Fellow Joggers! I am looking for some inspiration.

Jogging = running, so therefore you are a runner! Be proud! :-)

I started running when I hit 165-160ish. This is my 3rd year of running and I'm at 148, but this is the first year that I also started watching my calories. I was hovering around 155 for a really long time.

I've run 3 half marathons and am training for my 4th. When training for a half marathon I will average 20-25 miles per week. Otherwise I hover in the teens during the winter - aka running maintenance period. That's the time when I focus more on strength and will take more group classes.

I love running, even though I'm not as fast as I want to be (my last half was 2 hours and 31 minutes, just shy of my sub 2:30 goal!). I'm a more confident person since I started running, and I can get more accomplished in any given day. I feel proud of myself, even when I wear my compression shorts that make my butt look weird.

Enjoy running! I know it can be hard and frustrating at times, but there are also really good days. Focus on how running makes you feel and know that you are also building muscle and possibly storing some water, so at times the scale could tell evil, nasty lies. :-) My weight always goes up a little when I first get back into running after taking time off. It goes back down eventually.

Once you are ready, enter some local races. They're really fun AND you get a free shirt. :-D

Hi!! And congrats on starting to run!! I used to run alot but made a major life change and got out of it. Started again about 2 weeks ago. I tried running at 204 lbs but I just couldnt do it. So after I lost about 35 lbs I started again. I am doing 2 1/2 miles now and feel great!! The first week into it I had my first no weight lost week since I started this journey but it is dropping again pretty steady. My advice is to get some GOOD running shoes. Makes a world of difference. Just remember....you will burn calories but the health benefits are FANTASTIC!! I never had a weight issue when I ran before even tho at that time I always thought I did. So keep putting one foot in front of the other and just DO IT!!!

Hi!

I started the Couch to 5k about 3 months ago, completed the first couple of weeks but then increased the intensity ahead of schedule as I felt I could manage it. When I first started I really struggled with the "running 60secs" bit and my rest time inbetween nearly doubled! But as time has gone on I now realise it's not a case of sprinting inbetween resting - more jogging at a comfy pace so you don't burn out so quickly!

I signed upto Race for Life at the end of July (5k) and have been working towards that as my goal. The last two weeks I've been getting adventurous running and trying a few new routes, and when I get back I map how far i've ran and it's increasing steadily (I did my first 8k last night!) so fingers crossed this 5k will feel relatively easy by comparison.

As for weightloss - I've been stuck for ages at 155lbs (like another poster)... I mean literally months, but it's because honestly I've only been half attempting to be "good"... ie I log but I pick too, so I guess that's why I've been staying the same. However, since upping my runs to 3 - 4 long ones a week instead of just 3 short ones, and having combined it with eating very healthy meals (and the odd naughty treat) I'm seeing a loss again. I don't officially weigh in until tomorrow but if I stay the same I'll have lost 1.5lbs this week which is very good for me!

I've just bought myself some proper running shoes too and honestly they are amazing. I didn't realise how much easier it would feel - when I start getting tired my legs feel really heavy and I can feel the impact in my knees... and going up hills was a proper trudge... however on my long run last night I could feel how they took the extra impact from my knees meaning my legs hurt less and I could keep a better pace. I also get a nice breeze through them which was a surprise lol.

I'm aiming to run the 10k Race for Life next, and then hopefully a half marathon. I can honestly say I NEVER would have imagined being a runner, but now I've got over the first couple of tricky months learning how to do it, it's now so much easier and more enjoyable. And I am getting wicked thigh and calf muscles

If you've come this far, don't give up - give it 3mths and I assure you your stamina will have dramatically improved and by then you'll find each run easier and easier. I used to worry going out that I'd look silly, not manage it, get lost etc... But now I get that itchy feeling that I NEED to get out for an hrs peace. Feel free to add me if you want :flowerforyou: