Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

New Years Resolution couch to 5k thread

553 replies

wuglet · 04/01/2010 21:04

Sorry to the ongoing couch to 5k thread but I am looking for others just starting out (and it looks like there might be quite a few of us on popsycal's thread).

So...anyone starting week 1 this week?

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 08/02/2010 08:19

My knees are a bit sore today but not as bad as last week. Worst bit is going up stairs.

CJCregg · 08/02/2010 09:17

Hairy and MmeL, sorry to hear about your injuries. I switched last week from my usual cricket pitch circuits (nice soft grass) to running on the roads, just for a change of scenery, and it was much tougher on the aches and pains front afterwards.

Now, ladies, I need a kick up the arse. It's snowing outside - only lightly, but still - and I'm scared of Week 4. Somebody give me some incentive to get out there, please!

Have a good day all, running or resting.

MmeLindt · 08/02/2010 09:19

C'mon CJ. Get out there. Reward yourself with your favourite WW episode when you get back.

CJCregg · 08/02/2010 12:02

I did it.

I DID IT.

In the snow, too! And, incredibly, it was do-able. There were even about 3 seconds in there when I was actually enjoying it.

Be not afraid of Week 4 - it hurts but not enough to make you cry ...

Rollergirl1 · 08/02/2010 12:22

Wow, tons of activity since I last checked in!

Cote, i am truly envious of that view. If that doesn't encourage you out to run I don't know what will...

I ran my first 5k yesterday. I wasn't planning on to when I started but then I just thought why not just give it a try. I did it in 33 mins which I'm pretty chuffed about!

I am definitely feeling stronger in my lefs and fitter and perhaps a bit more toned. But I haven't lost a jot of weight. I am trying to have no carbs in the evening but it doesn't really appear to be making any difference. Anyone has any ideaa? I'm hoping to lose a stone to get back to pre DC's weight.

Chinwag · 08/02/2010 12:29

Rollergirl. I have been running from couch to 5K since March. Managed my 1st 5K in June. But never lost any weight. I have lost a stone in the last 2 months, running with a combination of Weight Watchers. Unfortunately, I had to diet too, to lose the weight.

Hope that helps.

CoteDAzur · 08/02/2010 12:33

Wow, 5K! Maybe in a few weeks for me

I don't really live where I ran yesterday. It's a 10 min drive away. Totally worth the short drive up mountain roads, though.

I don't need extra motivation for the time being, as I want to run every day, but (1) BUPA says I shouldn't and (2) I need someone to keep the kids while I run.

CoteDAzur · 08/02/2010 12:40

Re weight loss:

I am told by the doctor in the sport hospital/center that I currently go to that sport by itself will not make you lose weight. Especially if you have a habit of "rewarding" yourself with cookies etc afterwards.

Also, that you shouldn't cut out carbohydrates, or you will be hungry and either snack or stop dieting. I'm having 100g of rice/pasta/bread per meal (cooked weights) on days I don't run/or do gym and 150 g on other days.

I've lost 5.5 kgs since mid-December, 3 of these kgs before I even started the gym, so dieting is the way to go for weight loss, it seems.

Rollergirl1 · 08/02/2010 12:44

Chinwag: Did you tone up though without losing weight? I accept that I am going to have to diet. But I don't feel like I eat excessively throughout the day and other than cutting out the carbs I can't think how else to reduce my food intake. How did you do it? Is Weight watchers counting calories?

Cote: I am the same at the moment, completely bitten by the running bug and I have to stop myself from going out everyday. I usually try and swim inbetween running days too but the pool at my club is being refurbished at the moment last week and this. So can't swim tonight and shouldn't run as I did yesterday. Grrrr.

slug · 08/02/2010 13:00

Hi Ladies. Glad there's some support out here in virtual land. I've never been a runner, though I can crack out a kilometer in the pool at lunchtime without breaking into a sweat. The only time I ever did any running was for a triatholon many, many years ago in my athletic youth. The result of that was a yearly appouintment with the biomechanical chiropracter at the hospital and some seriously strange gait problems.

However, I've decided to give it a go. I have Mr Rob's podcasts and am currently in week 2. I have to say I'm not enamoured with his banging techno but it does keep me moving at a modicom of speed. So if you see an almost circular lady marching across Blackheath of an evening with a pained expression and wailing "Nooooo" whenever he says "Are you ready?....Go", you'll know it's me.

persephonesnape · 08/02/2010 14:02

I'm always late for everything! can I join? heard about c25k via a friend who has lost over 150lbs since last June - she still has quite a lot of weight to lose , she's an absolute inspiration. I've done wk 1 days 1 & 2. planing day three tomorrow after work and will then be every tues thurs and saturday or sunday.

I run like a girl. ;)first run was in flat pumps, because I just didn't have trainers, have now spent my xmas tk maxx token on running gear and reebox. can't wait to do the next one!

MmeLindt · 08/02/2010 20:30

Hello to the newbies.

I have not lost much weight, but that is because I have not limited my food intake. Need a kick to get started there.

sanfairyann · 08/02/2010 21:40

my weight's gone up must be all the chocolate either that or muscle!

CJCregg · 08/02/2010 21:42

Have lost no weight - but I am feeling a bit trimmer and toned ... it's a start.

sanfairyann · 08/02/2010 21:46

mmm have to say clothes are looking looser and my bum is def more toned so it can't really be fat. must be true then that muscle weighs more. so all you who have actually lost weight - respect!

CoteDAzur · 09/02/2010 07:53

I weigh 62.5 kg this morning [shamelessly smug], down 5.5 kgs in 2 months. If it goes on like this, I might wear a bikini this summer.

