January couch to 5k - who's with me?

[Santageekmum]

I am massively overweight and have never run before but am planning on starting the nhs couch to 5k plan in January (first Thursday in fact).

Who would like to don their trainers and join me?

Also if anyone has a good sports bra to recommend, I'm bf and a 40dd at the moment and need a new one for running.

Good luck Geek!

Derkins - you're doing brilliantly - it doesn't matter that you're doing week run a couple of extra times. Have a look online for some stretching and strengthening exercises for runners (which you are now).

Woohoo! W2R3 complet :D

I took some mini dumbbells out with me today, and did arm exercises with them in the brisk walking bit. Possibly I looked like a bit of a twat...

Climbed on the scales when I got home, I'm 72kg and my target is 67kg. Hopefully I'll make it before our holiday in the summer.

Did W1 R3 again but this time with DH. It was fab to be able to run together.....did briefly contemplate keeping on running until we got to an airport and leaving the kids with their grandma but having not taken our passports it wasn't possible

Now got to move on to week 2 on Monday. Feeling a bit apprehensive about that. Especially as my knees are killing me (I'm also carrying far too much weight so Derkins it's not just you and I'm only about to move onto week 2 - bet you're doing brilliantly (and a 2lb weight increase in one week - pah - I think I put on 6lbs over Christmas!))

derkins my proper runner bil told me that a good cool down helps aching legs. First run mine were aching for 2 days, then since then I've added in a 5 minute walk/stroll at the end and my legs haven't ached at all. Worth a try? FWIW I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do this if I wasn't eating so well on SW, I think it makes a difference.

You back yet geekmum?

I really ought to have 2 rest days now (scheduling!) but I fancy going out tonight or tomorrow- would it be bad if I went out 2 days in a row?

1981 hope your DS is feeling better - stomach bugs are hideous aren't they

Thank you, all, for your words of encouragement - I don't think I could do this without you all! I have soooo much weight to lose, and at the moment it feels like I am climbing a mountain. My legs are aching while I'm running, which is why it feels so tough, I think. I will build in a better cool down debka and see if that helps.

A 2 day rest might be a good idea, too Sciencegeek although I'm worried I'll lose motvation and never go out again . Bottom line is that I think my body is in shock! I haven't done any exercise for 10 years (and more like 20 for some good CV workouts!) I used to be 9st and very fit. I doubt I will see that weight again, but I would like to be that fit now again. Onwards and upwards, tomorrow is another day etc etc.

Well done to all of you who are on week2 and beyond. delilah I'm seriously impressed that you are running with dumbells. I'm sure you didn't look daft, but if does comments you can always drop one on their toes

I'm back! For those of you about to begin w2, I found it easier than I thought! Felt fitter too. I'm 96kg now, so am carrying a lot of extra weight round, but managed it and felt really good.

Hint: I took it really quite slow, a very slow jog that seemed slower than my walk, but overall I went further today so must have worked!

Rule 6: to motivate yourself to run faster, try crossing a road in front of an approaching car.

Rule 7: to feel really self righteous, jog past a fat guy smoking.

Sciencegeek well done you! We're about the same weight so I'm extra impressed!

Correction: just weighed myself naked and it was 94.8kg! Thederkins I started at 98kg so just keep going, I decided to only move on when I could do as complete session iykwim, and I found it easier running in the cold and dark got too hot doing it during the day!

Rest day today but I've been to an exercise class and done situps for the first time in years...

I was 95Kg at the beginning of November but was 87Kg when I started running thederkinsdame, I do walk a lot pushing single/double buggy so I think I have some fitness. I have only done 2 runs, third today and didn't feel any easier but hoping it will as Monday is wk2! I was 117Kg 8 years ago when I started doing aerobics twice a week and thought I was going to die! I did it and added yoga once a week too, with that and healthy eating I got down to 83Kg when things changed in my life and I felt I didn't have the time for the aerobics anymore but I still walked my dog twice a day. Feeling a bit disheartened as weight loss has slowed but dh is trying to convince me it's muscle gain, could be that for you too?

Had a race with my ds1 today, I managed to run until he stopped rather than the other way round :)

Well that's W1D3 out of the way. Enjoyed it much more today, think it's because I followed a route I know rather than just going round the playing fields. Taking Sunday off, doing aerobics on Monday then on to W2 on Tuesday.

jchocchip hate crunches probably more than I hated running , well done though!

