a half. Then I started walking a lap, running a lap. Then I pushed myself to run two times around, 3, 4, etc. A few weeks ago I ran a 5k without stopping. It just happens like a practice makes perfect type of thing. Good luck!!

Just wondering for all you big losers out there, how many of you have picked up running as an exercise compared to how many exercise in the gym or do dvd's???

It seems whenever I read a big weight loss story, the person has started running during their journey. I really want to start, just really scared to at 223 lbs.

Leah

I started with walking and wii fit plus, graduated to DVD's like Ripped in 30 and soon Insanity. I'm planning to start c25k soon as well. And eventually, when I'm bored with home workouts, I'll join a gym but mainly for access to the pool and rowing machines.

Good luck!

I'm not sure if you can count me as a big loser, but I have started running recently at just over 200 pounds. I did it as a necessity because I am doing a triathlon. I'm not sure I would have picked it up if I wasn't, but I'm really glad I started. It's a lot of fun and one of those things you can take anywhere.

I'm sure people have mentioned the couch to 5k program and I can't say enough good things about it. It was SO helpful and really helped me build up my stamina. Definitely run outside, I started running on a treadmill and am now struggling a bit transitioning to outside. But running outside is way more fun. Good luck!

I have been doing a combination of running and walking. I live in a "typical" neighborhood, in that the houses are evenly spaced. I start out and run/jog for two houses then fast walk, then run/jog, and so fotth. Twice around the block is 1 mile Hey its not how far its the doing it on a regular basis that is the key. Good luck with your program.

I hope to be a big loser, and I am looking forward to adding a jog little by little. I think when I start it will be more of a shuffle-coupla-steps-try-not-to-plant-my-face-in-the-sidewalk-kinda-thing, but I am already picturing in my head what that will feel like. I don't know when it will happen for me, but I know at 400 I was able to jog down a hall when I had a code on a couple of occasions, so I expect I will be able to do short distances (very short) in a couple of months. If I could show up for someone else in need, I need to show up for myself.

My ankles are not the strongest so I tend to do hill climbing on the treadmill... maximum incline and I vary speeds between 6.0 - 6.7 it burns calories real quick but it is hard work :0)

Most of my weight loss has been from dieting and occasionally riding my bike or walking. I have just started jogging.

I picked up running, well it is more of a slow jog(!) and used the Couch to 5K program to get me going. I've never been a runner and hoped the program would at least get me to run a mile - never dreamed I could run 3. I started in October at about 191 pounds. It took me a long time on the program - which is technically a nine week program.....it took me about 6 months to be able to get up to running a 5K, but I did it. I noticed that running really helped with the inches lost.. It is a great workout - take it very slow tho. I started out way to fast and got burned out quickly. When I slowed it way down I was much better. My pace is between 4.5 - 5 mph now - I started ALOT slower.

Best of luck to you!

PS - I am now at 162 pounds and continue to lose.

I'm 5'3 and started at 270+ (took me a few weeks to get the courage to step on a scale and I was 270 then - that was Feb 10th).

Started off by walking and when I was about 260 lbs I broke into a jog for part of my walk - it freaked me out a bit, I didn't mean to. I didn't jog for long, maybe 2 minutes, but it was enough to realize that I *wanted* to run. I've been a bit worried about my knees so I've continued to walk (very occasional short jogs). I also do some wii/dvd stuff as well as some strength training. Hopefully getting my stamina and strength up will make the c25k a bit easier/less discouraging. I weighed in today at 232. I figure I'll start the c25k around 225 and see how it goes - if my knees freak, I'll hold off until 200lbs.

Not running yet has not slowed my weight loss - I'm averaging over 2lbs down a week. I never planned adding running to the exercise plan. I figured I'd get my exercise via hiking & swimming, both of which I loved back when I was fit. I always hated running, so it's very strange that I have this strong desire to do it, but I'm not going to fight and I'll do it as long as it's enjoyable. If not, I'll find something else I enjoy. I think that's the most important thing - if you enjoy it, you'll move more. How you move doesn't matter as much as just moving.

Both of the trainers I've had swear by running. They say it's the best cardio. I hate running, but I wasn't really seeing a whole lot of results with the eliptical. I tried interval running, but I kept losing track of my time. Now, I follow along with the track, I walk the curves, then jog the straights. I haven't noticed a huge drop in weight, I've really only been walking/jogging for a couple of weeks. I have noticed that my endurance is getting better & my recovery time is much shorter. I don't feel as winded. I'm at 214 right now, & I started this whole process at 223.