Please tell me this will make a difference

[emsiewill]

Hope it's OK for me to post this here - not just about weight loss, more about getting fit.

I have just started training for the "Race for Life" - they have an 8 week plan for absolute beginners (polite way of saying lazy slobs) where you build up to being able to run continously for 30 mins. To do this, I have to run every other day. I actually have 10 weeks to go, so am a bit ahead of the game. I also now walk to work every day - 1.5 miles (only walk there, don't have time to walk back, due to school run, so get bus).

Until now, the only exercise I have been doing is 1.5 hours of Tai Chi a week for the last 6 months, which is great for flexibility and suppleness, but obviously not a fat-burner. Am still doing this, in fact am moving up from the beginners class next week to the regular class.

I can't diet - as soon as I tell myself I'm on a diet I just want to run and throw myself into a vat of chocolate. However, I have been eating a lot less chocolate (more or less none), given up crisps and eating more fruit. Apart from that, have been eating much as before - not great, but not terrible, either.

So, my question (finally) is this - with the (fairly major) increase in exercise, and the (slightly) better eating, will I lose some weight? I really want to get fitter, and that is really what it is all about - my mum and her dad both died in their early 50's of heart disease - but if I lost some of the 3.5 stones I need to lose, that would be an added bonus.

What are your thoughts? Am I deluding myself?

for starters changing your eating habits will help you lose weight have a look around for a tape called begginers calanetics hmv can order it for you it great if you havent worked out in a while because its gentle and they show you differnt technics so you dont pull a muscle
if your a snacker a large breakfast will help porridge followed by a yoghurt is best because its filling so you wont feel the need to snack so much
and it might sound stupid but dont use the word diet every time i did i used to gain weight just tell yourself you need to change the way you eat plus if you can snack on fruit that will help burn some of the calories but please remember the quicker you lose it the quicker you will gain it when you come of the diet so by just changing your eating and excersise habits you will find you will lose the weight slowly and keep it of
hth

Well done ! Be careful though for some of us it becomes addictive Which one are you doing ? There are quite a few of us doing them this year - have a look at Jasper's 10k thread for inspiration, she's done really well !

Healthier eating combined with extra exercise is the ideal way to lose weight and keep it off ime.

I shifted over 3 stone and have kept it off for over 2 years now, a first for me as I was the standard yo-yo dieter. I'm not sylph-like but got to a point where I was happy with myself and knew it was maintainable. I've started losing a little bit again recently but I've significantly changed my training routine and given my body a kick.

Just be careful not to overcompensate for the increase in exercise by eating extra !

It might be worth measuring yourself and making a note of the results too. That way even if your weight doesn't seem to shift, your body shape may be changing. As well as the usual bust, waist & hip, do upper arms, widest point between waist & hip, thighs and above the knee, and check it on a monthly basis.

Let us know how you get on, good luck !

emsiewill - another Race for Life addict here - if you go with the plan you'll do just fine.

Just read jasper's 10K thread, and it's actually made me feel a bit of an amateur. All the talk of 3 miles, 4 miles etc, and all I can manage at the moment is run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes for 1/2 an hour (this is what I did today). Having said that, when I started on Monday, all I could manage was run 1, walk 1 for 20 minutes. So I suppose I am improving, and I am quite proud of myself - I used to hate running at school, would rather do anything else. And it was raining when I went out today.

I really hope this makes me fitter, and maybe a bit less wobbly. If not, I'll know there is no God

You're doing fine, we all had to start like that ! When I started 2 years ago I couldn't have run for a bus but the RFL training plan is great and really works.

I ran that year's RFL in just under 30 mins but my brother promised to double my sponsorship if I was under half an hour - quite an incentive towards the end when I just wanted to stop & walk !

Anyway, if you went out in the rain you're a proper runner

emsiewill - we all have to start somewhere

The first time I went out my dh made me run to the main road and back (about 400m) when I got back I lay on the living room floor and I seriously thought I was going to die. After that I ditched him as a running partner and went out with some girlfriends. We're still going five years on!

