Could you do C25K to get you walking?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

I am very unfit, running seems unlikely, but would like to up my exercise. So was pondering if thus could be a starting point?

Yes, you could easily power walk the running bits and stroll the walking bits. Then if you felt up to it, once you've finished the whole programme you could start from the beginning again and run/walk.

If you use an app like Runkeeper then it will track calories and whatnot, it doesn't matter if you're not running.

Thanks Eau, that's what I wanted to hear. And starring again sounds a grand idea

I've just downloaded the app, but it's not very instructiony. Is there any beginner's guide anywhere?

Xx

Alopogies fir the friffing kisses, I'm in texting mode.

[blysh]

Somebody told me yesterday that running / walking both burn pretty much the same number of calories.* So you might see great results just from walking, especially if you are picking up the pace over time.

I started running using the c25K method and it really helped me get fitter.

• Disclaimer - I haven't a clue whether this is actually true but she seemed pretty certain!

There is a long and very geeky explanation of walking calories burned v running calories burned here. I haven't had enough caffeine yet to read it properly, but basically running burns more calories. Walking is still great exercise though.

AFAIK the podcasts just tell you when to stop and start your power walking intervals. There's not much to it, really, you just increase the length of the fast bits and decrease the length of the slow bits. I used an app for C25K so I could listen to my own music while I was running, then the voice just chips in telling you when to walk and run.

I think you would have to be really power walking to burn anything like the same calories or get as fit as if you were running (it's so much harder). I started by walking though, gradually increase pace and distance .

I think the theory is that you would burn around the same amount of calories walking 5k as you would running the same 5k, but obviously you would need to walk for around an hour to cover that distance, whilst you could run it in half an hour.

Mand indeed, there isn't a huge difference although the action of running does mean you burn slightly more calories per km (all dependant on pace) but the key point to note is that if you walk for 5km it takes 60 mins and you burn 300 cals - you would have burned roughly 2000/24 = 83 calories just existing, so you've burned 217 extra cals. If you ran the same distance and burned the same cals in half the time you'd only have spent 42 calories on existing so you've burned 258 extra cals with your run. So in the end running will have more effect than walking.

That said, walking is a very good start OP - a much bigger difference between walking and sitting than walking and running!

Before I started C25k I downloaded Runkeeper and set myself a weekly walking goal of 21 miles a week. My aim was to walk 3 a day but sometimes an hour walk wasn't possible to I tried to catch up on another day. Definitely aim for distance rather than time as to begin with I would wander along convinced I had done miles and realise it was only 0.9 or something. It gave me the kick up the backside to just get on with it!
I rewarded myself with £1 a mile set aside for new walking trainers etc - not food! This also stopped me from buying a load more exercise equipment to clutter up the house unused.
Once I had done consistently that for a couple of months and it was set in my daily routine I added C25k. I lost over a stone before starting C25k which obviously made the running a whole easier!