C25K- those who have done it, what was your starting weight, end weight, and did you complete it in 9 weeks?

[TidyDancer]

Shamelessly posting here for traffic.

Starting this programme on Monday night. I am determined to do it but I'm terrified basically that because I'm so overweight I won't be able to do it. I am over 100kg (yes I know, I'm embarrassed enough about that) but am fairly active day to day so I'm not going into this from no physical activity at all but I haven't run since I was about 12 (am mid 30s mum of 2 now).

Weight loss is my ultimate goal but I really just want to be able to run 5k and build up my fitness at the same time as losing weight, if that makes sense?!

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help!

Anyone in the evening crowd?

Weight loss is mainly about diet - exercise obviously good for us though.

5k burns off maybe 400 calories. I jog 5k or so and enioy it, but have lost v little weight in two years as I haven’t changed what I eat!

I haven't completed it, infact I only started last Monday, completed my first week yesterday onto week 2 tomorrow.
I've never really done any exercise, I've never run, not even for a bus and I'm super unfit!(5"1 9st 7lb). I love it, first day was super hard for me but by the third day I felt more confident and comfortable. Haven't lost any weight in week one (am also calorie counting) bit didn't expect to to be honest, and Ive done it more because I want to be healthier/fitter.
I haven't really helped with your op but I wanted to just say go for it!!

I have done it several times, around other sports, commitments etc. I never loose weight just by running. I have done it when i weighed 90 kg, and when I weighed 75kg and several weights in between.

No weight loss and I didn’t do it in 9 weeks but definitely toned.

I found that it is largely in your head so I wanted to be comfortable at one level before I went into the next week.

Good luck and well done for getting started.

Also currently doing it, on week 6 now and can’t believe how much longer I can run for! Determined to lose some baby weight but also generally be fitter. Trying to eat better but it’s very hard with an 8 month old that doesn’t sleep or want to be put down! Need to organise myself more as I find myself eating too many carbs and sugary things.

Can I join you @TidyDancer?
I want to start and haven’t had the guts yet.
I’m 95kg, need to lose baby weight and desperate to get fitter. I’m not active day to day really and scared to start.

It will definitely tone and change your body.

I completed it at the end of last year, took 9 weeks. It was the first regular exercise I'd done since just before I got pregnant with my now 1 year old. Lost zero - not even a pound! However I didn't alter my eating habits at all.

That being said I think its a great program and I was thrilled to complete it.

Thank you for responses!

That would be fab @WantToRunThere, I am heavier than you by a little bit I think. It would be good to have some encouragement specifically from someone at the same stage of running!

I should clarify, losing weight is my overall goal but my reason for doing this is fitness rather than weight loss specifically. I have overhauled my diet and know how to eat to lose weight etc but I'm keen to make exercise a habit!

I’ve always done it in 9 weeks. I treat it as “ do exactly what it says, however much it hurts”. S nmy half an hour... yiu’ll be in your way home 15 minutes after you go out.

Starting weight 12 st 6lb (June 2016)

Finishing weight 10st 6lb (September 2016)

Weight now 10st 6lb & completed 5 marathons 😊

Keep going! Running is the.best.thing.ever

(That comes from someone who hated PE and school and hadn't run a step until they were 30)

I am doing couch to 5k, I am at week 7 now. I weigh around 100kg also. I do feel more fit and can run for 25 minutes now. I haven’t lost weight but haven’t been trying to, aim was to improve fitness for me. I found a local running group running a couch to 5k course who I run with once a week and this has really helped keep me motivated. Good luck op!

Lost no weight, probably not unrelated to the fact that I run REALLY slowly. 9wks was fine, although I never have completed 5k in 30mins, so had to add my own last run onto the NHS c25K programme, which stops when you can run 30mins continuously.

I did it with my Dd last summer. I can't remember the numbers but neither of us lost that much weight. It was more about getting in shape to be kick start things and begin to lose weight once we were fitter. It is really good though. It's amazing how each week you think "that's it I'm not going to be able to do any more" but then each week you just manage to do more. Keep at it and good luck!

Forgot to say too that once you have lost the weight and want to maintain, running means you can eat all the food!

@TidyDancer oh shit I’ve got to do it now

@wanttorunthere I'm only on week 2, and I've gone from zero activity and a life long loathing of all exercise, to I can't wait tomorrow to get out for a run when she gets home from work. Honestly I'm so proud of myself, I run at a snails pace but the difference just from day one to day three is huge- I've found my routine and rhythm and actually enjoying it!

i have completed it , but on the cross trainer/elliptical bike affair...

I did try it a couple of years back out on the roads, and really buggered my ankles, they belong on the 8 stone teen I was all those years ago, not the size 18 I was! Anyway, new trainers, and new determination not to be any fatter meant I started off the NY, doing it every day, but after about three weeks the ankles started again, so I cut it to the 3 days a week as recommended and finished it week before last....and no more ankle issues

I have lost weight, around the middle and certainly notice a vast improvement from really struggling to do the last runs in a session to being able to keep going at a pretty high lick for 28 minutes in week 9 The size 16 jeans I have now go up and down without being unfastened and have to be belted and I can wear the 14s all day without feeling suffocated, but they are a little neat to be absolutely honest. I do not weigh, but dd, dh and my nail lady have noticed!

I repeated a few runs just as I knew that although I had completed the week it had been a struggle and to move on would have meant more struggle, it's really easy to monitor speed/effort on the cross trainer though so very straightforward to know when you are doing better.

also had a dreadful coldafter week eight so took a week off and then two weeks to do the last three, but I managed a PB for distance and speed

The challenge now is to work up my speed and balance for the treadmill so I am pondering that when we are away next week and will make a plan of some sort!

It definitely works and I will continue with it until I am able to go outside like a real runner!

@ahardman that sounds amazing.
I’m going to go really slowly, but manage the whole time. And not beat myself up for not being great at it!

I was 3 stone overweight and didn't lose a pound, I felt better mentally though.

I've since lost the weight through diet with no exercise and plan to do the c25k again.

I started it 6m postnatally when I finally stopped limping from SPD. Exact weightloss, I don't remember, but between diet, feeding a hungry baby and exercise, I did lose the 1.5 stones to get back to pre-preg weight.

It took 5m including bouts of family illnesses, starting a new job and squeezing the runs in around a low-sleep baby's sleep patterns.

I've only achieved 5k in 30 mins or less at a few parkruns, but I did my first HM 12 months after my first C25k run.

You can't outrun a bad diet, but the boost to metabolism and increased muscle will help support healthy changes to your diet, plus all the other benefits of exercise.

I started in January and I’ve lost 8lb, but was/am dieting too. I look like I’ve lost more as I have toned up quite a bit. It took me about 6 weeks to hit 5k, because once I’d done the 20 minute run, I didn’t want to go back to stopping and starting. I think it’s a brilliant app, I loved the in-ear support!
Strava is a good social running app, you can share your runs with friends and motivate and support each other.

Didn't bother with couch to 5k though heard good things about it, I just started doing Parkrun and never looked back. Initially started walking/ running and now get all the way round without stopping and gradually decreasing my time. LOVE IT. People do Parkrun are all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness. Some people just walk the whole thing and do it in 50 minutes but as there are tail walkers, lovely, encouraging people who have a chat if you want to or stay discreetly in the background if you don't, you're never the last. Once I started doing that, I began to get the bug and it then motivated me to eat less and exercise more. I've lost about 1/2 a stone and reduced my 5k time by about 8-10 minutes. Down a dress size. Highly recommend.