Couch to 5k: thighs a-slapping, boobs a-flapping, bellies a-swinging but we're winning!

[QueenRunningGeekMum]

Through rain and snow and skies of grey
We will keep running the C25K
Though lack of sleep and time do test us
We wil not let excuses best us
For 2012 will be the year
For weight loss, fitness and good cheer
Nine weeks of running isn't that long
So come on ladies, get those running shoes on!

Welcome to all runners, joggers, speed walkers and waddlers! All levels of fitness are welcome here on the Couch to 5k support thread. For more information see the NHS website

Link to the old thread

Week 6 run 1 done tonight after 3 day break - struggled a bit to be honest but did finish it all. Great to see all the progress on here.

Wk5r2 done tonight after 3 rest days due to not being able to fit the run in on Monday as usual. I'm so chuffed with myself at doing 2x8min runs! I go after dinner and I imagine my dinner as rocket fuel (sausage casserole tonight) It keeps me going! Wk5r3 on Friday or Saturday - I can't wait!

Started the dreaded Shred tonight in an attempt to build upper body strength and tone up. Boy the strength training is tough. My 'press up' are laughable. Cardio and abs fine though. Looking forward to run 6.2 tomorrow.

Well done mazz2fly those two 8minute runs are a step up, aren't they? :)

well done everyone, v solid progress.
I've not been able to run since Monday as my knee has been KILLING me.
I'm going out of my mind, wanting to run (who am I??)
anyway, hoping it's better by saturday and I'll crank out an extra w8 run. Going to get some knee support today and see how that goes. I'm so pissed about it.

I'm going to have to back track for a few days :( as my c-section scar of 7 weeks is giving me real jip. Can't even laugh without it tugging and i had a stinging sensation yesterday. I think it's because i lugged a fat 5 year old into my boot the other day but felt nothing for 24 hours. If not, i did something yesterday morning and didn't notice until the afternoon when it was suddenly really sore.

So hard as my dieting only ever seems to take 2lbs off or so a week - never get the dramatic drops others get.

did week 5 race 2 last night and I managed 2 x 8 minutes!!! I cant believe it, I'm so proud of myself and its so inspiring to see the progress from week one where I was willing 60 seconds to be over. Now when I hear "60 seconds left" I know I can do it easily. I'm a bit nervous about the 20 minute run next but I think if I just go steady I can do it.

Mine slow and steady altshiftdelete, I've lost a total of 31 lb over 14 weeks.

That's rubbish thestringcheesemassacre, hope the support helps! I'm catching you up now

How are you feeling better queenrunninggeekmum? You've been very quiet here this week, hope lo is sleeping better and you've got more energy.

Ifancyanewname - that's great, isn't it, the change in your mindset. When I did the 20 min run, I heard Laura say 5 minutes left and found myself thinking 'only 5 minutes, no problem'. Who'd have thought it when i was terrified of stepping it up to 3 minutes just a few weeks ago. W6R1 coming up later this morning - I know others have said it's tough so slightly nervous but determined to come back on here later and say it's done!

"So hard as my dieting only ever seems to take 2lbs off or so a week" but thats about right isn;t it in fact thats quite good if you can sustain it. My GP recommends 2lbs a MONTH if you want to keep it off!

W6R1 done. I did find it hard - as others have said. I probably went a bit too quickly, feeling slightly complacent. And also I forgot to take the fleece off that I'd been wearing to keep warm in our freezing house, so with that and my running jacket, was a little overheated (amid the ice!). Good luck to everyone going out later - have a good one.

On the weight issue I've decided to stop going near the scales, and concentrate on how clothes fit. Last weigh in prompted this. I've dropped a dress size but put on pounds

W6R2 done, quite hard though as vvvv icy underfoot. Not looking forward to R3 on Saturday...

Have only lost 4lbs since start of Jan. Weightloss seems to have stopped completely atm . Can't go running because the pavements are too icy, have been shredding which has helped with the muffin top...it's just frustratingly slow.

I am limiting my calories to 1200-1400 a day, what are others doing? Run keeper is estimating that I am using 200ish calories per run plus I walk quite a lot.

I'm trying to eat v small portions, cutting out the junk and limiting alcohol. Runkeeper usually suggests around 300kcal for me - but given it takes 3500kcal to burn one pound of fat...it's clear that I'm unlikely to make it in the skinny race with running alone!

I'm on 1680 net calories with myfitnesspal - I get to eat extra when I exercise. The weight is coming off, was worried at first that it was too fast so I put my target down to 1lb a week. Wanting to go slowly to avoid skin problems. More interested in losing inches from my waist. Have lost some inches from my hips and comfortably into a size 22. As most of my work trousers are 26/28, this is interesting!

Hi

Finished run 2 of week 2 today. Had a little trot round Battersea Park for a bit of a change. It was nice to see the river. Found it generally ok if a bit painful on the old shins. I will have to do run 3 tomorrow as I'm going away on Saturday

Monty

ALT if I was losing 2lb a week I'd be delighted with myself. At the moment it seems to be going in the other direction for me because I haven't quite got it in to my head that a bit of slow huffy puffy running is not a licence to eat whatever you fancy by way of a reward

I lost weight with both my pregnancies so I'm lucky that I have clothes from then that fit me but as I hope to continue losing I will at some point have to buy some clothes jchocchip! I was 100Kg when I got pregnant with ds1 and 79Kg two weeks after he was born and 95Kg to 83Kg with ds2.

I don't drink BettyBathroom so that's won less thing to have to cut down and miss! Well if you run 10 times a week you'd be ok

I'm sitting here waiting for DP to arrive so that I can go for W4R3... not due til Friday, but the forecast is for more snow tonight and I'm worried about icy pavements in the morning. Very surprised that I am motivated to go for a run in the dark and cold at all instead of looking for an excuse not to do it! Highly unusual!! I'm with montague - probably still eating too much - need to get a grip especially in the evenings after DS is in bed when I tend to crave something sweet and/or a glass of wine.. he is waking up around 5am at the moment so I am usually knackered by 7pm. Have to give up the comfort eating! :(

Hope people with aches, pains and colds feel better soon :)

Done W7R2 and covered 0.2km more than on Tuesday . It started snowing at 5pm and although it was hard work running covered in snow and not seeing well it meant there was a crispy covering on the icy pavements so I didn't slip at all. I find the first 5 mins hard, the 10 fine the next 5 really hard and last 5 ok, not sure why!

W5R1 done.
Aching more today because of the shred yesterday but I survived.
Probably won't run again until Sunday so I hope it is warmer, was freezing out there today.

Done! And the snow started falling just as I was doing the last 5 min cool down walk :)

Just checking in, am having a break for a week. Had to take ds to hospital today for his slow weight gain, have been given turbo formula to help and green light to wean early. So going to get into a new routine at home then pick up at week 6 next week.

I am determined not to quit though, this is just a break and coming on here and publicly declaring that means I'll have to start up again

Well done all you runners, it does inspire me to hear where you're up to!