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.

It’s a helpful encouragement to trust the system. Where I’m at (wk 2) it’s hard to imagine being able to run for 20 minutes! Hope your run goes well tomorrow @Sssloou

I did my 20min run today. It was 100% psychological. I was dreading it and when I started I didn’t want to do it - which was the first time I had felt like that. Afterwards I felt a bit flat like that was really boring ..... because I take it really steady and you don’t have anyone chirping in your ear - so long silences.

However when I got home I realised that I had not been puffed out at all and started to feel really proud of myself - because that’s quite a big achievement - and painless.

I think the boredom feeling was tied up with the fear, anticipation and dread but next time I can look forward to it and enjoy it.

Bizarrely W6 which I will start this weekend goes back to shorter runs - so it’s an interesting approach.

Well done Sssloou!

I have now done W6 R1 & R2 ..... both were v easy as x2 ten mins runs after the single 20mins last week.

But this morning was the first time I have felt I didn’t want to do this - not because I couldn’t or was dreading it being painful - just because I was bored.....so all v psychological

HOWEVER a while after I got home I felt physically great and v proud ..... so I need to remember the after feeling rather than the before feeling.

Was more puffed out at the end because I have now started to try to run faster on these shorter runs - but no leg / muscle aches or lung burn - so all good.

I know that I would never go out alone - I go with my DH - happy for him to speed on off just need to have someone to get me started.

Thinking about how I can sustain this when the 9 weeks are up and DH back at work - so will do a Sat Park run, a local beginners running club and then one other run with DH or a friend ..... or even try and do it alone!!

Great stuff!
I go on my own now as DD has given up. I enjoy the headspace, get my music on and go.

Just done W6 R3 today - 23 minutes straight....

I hadn’t looked at the plan before we went out and as the other runs this week were 2x ten minutes...I was a bit shocked and deflated - just as well I didn’t know beforehand.

The first few minutes I was a bit grumpy - but after that I just kept plodding on. I do take it slow - I imagine I am one of those octogenarians in Florida shuffling along - the aim is not to get breathless or a stitch. Laura chirped in at 5 mins ... and my negative head started with “I have to do this x4 more times” - then didn’t hear from her again until 13 mins in when she told me I was half way through ..... and I was elated. For the last 60 seconds she encourages you to up the pace if you can - and I did - it was great.

It’s all in the head ladies .... my lungs and legs aren’t holding me back. I just need to track my mood and thoughts and counteract any negativity.

I have also lost a stone since I started - all will be diet related - I am doing 16:8, 2MAD, reduced alcohol, smaller portions and less carbs - but I think the running is helping me be more mindful of my eating and boosting my mood so that I don’t sabotage the eating.

I have looked up local running clubs they start on 1st April and have a 6 week beginners scheme .... which I may or may not need to join.... also Park Run is back from start of June - so if I have those in the weekly schedule I will be chuffed.

Start W7 on Saturday and each of the 3 runs that week is 25 mins!!!

Just to say that my previous run W6R3 was 25 mins not 23....

Today started W7R1 - this is a 25 min straight run each day this week. It was quite tough - did a new route which involved leaving from my home - but the 5 min walk either end allows me to walk out and back into my village without detection from my neighbours!

Anyway - shifting down through the BMI Numbers - few more pounds and I will be out of obese and into the overweight category ..... then it’s another 2 stone until I am in the “normal” range for my height .... so lots of chipping away for another few months

On to W8 today - just did the 28 min run.

It was fine. Worried that I was a bit bored - and how I will keep up the discipline when I finish the programme next week. I was thinking it will likely take me 45 to run 5km - so I might do a Desert Islands Disc podcast.

W8R2 done this morning ...... nearing the end ... 30 mins each run next week is the end of the programme - but I am only covering 2 miles / 3.2 km..... so to do 5Km will have to increase my runs each week by a few minutes.

I do feel good and v proud of myself. I break a sweat but don’t feel like I am going to collapse or be sick.....because I am going so sloooooowwwww - but I do feel that I could keep running

I did W8R3 this morning which was 28 mins - but I carried on running through the 5 min walk warm down (did the 5 min walk warm down as well) ..... so I ran for 33 mins.

I say “ran” my DH was walking beside me - how humiliating!!!!

I am starting W9 next week and I will have finished the programme - but would love to keep this thread going if anyone else wants to start C25K or is somewhere on the journey..... passing the baton like a relay race - anyone up for it?

Honestly if my obese, salad dodger, pavement cracker fat arse can shuffle through this painlessly - anyone can!

