Who's with me for couch to 5k?!

[Badgoushk]

I'm going to start Couch to 5k when my new trainers arrive (today/tomorrow/weekend) and wondered if anyone wants to start too and we can have a little support group going?

I'm 39, 2 stone overweight, haven't done any running for over 10 years and even then I couldn't run 5k without walking. I have 2 young children and want to shape up. I currently swim twice a week and walk a lot (9,000 steps a day). But I'm still pretty unfit. I need to get my heart rate up!

So who is going to join me?! You need to be able to commit to 3 runs a week (30 minutes) for 9 weeks. Have a google of couch to 5k to see what it involves if you're not sure. I'll be using an app on my phone.

Who's in?!

For those of us left, would it be helpful/encouraging to summarise some info? Here's mine...

Age: 39
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 12st 8 (10 days ago)
Last run: W5R2
Reason for doing C25K: I want to be at least normal BMI (11st 10); to be healthy and a good role model for my daughters; I want to be fit by 40!
Starting weight: 16st 6
Goal weight: 9st 12

I did my first run tonight and although I felt like I was going to die I did it :) day off tomorrow then run on Tuesday :)

Well done Badgoushk The barrier to the 20 min run is psychological not physical. good steady pace and you'll be fine.

Well done PhDpepper personally I found week 1 very hard, my body freaked out.

I'm 47
Weight lost todate- 69lbs
To lose 31lb (might do 10lb more, to be reviewed)

Last run (today) W8R1

Motivation to be fit and fifty rather than fat and 40 and want to run race for life in Mum's memory. I know to keep the weight off this time I need a lifestyle change so this is part of it.

Home made flip belt worked like a dream this morning, phone didn't move and although I didn't need it, was accessible. Fitbit linked to GPS and has automatically uploaded to Strava. Think the pace and distance are slightly under compared to DH's Strava data but that's fine. My average heart rate was 146bpm. I'm going for a 7k calorie deficit this week so hopefully will shift that 1lb I need for 5 stone despite being mid cycle.

Thanks MirabelleTree, I'm going to do the 20 min run tomorrow. Part of me is quite excited at the thought of it!

You have done so well with your weight loss! I actually got down to 11st 4 about 9 months ago but I put some weight back on. It will be interesting for me to come up with a maintenance plan for life. I like eating so I will just need to keep active I think!

Congratulations PhDPepper! I found week one the hardest. I actually smiled to myself last night when I ran for 8 minutes and thought how much easier it was than those 60 second runs from week one!

Im in i did day 2 today and only did 4 of the 60 second runs. Walked briskly the rest. Did 2.1 k in all. I am doing a colourdash the end of august which is 5 k plus i need to lose weight. After 18 minutes of exercise my thighs are so sore !!!!

Im in i did day 2 today and only did 4 of the 60 second runs. Walked briskly the rest. Did 2.1 k in all. I am doing a colourdash the end of august which is 5 k plus i need to lose weight. After 18 minutes of exercise my thighs are so sore !!!!

Faffing about on the interwebs because I'm home sick / recovering. Just hanging out on MN a little before I try and do some work...

BUT when I'm better I'm going to start this thing. I downloaded the app a few days ago. I have trainers that will do. There is nothing stopping me...

except sore knees last time I tried, and shin pain, and the fact I hate running....

NO. Have to try something. You lot are doing so well, it's inspiring. I've gotta to something to increase the amount of exercise I take.

Watch this space

I completed week 5 tonight! Tonight's run was 20 minutes straight and it was tough. I was beetroot for about 30 minutes afterwards! But I survived and now anything seems possible.

WELL DONE!

Can I ask how you've lost all that weight? Running and a diet? Or just calorie counting? Or...?

You've inspired me.

Isadora2007, I lost 5 stone last year, gained about 1.5 stone back and have lost most of that. Still have about 2 stone to go.

I lost it with a combination of eating well (no sugar, 1800 kcal a day now at 12 stone but 2300 kcal at the start when I weighed 16.5 stone, cook everything from scratch, weigh everything) and exercising a lot more.

Typical exercise for me now is:
Walk 10,000 steps a day.
Do 30 minute couch to 5k workout every other day.
Swim 1-3 times a week (30-40 minutes of lengths)

I burn about 550 kcal a day through exercise.

