A year of running - before and after pics

[DavetheCat2001]

warning
Could contain what some may call 'stealth boasting', but honestly I just want to show what running 2-3 times a week, plus making some small changes in my diet have done for my bod.

In both pics I look my usual deathly white, but if you can see past that, I think my legs have changed the most. First pic was taken in May 2015, second one was taken today.

Hope no one minds.

Thanks, I'm determined but really hoping I can make myself stick with it. For my kids as much as me, I made a big change in my life 2 years ago for them when I gave up smoking and now I want to be able to play football with them, go on bike rides with them without feeling like I could keel over at any second. Il get the couch to 5k downloaded thanks so much! Do you run to music? xx

Well done OP I'm really glad you've posted your pictures.
I started to run...well a lot of power walking with bursts of running last summer and then just got out of it, no reason but laziness.
Your before picture is almost like I was, I hated that fatty cellulite on the front of my thighs and I definately saw an improvement and I felt so full of energy. Wish I'd kept it up now! Your legs look great in the after pic...going to give it a go again!!

DavetheCat wow! Your pictures & story are truly inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing.

jessie I listen to Absolute 80's radio. Partly because I am a child of the 80's, but mainly because I am too lazy to download any actual music onto my phone! I need to get back on it. Been away for a rainy weekend in Weymouth with my sister and her kids. Drunk far too much wine and havent run since Wednesday.

Dave, great thread, you look fab! I took up running at similar age to you, (in 2011, now 49) and experienced the same changes in body shape as you BUT then got chronic PF and so stopped running. ( and started getting a bit chubby - I too have a fondness for wine!) I took up cycling instead and although bang in a fair few miles, it's not as effective as running for getting you toned so what I'd really like to say is thank you for your posts and pics, you've inspired me to take up running again (the PF has long since calmed down) so I will keep following this as really like to read your updates, as well as loads of other great updates and anecdotes here.

Thanks Pip x

I also have a strong fondness for wine..in fact after a hellish day with my youngest (Threenager anyone??), I am enjoying a very large glass of red right now!

I had a bit of a blow out last weekend with my sister on a trip to Weymouth..far too much booze and a lot of chocolate biscuits! But made sure I got back on the wagon this week and actually haven't touched a drop of vino all week, which is very unlike me!

Got my 10k Race for Life in a couple of weeks, and have managed to collect £600 in sponsorship, so fretting that I mustn't get lazy with my running as I want to complete the race and make everyone proud!

Hope everyone else is doing well. Anyone done some before and after pics and noticed changes yet?

oh..and I've also been really cutting back on my carbs the last couple weeks, and have found the bloat round my tummy is much better. I am also a lover of pasta..omg I love the stuff, but that along with sardines at work for lunch/toast for breakfast etc, I was eating far too many carbs.

Tonight we are having burgers with big mushrooms sauteed in butter and garlic and a big salad. I have been eating a lot of salad with things recently. I still love a couple slices of toast in the morning, and will have pasta now and then, but just cutting down on the sheer amount is making a difference.

not sardines at work offs! Sarnies!!! haha!

Well done on the 10k - the training and particularly raising the money you have!
Re: carbs, I can go without bread but pasta would be hard!
Going to go on the wagon after bank holiday Monday as have a cycling event a week on Sunday and know it will help me not feel so sluggish.
And have dug out all my old running gear ( I must have been keen, there's bloody loads of it!) and am going to try the old trick of getting into my kit first thing as tended to feel a bit of an arse if I got ready, then didn't go out for a run and then had to get out of kit.
The intention is to get the bike miles in this week then after sportive will start to incorporate running again. There's a very pretty (and flat!) reservoir nearby (so nice and soft on the feet) about a 2.5k circuit so there's my starting point.
Strava at the ready!

Your post made me get up a go for a 5 mile run! Then I did the abs video! Feeling very pleased. I did a half marathon last year but life got in the way and stopped running. Going to get back on it now! Thsnks for the inspiration

Go bigbutsrus!

Did you do the 9 moves abs vid? I found I got results from that really quickly, and it isn't too long and gruelling.

Keep up the good work!

Wow OP you look fantastic, well done to you

I had to really force myself out this morning!

