So im fed up of aching all over most days, fed up of being in pain with my back, my knees sometimes buckle, I get a sharp nerve crushing pain in my left buttock. I hate the way I look and feel.
So, I've decided this is the time for drastic change. I should be living my best life and want to be the best version of myself so im going to try the NHS Couch 2 5k programme. I can't run at all! As soon as I break in to a jog within 30 seconds my upper chest area hurts. Im determined to lose some weight though. Has anyone tried the couch 2 5k?
I need to lose about 3 stone. Cardiologist reckons losing weight would be beneficial too. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
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DanniC88
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Try different activities, if running is difficult, try swimming, cycling. Just walking is OK. Find something you enjoy then it's easy, and the more you do it the fitter you get and the more you're going to like it. Good luck.
Hi DanniC88, I am about 11 weeks post CABG now. I have found walking to be the best way to start. It is recommended to do 5 x 30 minute walk a week. I also love swimming and hope to start in the new year. All the best and don’t expect to much of yourself. Take care, Judi
Thankyou for your kind words and encouragement. I began walking last year about 2 miles a day and lost a stone within 2 maybe 3 months but I just gave up. However if I want to rid myself of aches,pains and ailments then I cant give up this time. Did you have any struggles when you first began running?
Yes. It was absolutely brilliant. I'm 61 and my knees are shot so my running life was fairly brief but I was the fittest I have ever been and really learnt to enjoy it. The absolute key thing to remember is not to try to go fast. No need to go mad and jog. A shuffle is fine to start with. Once you have built up stamina you can start increasing speed. The people who put this together really know what they are doing. I remember at week 5 laughing out loud when it increased the run time to - I think - 20 minutes. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I managed it. Id speak to your Dr first of course. Treat yourself to some decent shoes. Set certain days each week which are run days and run on those days regardless. I found doing it first thing meant it got done. You could do the programme once at walking speed to build your base fitness a bit maybe ? Do what the programme says don't try to rush ahead. If a week is harder than feels good repeat it as many times as you need. Enjoy !
Hi DanniC88, Love your positivity & wish you every success in your plan. I have long experience with knee problems & sciatica from sporting injuries. I hate to say this but your buttock pain sounds a lot like sciatica and the impact of running may make this an unwise choice, BUT equally maybe not - I urge you to be careful & if this flares up after running please stop & get it checked.
I've never had the pain checked just put up with it. Im self diagnosing siatica because my dad has it and it sounds quite similar to what he's had for many years. I don't get pain traveling down the leg only in the left buttock.
Hi, I do a mixture of walking, yoga and lifting small weights whilst marching on the spot. If anyone saw me trying to do yoga they’d probably laugh but I was reminded it’s not a competition. Just trying helps 😁 my knees and aches and pains are better than what they were
I started Yoga last week. I nearly ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor. Not to mention the rush of blood to the head in some positions 😆😆😆 However in saying that I actually found yoga rather relaxing.
🤣🤣 I started a local holistic therapy class that does mindfulness and meditation, its really good actually. The thing is she does yoga as well and a lot from the class are going in January. I’m coming up with every excuse not to join too 😆
Im not sure if classes will run much longer if there are going to be ( dare i mention) restrictions ( sshhhh i didnt just say that) after Christmas. I will wait and see before i join.
Good for you DanniC88, the C2 5K makes it possible if you follow the guidelines. Don't push yourself to go faster than suggested and keep to it and you will be fine.
Lots of recent research suggests exercise doesn't help much to lose weight. The best way is to simply reduce the amount you eat. Not easy though. I wish you the best of luck and well done. Why not post your progress on here regularly.
Greetings from Tennessee in the USA! I dropped from 275 to 208 and I can tell you it’s probably closer to 90% diet 10% exercise. Try to incorporate some weight training and for me the number one thing to eliminate was SUGAR. It’s hard takes a few weeks to clear it completely from your diet and you’ll feel horrible while you do but sugar drives your cravings and it’s worth it. Good luck my friend!
Ah yes good point! Not so private now is it. Oh well it gives me the motivation to do it. Im telling you this time next year I'll see my toes hahaha 🤣🤣🤣
Danni, well done on trying to lose weight and get fitter. As everyone else has said it's the mental attitude that gets you through. I'd suggest the 5/2 diet might be a good option to lose weight, plenty of info on the net. I'm not fit enough to even contemplate running but I am trying to increase my walking. My cousin is a sports psychologist and says walking is the finest exercise so I'm taking his advice and trying to increase my steps and my pace. Good luck and do keep us updated.