Thederkins I'd agree with the others, if you build in a good stretch routine at the end of your warmdown that might help. I'm quite surprised that it isn't mentioned in the podcast. I'd seize up if I didn't do a good five mins of stretching. WWIW I do quads, calves, hamstrings, adductors, inner thighs, lower then upper back then finish off with arms and shoulders.

delilahbelle vvv impressed with the dumbbells! You'll easily get below your target if you carry on the way you're going.

debka if you can avoid doing two days in a row I certainly would, get too tired and you might put yourself off.

SGM oh yes, agree with the rules!

Well done to everyone who's been out today already, happy running to everyone still to go!

Warm down routine:

I found this one really clear to follow.

Sorry link

Please can I join?

I really fancy this, but I need some serious motivation.

Firstly, I am rather overweight.

Secondly, I foolishly live where I teach... teenagers. They are everywhere. Maybe I need to buy a cunning disguise?

Perfect time of year to start KinkyDorito as you can run in the dark as I do! I think a lot of us are overweight too. I have lost almost 10Kg but still have a BMI of 31, which is obese so you're certainly not alone :)

Managed to catch up!! Finally got some sleep-didnt get to sleep til well after 5am, the woken at 9am by children and dog having a rare old time in the hallway (we live in a bungalow so it was very noisy!) perfectingpaddingtonshardstare thanks he seems much better now. They are awful, it was such a shame for him before the holidays as he was desperate to go in and do all the fun stuff-I stupidly let him go back for the last morning as he was so much better, and he then vomitted at school
I half joked with him that it was quite an extreme way of avoiding going back to school next week (we are still on hols here til Tues)!!
rusmum jchochip Im using MFP too, its great being able to see just exactly what you are eating

I am now off to bring my xmas tree down-have been thinking about it since wednesday but not had the motivation. If I dont do it soon it will still be there come february i should think!

also welcome kinkydorito

I second cinnamongreyhound I try to go at night so no one can see me!!

My BMI is a touch higher than yours cinnamon.

I'm seriously considering getting up early and going out. DH is up and about at 6am. If I was at work, I would be too, but I'm currently off. There's less likely to be mobs of teenagers out and about in the morning than the evening.

The true test will be hauling myself out of bed to go. I've always exercised in the evening (when I've bothered ) as it helps me to unwind.

It's either that, or trying to develop a thicker skin and going out in the evening anyway. I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that yet.

Hi everyone.

i have wanted to post earlier, but didn't want to be the first to disappear again.

i downloaded c25k last year, and bought trainers. but i never started. i once even listened to it lying in bed.

i saw this thread after i had already decided to start, wanted to post, then chickened out. my DH started doing it and encourage me to go for the first run too, was going to post after i did it, but thought i might not even do the 2nd so no point in joining thge thread. then he did the second and again got me to do the second run.

so here i am on week1 run2. With stiff and aching calves, shins, ankles, quads, back and even crotch(!) . Avoiding junk food, biscuits and cakes. and finally posting on this thread.
Not sure if i can keep up with you all, but am going to try because i have to lose 2 stone, minimum, to get to a healthy bmi (and to look a hell of a lot better).

remembering your posts helped me when i was struggling today and to keep my chin up when feeling embarrassed. so thank you!

KINKY! Yay

I have yet to do run 3 of week 1 and am planning to do it tonight.
I have to now I have said it on here

Well done nomorecake you have done brilliantly!

Hi nomorecake!

Hope it goes well OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere!

W1R3 done and I struggled :(, was nearly in tears after the 5th run. Not sure if it was time of day, eaten to close to run or because I ran in the forest rather than in the street. Now feeling nauseous and worried about W2R1!!

Welcome Kinky and Nomorecake.
Kinky I am a teacher in the local area too so I know where you are coming from. Mine are only infants so not as bad but embarassing enough if I were to bump into any!!!
Nomore, well done for joining us. I too lurked on this thread for a while before plucking up the courage to actually join. I didn't want to post once and then run either. However, similarly to you, my dh has started it too so we have been motivating each other.
Well I bit the bullet with the calf today. I had decided I would walk the first 5 minuites brisk walk to see how it felt and it felt good so I gingerly jogged the first run slowly then continued and actually managed to complete all the runs. It was a little tight but felt ok and is fine now I have cooled down. I made sure i did plenty of stretches before I went and I think as long as O remember to do that every time I will be ok. I actually enjoyed the run and it felt a lot easier than last time. Dh is doing WI R3 as we speak so he is slightly ahead of me. I'm quite glad he will be trying W2 before me.

By the way what is My Fitness Pal?