My challenge will be maintaining. I regained some weight as I reintroduced sugar. I have realised I can't eat sugar!!

I should add that I manage that exercise and cooking from scratch around a ridiculously busy part time job as a doctor and the rest of the time I'm looking after my 1 year old and 3 year old!

A massive well done Badgoushk

W8R2 today which I finished but struggled my way through, I have been averaging a 1000 calorie a day deficit since Saturday and I think as the week is wearing on its too much. Lesson learned.

Well done to you too MirabelleTree! Yes I think it's a struggle to run if we haven't eaten enough. I know I have a lot more energy when I'm eating a bit more than I think I should! And I end up losing more from being active.

We go home from our holiday on Saturday. It'll be interesting to weigh myself. I'm hoping I've lost something despite the flapjacks and despite not walking as much as usual. I'm doing about 4000 steps a day less than usual!

Well done you guys! Great to hear your stories & progress!

I walked 14K steps yesterday, including a 10K/1-hr power walk with friends last night. Had hoped to run tonight, but DD was a horror going to bed (big meltdown) then by the time I got her to sleep it was 9pm & pouring.

So hoping to run tomorrow morning.

Good luck this morning Prosecco and well done on the walking yesterday.

I'm heading towards another gain this weekend by the look of things but am mid cycle. Last month I had a week where I dropped several pounds so will see if that happens again. I still have a fair whack to lose so will have to see what happens in next couple of weeks and have a think . I can't afford not to continue losing at this point and am a little worried but hopefully it will sort itself out. Thinking of having an extra couple of rest days as I feel exhausted.

Hi all. You are all doing fantastic. I am only starting doing the 2nd run of week one. I only managed 18 mins of exercise on monday and was crippled after with cramps. I need to lose a stone. How unfit am i !! I ran on sunday and downloaded the app on monday and started so am wondering did i do too much too soon?
Im really hoping tbis shifts the weiight !!

ok, resolution time. Can I just ask - does it make a difference when in the week you start? If I started on a Thursday would I always have to do the longest run on a Tuesday? If you start on a Monday does the longest run fall on the weekend? Or does it not work like that?

And what's the time committment by the time you hit say week 6?

I'm about to start week 6 and tonight will be 34 minutes including warm up/down.

I don't think there's a regular long run. It didn't work like that on my app.

I started on a Thursday so tried to do 3 runs by the following Thursday

Ok, fab, thanks. Can't run on a boat. So I'm going to start on 3/8. See you all back here then :)

Radyward I think it's recommended to have a rest day in between runs. My calves were so stiff after first session if I knew where the rolling pin was at that point I'd have got DH to use it on them!

Edd it is flexible and although I try to do Mon, Wed and Friday it doesn't always work like that I think the longest is around 40 mins including warm up/down.

Hi running buddies
Been off the grid for the past few days since W7R1. The weather was glorious at the start of the week so I did 2x2 hour walks instead of a run and then body combat yesterday and today. Will run again tomorrow for sure. I just felt I needed a couple of days out to reset, but wanted to keep active. I had a rubbish day's eating earlier in the week too so I chickened out of Tuesday's weigh in. Will see what next week brings.
I hear you Prosecco sometimes the children have drained every ounce of energy from me and I cannot face a later run... especially when my Fitbit is showing I've had about 4 hours sleep thanks to baby.
Glad the belt is holding Mirabelle!

Badgoushk you put me to shame. What commitment. I'm sure the flapjacks won't have made any difference and we all need treats sometimes!

Hello, welcome back beepbeep!

I ran W6R1 tonight. It was okay as it was '5,8,5'. So not as horrendous as the '20' I did last time! It's the last day of our holiday today. I'll be interested to see if I have lost or gained any weight!!

Thanks Badgoushk! If you didn't go overboard and you eNjoyed your holiday then that's the main thing. You can pick up the rest this week. I did my run. I couldn't be bothered but I did! I also had a vegetable chow mein for dinner (although v healthy day) so I've decided to start MFP counting on Monday. Weighed myself this morning too and still the same weight so I've got 3 days to lose even a little something before Tuesday's weigh in!!!