OH and I went out for a very rare meal out on Saturday night and I really enjoyed myself! Ate loads of whatever I wanted, drunk some very nice wine and indulged in the BEST salted caramel/chocolate/milk ice cream dessert I have ever tasted! OH went bonkers with a cheese board too which I also had to sample (I love cheese!).
Felt pretty ropey all day yesterday so my planned 10k run didn't happen, and this morning I was not in the mood to go out at all, but just chucked on my running gear and went for it.
It was hard work..I did a couple of brutal hills..slowly..but I went and I feel so much better for it now. It does really help clear a fuzzy head, plus OH said to me how fab I am looking in my underwear, which was nice

AprilSkies44, I have been running just over a year, but would say you will see changes within a month if you keep at it regularly (3 times a week), and try to make a few small diet changes. For me it was stopping having sugar in my tea (never thought I would be able to do it, but I have!), only eating brown rice/bread etc now, and upping my protein and not eating carbs with every meal (pasta and bread fiend that I am).

I also really question myself if I feel like raiding the fridge for a snack. I find when I am at home with the kids the temptation is always there, but now I stop to think am I really hungry, drink a big glass of water, and most of the time the feeling of wanting to snack passes off.

Hope all you ladies are doing well xx

So that's quite a few of us inspired to either get back into running or start doing so, I'm going to get back into it after cycling event next weekend ( which I haven't done nearly enough training for) and after a chat with my neighbour, hoping to sign up for one of the 5k race for life pretty muddy events (the one she's doing is end of June)
Dave ( I actually used to have a cat named Dave! Bit off topic...) well done on your run, it's hard to get out if you're not really feeling it.
Looking forward to seeing how you all get on and if anyone is interested, there is a great thread on Runners World- "From 0 to a Marathon in 22 weeks" is the title in the Beginners section. It started about 4 years ago but is still active. The OP there went from massive weight loss through dieting and running and did just what the thread title says. And now does ultras.....!

Kudos for having a Dave cat as well Pipkin . I really miss my DtC

It is really amazing how your stamina builds up, and I do think that a lot of the perceived difficulty with running is in the head. I think you have to keep reminding yourself that your body is capable of more than you think, and whilst you should never push yourself too hard, often you have more in you than your head is trying to tell you!

Nothing like completing that really tough run having not given into the little voice saying 'you can't do this..it's too hard' etc, instead tell yourself 'YES I CAN do this!'

Just sorting through my wardrobe and found my old jeans

That is amazing, I've still not managed to get out I seem to have an excuse or something else crops up any inspiration as to how I get myself out and running xx

Loving this thread I undo all my good work training and running the moment I walk into the kitchen so some inspiration is needed.

Wow Dave that's amazing and I'm going to use this to spur me on!!

I use to go to the gym a lot in my 20s but two kids later I have a lot less time and I've lost a lot of my fitness.

It's quite vain but the prospect of being in a bikini in 6 weeks is wanting me to sort my legs out. I don't intend on doing this just for 6 wks but that's my first aim.

I joined a gym and went for my first run in years on Saturday. I managed 30min so was quite pleased but I was quite slow. I did a bit of rowing some leg presses, squats and lunges too.

I wanted to go yesterday but couldn't face going after lunch.

I'm going tonight when DH gets home and the plan is to run for 30min, cross trainer for 30min, rowing 2km (about 10min) and a few leg presses.

I'd like to do that 4 times a week but it might end up being 3 times only, I'm dependent on DH really.

On my off days I'm going to aim for a short ab workout (I used to do a Rebecca Louise one too funnily enough) and some weights - probably 30min max.

I quite like to do a before and after pic too but not sure I've got the nerve to post it on here... I reckon I'm not far off your "before" pic.

Thanks for the motivation!

I was on this thread a few pages back - have namechanged - but I have stuck at the exercise and am running or speed walked 3 x a week.

It's my bloody stomach getting me down. Although I'm technically a 10 I have a serious spare tyre situation. I can suck it in and look flat but when I sit down I can feel two rolls now, and I mean a handful, not ripple. It's gross.

I guess I should change my diet. I do eat pretty healthily overall, but half term had me scoffing crap all week.

If you cut carbs right down aren't you starving?

I am tempted to do Davina's low carb diet but worried I'll be practically eating the table after a couple of days.

Right, I have just taken my "before" pic - never done that before!

It was interesting how I'm not as big as I thought - not stealth boasting either but my point is you look so much bigger when you just look at yourself from above ie, not in a mirror.

Still, I want to lose a bit of vanity weight or at least looked a bit less heavy at the bottom. I'm not overweight, my diet is pretty good but I feel a bit bottom heavy.

In 6 weeks time I'll take another pic and see whether going from zero exercise to consistent exercising several times a week has made any difference to my shape. I'm not going to change my diet, I'll just carry on eating moderately while enjoying my food and wine.

Thanks again Dave!

Love this thread!