Here, Mme Lindt: > Dieting is definitely the way to go. It doesn't even have to be hard. Just stop the soft drinks and sauces (on pasta, meat, etc).

MmeLindt · 09/02/2010 08:46

Thanks Cote. It is not the sauces or sweet drinks. Bread is my nemesis. I just cannot resist it. Am resolved to try and go for it though, I really want to lose the weight as well as toning up.

I do find that the days that I go running, I eat less.

Can you believe, it is snowing again. Bloody hell.

llareggub · 09/02/2010 09:17

I'm not sure if I've lost weight since I started c25k, but I've been exercising regularly since I gave birth 9 months ago. I had gestational diabetes and exercised lightly through my pregnancy and obviously made dietary changes. I'm now 16g lighter than I was before my pregnancy. It is a great motivation. I've gone from a size 18/20 to a size 12/14 and my purse has taken a battering.

I am off to be fitted for new bras this morning: my bra size has decreased significantly.

Rollergirl1 · 09/02/2010 12:10

Cote: I am interested in your specific weights of cooked carbs per meal. Is the 100/150g thing something that has been tailored specifically for you or is that a general rule?

I am wondering whether the fact that we very often don't eat till 9pm is also having an impact. But with kids to put to bed and me quite often getting my exercise in in the evenings it's impossible to eat any earlier.

Chinwag · 09/02/2010 12:36

Rollergirl, I think I toned a bit, but things didn't change dramatically.

Weight Watchers assigns a point value to everything you eat. They calculate from your gender, height, weight etc how many points you can have in 1 day. It takes a few weeks to get used to it, but it really works. I didn't eat excessively before either, but I was making some major mistakes. You can eat anything as long as you count the points and don't go over your assigned amount.

The diet and running together are a great combination.

dinkystinky · 09/02/2010 17:03

Hi - can I join? Rollergirl pointed me in this direction from the running thread in the weight loss section...

Used to run pre-DS1 (did race for life - turned out was pregnant with DS1 already), and DS2 (started when DS1 was 18 months then again did a race for life- turned out was pregnant with DS2 at the time - realised half way round as the 5k felt much harder than usual for some reason) - and now DS2 is nearly 1 have started to get back into running again since January. Can do 5k in around 36 minutes which am hoping to improve on and increase the distance gradually.

Rollergirl - I've lost around 8lbs since the start of the year - combination of exercise (run twice a week, do other exercise on other days and have 2 rest days) and Weight watchers as other posters have said. Still partially bfing DS2 so wanted to do it in a safe sustainable way. I try not to eat carbs in the evening (or if I do its just a pitta bread/handful of new potatoes) and if eating post 8pm generally have a soup or veggie curry (with no rice).

llareggub · 09/02/2010 18:59

Hello new people! Mucho respect to dinkystinky. I felt awful in the first trimester. I would never have been able to do a 5k! Having said that, I am yet to run 5K....

I started week 4 this evening and ran 5, walked 3. I was very nervous about it but it was actually fine. The last set was a bit tricky but I slowed down and managed to complete it. Again, I was on the treadmill as I am too much of a wuss to go out in the evening in the dark!

I did 3.2K in my 29 minutes but I just walked for the first 5 minutes. I do feel like I am getting there! My weight loss has definitely helped. I would never have been able to do this pre-pregnancy when I was a lot heavier.

wuglet · 09/02/2010 20:28

I DID IT!!

Just did week 4 run 1.

Welcome to all new people and well done to everyone else.

I managed 3.8k (including the warmup) so goal for the end of the week is to crack the 4k barrier.

OP posts:
llareggub · 09/02/2010 20:52

Am I mad?

I've just had an email from a friend of mine asking if I want to do a 10K run in June. Have just been looking at the route and I am seriously considering it. Is it really something I can do, even though I am only on week 4 of c25k?

CoteDAzur · 09/02/2010 21:28

Rollergirl - It is a diet given specifically to me, but no reason why it shouldn't work for anyone else. As a point of reference, I'm 39 in a few months and weighed 68 kg before this diet.

I was breastfeeding when I first saw dietician so she didn't dare reduce my food intake too much. First diet was:

Morning:
1 glass of juice (fresh squezed or nearest available)
60 g bread (about 2 big slices)
50 g soft cheese (15% fat) or Nutella twice a week

Lunch:
50 g meat/fish/chicken or 1 egg
100 g vegetables (cooked or raw, incl tomatoes etc)
200 g carbohydrates (pasta, rice, potatoes, lentils, etc) This is cooked weight, assuming you cook for family and weigh a portion for yourself. If you will cook just for yourself, this corresponds to 50 g dry pasta/rice/etc.
1 yoghurt (125 g)
(all this food should have about 1 tablespoon olive oil in it)

Afternoon snack:
3 basic biscuits (they look like this)
with coffee/tea

Dinner:
150g meat/fish/chicken
150g vegetables
200g carbohydrates (50g dry)
30g cheese
1 fruit
(all this with 2 tablespoons of olive oil)

After-dinner snack:
1 yoghurt
2 biscuits

I lost 3 kgs with this diet in a month, before starting the gym. It was very filling, too. I was breastfeeding twice a day at this point.

Then my weight stagnated for about a week, although I was going to gym at this point, so dietician decreased carbohydrates to 100g on days I don't do gym and 150g on days I do gym. Also, she took out the after dinner snack which I had stopped eating anyway. It worked and I started losing weight again.

I hope this helps.

Swipe left for the next trending thread