am i mad to be considering running?

[annbenoli]

I have been overweight all my adult life and was taken to a slimming club by my well meaning mum at the age of 9 ( i know)! I have a loving husband, successful career and 3 amazing children. My weight and lack of fitness hangs over me like a black cloud. I was never good at sport and do not enjoy exercise, although I would love to. I have ordered some running shoes, am I mad? I am going to start the c25K. I am size 22 with huge boobs. Am I crazy or could I become the person I want to be?

[bigpantspam]

You will shit yourself, have you not seen the other thread?

[frazmum]

Of course you're not mad - all you need to run is some comfy clothes and basic running shoes. I used this site last year to get me started - it sounds really basic, but believe me it works. You need to get going really slowly, that way you won't give up. www.runnersworld.com/beginners/8-week-beginners-program?page=single

[MelanieCheeks]

C25K is a great way to start! Good luck on your endeavours :-)

[kittykarate]

Couch to 5k program is a good way to build up.

You could even phase into that by spending a few weeks going for BRISK walks 3-4 days a week.

Oh - and don't forget to buy a good sports bra!

[MegBusset]

Couch to 5k is fantastic. I completed it last autumn having been a total non-runner for years and now I can run 5k easily (even if I have a bit of a break, as I did with the recent awful weather!).

However... I think if you are serious about improving your health you will also need to look at your diet and overall lifestyle. C25k alone won't make you fit if the rest of the time you're sedentary and eating the wrong kind/amount of food.

[SarahBumBarer]

I'm just on week two of C25K - seriously bad at running.

You do need some stamina - I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to exercise - my motto is more "no pain - excellent" than "no pain - no gain". I started some interval training in January having not exercised for many years and without that I would have struggled even with Wk1 of c25k (but as I say - wuss).

Some support is good - I am intending to do at least 2 of my weekly runs with one other person and am (mainly lurking) on one of c25k threads on here. Amazingly having started (since Jan with the interval training) to exercise I am thinking a bit more about what I eat too - don't want to exercise just to eat rubbish and undo all the good so from one comes the other.

Good luck.

[fluffyraggies]

I would advise caution. Firstly buy yourself a really really good sports bra.

I tried jogging to loose weight a couple of years ago. I had a stone to loose. I thought my boobs and my lack of fitness would be the worst of it. I bought the good bra, i bought the trainers, i chose somewhere secluded to do my jogging.

I did my jogging. I tried to do it by the book. Tried to build up slowly. Didn't jog every day.

I buggered my knees up :(
Turns out i have very weak joints.
I have to stick to brisk walking.

Take care and take professional advice re: support/strapping for your joints.

[sparechange]

Do it! A good sports bra is a must, and some decent running shoes (not just general 'trainers') will be a great investment.

The couch to 5k podcasts are great, as is focusing on the person you want to be!

And don't forget to have a good stretch afterwards. Nothing fancy, just reaching to touch your toes, putting your foot flat up against a wall to stretch your calves and taking a big stride forward and dropping your back knee to the floor.

Look up stretches on youtube if that doens't make sense.

And enjoy it! You won't be able to run straight away, but look to do a 20 min session of jogging then walking then jogging again and before you know it, you'll have built up to being able to run continuously

[HeySoulSister]

Hey size 22 is nothing... I was size 2 and have completed c25k and just joined a running club!

My advise to you is:

Proper running shoes ...
Good bra
Running app and music! ( ministry of sound get me round!)
Low carb eating.... Check the threads here
Hydrate..... Drink water, ditch caffeine
Maybe some other exercise for strength I.e shred

You can do it!!!

[HeySoulSister]

Size 20 not 2 !!!!

[corlan]

Go for it! All you need is a good bra (or preferably, a couple of midgets running in front holding them up for you )

[FryOneFatManic]

I started couch to 5K late last year. Sadly I had to give it up for a while and will now re-start.

I couldn't even complete week 1 the first time around, so I stuck to repeating week one a couple of times and found that after that I could do it. I felt fitter and while I didn't exactly lose weight I could certainly feel fitter (I didn't get so out of breath when walking home up the hill).

I have made changes by walking much more and leaving the car at home unless I was transporting heavy stuff (or it was snowy, as walking up and down our hill would have been dangerous and roads were clearer).

I still don't eat as well as I should, but I've managed to largely cut the choc and biccies out, eat more fruit/veg.

So give it a try, you never know it might work well for you.

And if running doesn't work for you, try swimming or cycling as they are also good.

[FryOneFatManic]

Oh, and I found that as well as the C"%K programme, the NHS website also has a 5-week strength and flex programme.

[paneer]

c25k is great, what I never realised was the mental aspect of it. A lot of the time the mind holds you back.
There is a c25k thread on here, go and get support there when you start too.
Good luck.

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx

[SweetestThing]

Running is a great way to get fitter, build stamina and lose weight. I would suggest you speak to your doctor before starting, as with any exercise regime.

Yy to proper sports bra. Enell are very good for bigger-boobed women. They don't look pretty, but when you wear it, those puppies are going nowhere! Start with a walk/run schedule and gradually build up the running and scale back the walking. While the jury is still out on the benefits of stretching before running, do make sure you stretch afterwards.

Running is addictive. Enjoy it!

[HeySoulSister]

i have heard lots of ladies also wear a crop type top over their bra for added support