Don't give up, Fruitgums. You can always power-walk if you'r feeling really rubbish. But I think it ismportant to keep up the 2-3 day thing.

Madwomanintheattic (love your username!) - The programme doesn't mention anything about a maintenance programme. Hopefully this will get you to around the 5k mark otherwise you can aim for a 5k running programme or a 10k one?

Arabica - I'm at the stage where I'm thinking of giving up.... I think it's mainly because I can't seem to recover after my chest infection and now I've got a cold. I've decided to give it a rest this week and re-start the programme at wk 3 next week. This will be my 3rd time or re-starting week 3!!!

Welcome Tiger! I'm doing the easiest running programme ever! Intially it only requires 18mins of walking/running (scroll up for the programme). I re-iterate what Arabica says in that get the gear & go for it. I cannot stress the importance of a good sports bra. So many times in the past I gave up after getting sore boobies due to insufficient support. I've now got a fab bra and this is no longer an issue. Go for it & let us know how you get on.

Oh and Tiger, it only takes 25 mins incl a 5 min walk to warm up, so it's not to hard to squeeze in.

Hello and welcome. Just scroll down, check out the 2 running programmes, get trainers and a sports bra and go for it. Am also very seriously over 40 (in years, and in hip measurement!) The trick is not to try and do too much or go too fast. I found 1 minute of running almost impossible at first. But now I am coping OK with 90 seconds. You just have to keep doing it, every 2-3 days, and it will get easier.

Hello, can I join please?

I am seriously over 40, have 4.5 stone to lose. I eat too much (but like it), drink too much (but like it) and struggle to find time to exercise in any way -long work hours and live in the middle of nowhere, so swimming and gyms are miles away.

I know I must eat less and exercise more, but how do I do it?

HELP!!

I think I am at a point when it's tempting to give up, in that I don't feel like I am improving and the weather is dreadful! But I will persevere, if only because I can see myself getting larger and larger otherwise. Am one of the biggest mamas in the playground and I don't like it-I want to swagger in there with shopping bags, telling anyone remotely interested that I had to get a whole new wardrobe, as all my old clothes are far too big! It does NOT help that one formerly plus-plus sized mum is now a size 10. And has done the whole new wardrobe thing

thanks ladies - fruitgum, that's brill. what do they suggest you do when you have worked through that programme? is the idea that you should be able to move on to a non-stop jog from there?

in the uk i used to use the lamp posts to 'time' my jog/ walks. out here i'm struggling to find landmarks lol, so a watch might be the answer

I know, it took me FOREVER!!!

Impressive typing there fruitgum! I am also repeating a week of my running programme as today I found 90 seconds of running a real challenge.

LOL @ Arabica!!