OK, so I'm now up to 3 minutes running and 1 walking, which I did this morning at 6am - the only time I could fit it in. Did the same on Tuesday and it was absolutely pouring with rain and blowing a gale! So I am dedicated, but I have to admit I found it hard this morning - I'm really worried that I won't be able to do the 4 minutes, and will lose my motivation and determination.

I need some encouragement! My legs are aching and I'm knackered. Help!

No advice on exercise (I am a couch potato) but I just wanted to say that your "as soon as I tell myself I'm on a diet I just want to run and throw myself into a vat of chocolate" commment made me laugh out loud - thanks, and good luck

Can you really face coming here and telling us all that you couldn't do 4 mins ???

Seriously, the friends that used the RFL plan last year had real worries at the same stage as you are at, but it got them through in the end.

Are you stretching after you finish ? Most people find it helps to reduce aches & pains if they do 5 mins or so. Look here for some good ideas.

Please don't get disheartened, it will take time for your body to adapt but it will, remember you're only 1 week into this; when I started 2 years ago, it took me 3 months to run 5k (smoker's legacy), another 2 before I did 10k then 4 more before I finished 21k (half marathon). The getting started bit is the hardest, honest !

Enjoy your non-training day tomorrow !

Hurrah! I did 4 minutes. And it wasn't so bad - not easy, though. I am starting to notice some differences now; I can talk during the first minute or so (could barely breathe when I started), and it's actually not the breathing that's my main problem now - it's my legs. So swings and roundabouts, really.

Monday it's run 4, walk 2, which I don't think I'll have too much of a problem with. But then Wednesday it's run 5, walk 2, Friday the same, and next Sunday I have to run for 8!!!!!!

I think I'd better not think about that, after all, 2 weeks ago I couldn't run for 1 minute, and now I can run for 4.

Off to eat a banoffee pie now. I have to have some sort of treat, surely?

Well, just in case you all think I've given up on this - I'm still going and I'm up to 10 minutes running now. Tomorrow I go up to 12 run, 3 walk, twice. Every time I have to increase the amount of running, I think "I can't do this, I'm going to die", but I'm very stubborn and will not give up on something once I've put my mind to it. I'm still walking to work most days, and still eating healthily (well, no chocolate, no crisps, much more fruit). Hard to tell if there's a difference, but I'm going to stick with it.

The one bad thing is that the woman at work who was organising our team for the Race for Life has cocked it all up, and managed to leave it too late to enter us - all the places have been taken . The only other race in this area is on 6th June, which is far too soon. So I won't be doing it this year. But I will be keeping up the running, so next year it will be a case of trying to cover the distance faster, rather than just being glad to get round, as it would have been this year. Am really disappointed, though.

Well done Emsiwill - I too have taken up running and I know how hard it can be....
I was getting on well and then stopped for 3 weeks as ill - and gosh did it put me back.
I love running in the evenings this time of year - when do you run?.

YES you will lose weight this way! You might also find that as you get fitter and your metabolism changes, you become less fixated on food. As you get more impressed with yourself, and your body (a little way into your schedule), tell yourself how magnificent it (your body)is, and you will feel less inclined to stuff such a fine-tuned machine with mini-dime bars and choclate caramel shortcake....
That's how it works for me, anyway!
And GOOD LUCK.

Me too Blu (any tips for feeling like that about wine too ??!)

Emsiewill, I wondered how you were getting on yesterday but didn't have time to search for the thread.

Well done, you're doing really well, it's a shame about the race but it's worth keeping your eyes open for others as there are often fun runs around. Try looking at Runners World Events for some ideas.

It's addictive though, I'm just off on a bike ride now

Thanks for your kind words.

Blu, I have become a lot less obsessed with chocolate, actually. Not that I'm 'never going to eat the evil stuff again' lol, but am not finding it too hard to mainly live without it.

