I'm very, very fat so Starting c25k on 1st. Anyone want to join me?

[2fatbyfar]

I'm a fat lazy slob! I'm constantly tired, grumpy, frumpy and frazzled! I'm mid forties, my hair has emigrated from my head to my multiple chins, and its time I actually started to turn my dumpy life around. Anyone want to join me? From the 1st January I'm going to start c25k using the NHS app. From 4th January I'll be giving up sugar. My aim is to get fit rather than slim, because I'm such an elephant that trying to set a weight goal will just demotivate me😂.
Everyone welcome.

I'll join you! I put on weight when I started a new medication a year and a half ago. I decided to pick up running to try and shift it. Never made it past run 2 😳. I'm determined to try again though and hopefully this thread will mean there's accountability and I actually stick with it.

Count me in! Did my first run on Christmas morning and already I feel more relaxed.

I’ll join you! I started last year, around May and did about two/three weeks, but then had a health thing that meant I had to stop - realistically I only needed to stop for two weeks but I never got back into it.
I’m embarrassingly unfit, and generally weak. Wfh has not helped as now I don’t even walk to work.

Bit concerned about how cold it is though, what do you wear to run in winter??

Just to add that I'm using the Couch 2 5K program from the NHS website. I found it very doable. I'm now 3 runs in and I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to keep it up.

I've just done run 2 of the Couch 2 5k. I have Sarah Millican as my coach.

Yes. This is my plan although I don’t want to run in snow so I hope that clears up! I am working long hours on NYD so my first run will be the 2nd.

Welcome to everyone. Hope we can all support each other.

criminallycharmed great username! I think I made it to the third week four years ago, I'm determined to do it this time!
meredithgrey I had thermal running trousers, a normal cotton t.shirt, gloves and snood. Trainers with waterproof socks...I hate wet feet when running through puddles I'm sure this is not what proper runners wear. I'm a huge blob fish now though so it will be some tracksuit bottoms and probably a lightweight sweatshirt. I have rubbish circulation so even when I warm up my feet and hands are constantly cold they take on a horrible deathly pallor! Hence gloves and decent warm foot wear. I have ridiculously wide feet so my trainers are some sketchers ones as they are the only ones that don't give me corns😂

marmitey have you managed to do the next run? The thing I find a challenge is having the days rest in between, I almost need to do it every day to keep momentum going. I also found it quite a jump from week two to week three!

Hello, I'm a bit further on through the programme but wanted to say that if I can do it, you can too. I am overweight, frazzled, 40s and I did it and it was life changing. Good luck everyone x

Oooo I might join in, I did c25k in lockdown 1, absolutely loved it, ran 50 miles in July for a charity thing, then august was hot and September I started uni so running has gradually dwindled off to the point I restarted week 5 a month ago and that's as far as I got.

Want to start again at the weekend, think I'm going to try week 5 and see how I get on but am fatter and unfitter than probably lockdown 1. I love running soooo much, there is nothing better than doing a 5k run on a Sunday morning with music blasting out in your ears, knowing how good you will feel when it's over.

I’m starting this (again) too. My family all howled with laughter when I said I’d take the dog along too. Maybe that’s a bad idea!

Good luck everyone!

@2fatbyfar Just finished Week 1 today (having roped in DP). So far, so good. It's enough to feel like you've had a good workout, but not so much that you're wrecked for the next day.

I'll do it max every second day to avoid any chance of injury. I'm in the Southern Hemisphere so my main problem right now is going early enough to avoid the heat.

Very chuffed with my cheapo trail running shoes which are comfy and holding up brilliantly on the dirt roads around the farm I'm staycationing at.

Good luck all of you! I did it a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back. Make sure you wear layers because the weathers cold but you will warm up quickly, so lots that you can remove. Maybe do a loop near home so you can easily ditch layers on the drive/leave a water bottle there.
If you are struggling SLOW DOWN for 30 seconds rather than walking/stopping. You should be running at a speed where you can still hold a conversation. If you aren’t fully recovered pause the walk and carry on walking longer before starting the next run. If you can go with a friend to motivate each other it makes it a lot easier.

I’m on week 4. If you take it easy and steady you will be fine. It’s very doable. I’m fat, 40 and I can do it, so can you!

I have Jo as my voice, I find her much more motivating than the others I tried. She like a friendly voice in my ear.

Drink some water before you set off. You can do this!!!

@2fatbyfar thank you, can't claim I came up with it myself I stole it from somewhere!

Is anyone else worried that they might be to unfit to even manage week 1? I'm sure it's possible but I get out of breath just walking up the stairs

@CriminallyCharmed if you are worried you aren’t fit enough for week 1, then try a fast power walk on the run sections and a slower pace on the walk section. It’s only 60 seconds of a light jog and you will build fitness pretty fast. Go for it!

I did it this time last year, and haven't looked back! I lost loads of weight and am now running 5 - 7km 3x a week.

I found it suddenly became very difficult (possibly around week 5?) so I just stepped back and repeated the week before, I did that a couple of times.....also when I began struggling and felt useless I repeated a run from week 2 to show myself how far along I'd come!

Good luck all!

@CriminallyCharmed the key thing is to make sure that you go slow ..and then a bit slower.. Its not a school sports day sprint, its a gentle jog. You’ll get fitter by working your heart in the run elements and then your heart rate recovering in the walk breaks. If you push too hard in the run bits all you do is a) wear yourself out b) get your heart rate so high you won’t recover sufficiently for the next run bit. What you’re doing first of all is building stamina , speed will naturally come later.

Please may I join you? Did C25K back in 2013 and managed a 10K before having a crashing fall and tearing the ligaments in my ankle. Haven't run since despite really enjoying it and I've decided I want to start again. Will do first run on 2nd Jan will be too hungover on the 1st!

I’ll join!
I’ve just downloaded the app :)

I'm doing it too! Average size but so very very unfit with hideous posture, skin like a much older lady and living on sugar, so am excited to start afresh. So far this has consisted asking for Sweaty Betty vouchers for Christmas and browsing their boxing day sale, but feel keen!

Are others using the NHS app?

Hi I may join you as well starting on the 1st Jan - I'm going to try and do something everyday for 66 days as part of the gym shark 66 - not that I wear any of their gear! Just fancied some motivation for the 66 days!

I'm in! Pre-children I used to run 10ks and I enjoyed it. I then had a huge problem with my pelvis and it just stopped me dead. I have tried a few times to do C25K but I get really stuck around week 5. I think I need to go slower and repeat a week if I'm finding it too hard.

Hello all, just to say good luck with your worthy endeavour and there is a C25K thread with lots of other people at various stages of the programme on it, and lots of encouragement and mutual support available! So do drop in there too!

I'm in too. I've been thinking about it for a while and maybe I can do it if others are doing it at the same time. Bit nervous that my knees might pop but will give it a go