W9R1 today.

It’s 30 mins run but I keep running for the 5min brisk walk slow down so I ran for 35 mins straight. Still prob another 10 mins to make it 5km.

But I feel great.

Looking to listen to a Desert Island Discs podcast as these are 37 mins each and getting v bored with Smooth radio - although this was helpful and calming in the early days.

I posted on this thread way back in January. I started running c25k with my 7 year old ds (mainly to burn off energy during lockdown for him). We had a week or two of no running whilst there was loads of snow, but followed the runs pretty consistently.

Amazingly were both now able to run 30 minutes non stop. Its something I never thought either of us would actually ever be able to achieve but we've done it!

We're running at quite a slow pace so 30 minutes takes us to just under 4km, but ds is now super keen to do couch to 10k and learn to run for 60 minutes.

@Sssloou yay, well done for getting to week 9 too,and even adding an extra 5 minute run onto the end. That's amazing!

I've not long started C25K, I am starting W3,R1. It seems mad that we're going from 90seconds to 3 minutes I have a baby so find doing my runs on the same days each week / 1 day break tricky at times. Is this an issue & does it mean each run will be harder if I've left a few days in between?

@PrincessConsuela12 we didn't stick to the correct days religiously, when it snowed we had a break of not running for about 10 days. I think I then repeated a week, or a run, just to check we could still manage it. The 9 week programme took us slightly over 3 months to do - which I think shows we actually skipped quite a lot of running on the allocated days?

Just take it slow and steady on your 3 minute runs, they are not super fast sprints just easy jogs you feel comfortable with. I'm sure you'll surprise yourself by being able to do it.

Thank you @Cupidity, I'm doing the first tomorrow so hopefully the 4 day gap won't be too much

Thank you @Cupidity and @PrincessConsuela12 for joining in - I was becoming a bit self conscious there talking to myself for a while!

How lovely that you are running with you today child - what a role model and a gift.

Let me know what couch to 10km app you use because I am at a decision point whether to carry on running further or stick with 5km and try to run faster. Running a minute or two longer appeals because I am going slooooow and don’t want that burning lung and thigh feeling ...... but maybe that’s not the best approach for fitness? I will def stick to 5kms during the week and maybe look to increase the length on weekends.

I don’t get a “runners high” - certainly not when I am running - but it definitely lifts my mood a notch in the morning which gives me a very subtle but satisfying self esteem boost for the rest of the day.

This has been the biggest thing for me.

Also I am not able to stick to the same days and have had big gaps - just take it slow - it was fine getting back after a week or so - not painful at all.

I actually enjoy it now (the mental afterglow) and I am less resistant to going out....

Thank you @Sssloou. I don't get runners high during either but I feel great once I've done it.

I'm pretty slow too, I'd probably go slow & start on the 10k challenge, I've done 5k (years ago) but never tried 10k & would feel like it was such an achievement once I'd done it

I don't get runners that runners high either (wouldn't it be amazing if we did? ). The only time it happened was after our first 20 minute non stop run. I was convinced I would struggle and ds wouldn't break down and collapse before the end - so it was a real high when we both managed it.

I've noticed that we are running further on our runs, but like you I'm not sure whether we should work on distance or speed (or maybe try some very small hills on our runs). A couple of the 5to10k apps I've looked at seem to have quite short runs that include sprints in them which isn't really what I'm into.

I finally did week 8 run 3 today after 3 weeks off due to illness and family shit.

Was very doubtful I'd be able to do it as been so long but I did!

I've got very wobbly legs and a very hot face but I'm pleased with my self!

@wheresmyhairytoe - well done to you for getting back on it after 3 tough weeks and it’s really inspiring to know that it’s doable to get straight back in at the deep end - and survive......no matter excuses then for anyone who has been temporarily derailed.

Yes, I was just going to do an earlier week but I thought "sod it" and dived straight back in.
My mental health has been bad again the last few weeks so hoping running again will give it a lift.

And well done to you @Sssloou you've done amazing!

Just did W9R2 ..... again carried on running for the 5 min warm down ..... so 35 min running in total.

Mixed it up by going out in this evening just before dinner rather than first thing in the morning.

GRADUATED! W9R3 this evening! Again carried on thru the warm down so 35min total run. Looks like I will have to run for 40 mins to get to 5km - so that’s what I have to push on a bit more for now.

Have run in the evenings at 6 before dinner the last two runs rather than straight out of bed which I have done for the whole 9 weeks. Think I will stick with the evening runs as my body has loosened up by then as I was feeling a bit creepy in the mornings.