Sonnet, I've mostly been running in the early mornings (6am). It seems to be the only time I can fit it in - dh often works evenings, and I have commitments 2 evenings a week. I was even out at 7:30am on Saturday morning - again, the rest of the day was going to be full, so it was the only time I could fit it in. Dh thinks I'm absolutely barmy - but he is also very impressed.

Twink, thanks for the link - haven't had time to look at it yet, but I have been thinking about other events. It's just that at the moment I feel like such an amateur, I wouldn't have the nerve to enter anything for 'real' runners - yet. And actually, to be honest, the pace I go at can't really be called running - more like a jog. But definately faster than I've moved for the past 15 years

Emsie I have just read through this thread and my congratulations. I did start running last year but then my running partner ditched it. I feel too embarassed going on my own and no-one can come with me!! do you live in a town and do you feel safe in the morning? You'all made me feel more inspired to get on my trainers and go tomorrow morning for a try out...thanks and good luck

Well, I did my 2 lots of 12 minutes this morning! And I'm feeling very pleased with myself.

sarochka - did you go out running today?

Thought I'd come back and report on my progress, in case anyone was interested.

I can now manage to run for 30 minutes continuously. If you'd told me a year ago that I would be doing this, I would never have believed it. As I'm no longer training for a race, I've decided to do 30 minutes 3 times a week, and am trying to get a little further each time (currently go about 2.5 miles in the 30 mins - slow, I know).

Am still avoiding chocolate and crisps (although can't say I've eaten none at all), and still eating more fruit. I am also still walking a mile and a half to work 3 or 4 times a week. After not losing anything for about the first 4 weeks, I have now lost about 1/2 stone - not a great rate of weight loss, I know, but apart from the above things, haven't made a great effort to eat less. And if I manage to keep it up, hopefully I should get rid of a couple of stone in the long term. If I could get down to a size 14, be fit, and a bit less wobbly, I wouldn't care what I weighed.

I think the winter will be my biggest challenge - if I can keep it up then, I will be really pleased with myself. Hopefully by then, the habit will be so ingrained that I won't be able not to go.

I am a bit concerned about damaging my knees - mainly because people keep saying it to me. Anyone got any tips on how to avoid that? - bearing in mind that to fit the running into my life, I have to run near my home - and the only flat is the pavement.

Emsiewill - you're doing great. I do 30 mins twice a week and then 40 on a Sunday, only do 3 or 4 miles so not much faster than you. I'm also walking about 5 miles once a week if I can fit it in but it takes ages.

I agree it is a challenge in the winter although I personally prefer to run when its colder - I don't even mind the rain as long as it's not windy with it As far as your knees go, as long as you've got decent running shoes you should be fine especially as you're losing weight too - running is great for protecting you against osteoporosis. And the weight will stay off because you've lost it slowly. Good luck

I think you've done great and are an inspiration. I used to run a lot, and regularly ran half-marathans, but three kids and three excess stone(!!!) later... been putting off running again because I thought it would take me months to get back to the point of being able to run a couple of miles without stopping, but you've inspired me.

As for your knees, unless you've previously had a problem with your knees, you should be no problem (though admittedly, pavement causes more shock to your bones)... pains in the shinbones normally occur before damage to your knees, but might be best to ask a doctor. And warming up/down stretches minimise damage too.

Well done!!

Yes, we are interested !!

Luckymum & babysteffee are right re knees etc (you've got decent trainers ??)

I did a 6k fun run with a friend today who was totally convinced she couldn't do it, she made it on a run/walk programme & wasn't last by quite a big margin and managed to finish within the target I'd hoped for (not that she knew I'd set one !)

Slow weight loss without too much dietary effort is great because it's more of a life-style change.

You're doing really well, and once you find you're enjoying running AND it's raining you'll know you're hoooooked ( I still find it tough to get out of the door when it's chucking down but it's always great when I get back)

Congrats on the 6k today twink!!

well done you two!!