Being the good forum it is, you will get (and have already) lots of different advice, some good, some maybe not, but all of them well-intended. I can only speak for myself, so here goes>>> I am 80 and I had a HA 5 weeks ago, then had an angiogram and 1 stent, and touch wood, feel ok. I chose many years ago, to do a brisk, and I mean brisk walk EVERY morning early, for 30 minutes, then when home, I use one of those stretch plastic bands for arm exercises. I tried running but felt it put pressure on my replacement knee so I am happy with my walk. If YOU think you are overweight, I certainly would lose some before starting to run, hope comments help and good luck
For my height and weight im classed as obese on the NHS bmi calculator! I dont look obese but then I am tall. I definitely need to lose about 3 stone. I didnt have any problems or heart related issues until i put alot of weight on quickly due to pregnancy.
Maybe the best exercise would be to get out the pots and pans! I was diagnosed with severe heart failure in December last year. I was allergic to statins - was very poorly - and was taken off them. Since then I’ve managed my own cholesterol. I now weigh 8 stone 7 pounds - very steady, doesn’t vary. My heart refraction has improved so much that the Cardiologist says I’m at the bottom of the “just normal” scale 50/55. Don’t eat anything ready made apart from whole meal bread and low salt/sugar baked beans. No biscuits, cake, butter, shop bought dressings, odd glass of red wine sometimes socially. I eat lots of fresh fish, lean meat, mountains of fresh fruit and vegetables, home made soup, Benecol spread, unlimited olive oil and tea. I have REAL cocoa, dark chocolate 85%, almonds, walnuts and Brazils DAILY for my treats. Tough regime but I want to know I am personally doing everything I CAN to help myself. I am 79 years old and live alone. I have a large treadmill in the garage which I use on rainy days. One day last week I had done over 11,000 steps just doing light housework and some tidying up in the garden. I love life and want to be around as long as possible. I feel weight and eating foods with lots of additives - including saturated fats and salt - can play a big part in health. Good luck in all your endeavours.
Aww - thank you. I suppose I sound miserable but I really want to do my best because I have a lovely family and lots to look forward to. Thank you for your lovely reply. Have a nice Christmas.
When you prepare your own food you know exactly what has gone into it. You mentioned you want to lose weight and exercise can play a vital role. However so does food and healthier choices make us feel more full for longer and therefore helps to prevent snacking and/or overeating. Eating more beneficial foods, eating three good filling meals daily, will help towards shedding a few pounds which will be a very positive inclusion in your target. (To answer your question specifically I try and have 3/4 steamed fresh veg every evening together with pasta/potatoes/rice plus fresh fish, meat casseroles with fillers such as lentils, chicken dishes etc. Proper porridge/fruit for breakfast, large extensive salad plus protein, plus fruit or whole meal toast/beans or tinned pilchards, homemade soup some lunch choices. Quite a lot of pots and pans believe me!)
"Maybe the best exercise would be to get out the pots and pans!" Please dont assume i am "fat" or " overweight" through eating crap. Well done to you for doing those things you do. Im not as fortunate to have a garage at my house and certainly not fortunate to have a large treadmill either. I too also like to cook so dont assume I dont. I dont live alone I have 3 children with additional learning needs who me and my partner are carers for. We like to go out walking and like to keep busy. I am aware of what needs to be done to lose weight but my weight gain was medical not through over eating. As I said previous post it was because of a very large pregnancy that i gained alot of weight and that was because my little one was born with a couple of complications, resulting in a heart problem occuring in pregnancy for me. 8st for me is not an option. I was never built to be that small.
Hi Danni, you have had some good advice already (especially on walking). I just wanted to say that you have my full sympathy with your sciatica, I recently had a bad bout of it and it crippled me for a couple of months, it was worse than my heart op! I would advise you talk to your GP as they can prescribe pain killers for nerve pain if required which really helps take the edge off the pain.
Sometimes i get nothing then other times i could be pottering around and I'll go to move my left leg and im instantly stopped in my tracks by what i can only describe as a tight grip/squeeze like feeling in my left buttock. Right in the centre of the cheek feels like someone's holding a nerve and wont let go. If i try to move it worsens or eases a little depending which way i try and move. It happened once while i was sat on my lounge floor doing something and i was crawling like a zombie towards the chair 😆 my partner came over to offer assistance by trying to massage the area and made it worse and tighter so i ended up stuck on the floor like an injured footballer until it passed 🤣🤣🤣 took about 15/20 mins mind. Never had this ever before but now its been on and off for about a year. Does this sound like siatica or a trapped nerve? Or are they the same ?
I would definately go and see your GP if your having those sort of symptoms. Don't know if it's sciatica you have but best to get checked out in case it is and it gets worse. My sciatica started as intermittent left lower back pain which I thought I could walk off then, after just over a month, something happened and it spread down my left buttock, hip and all down my leg. It was miserable, utter agony, I could barely move for over a month or sleep and it took over two months to walk any appreciable distance properly without a limp. Didn't do my weight any good either as it shot up due not not being able to exercise. Apart from nerve pain killer meds I was also put on muscle relaxants which also helped and I definately learnt not to ignore that sort of pain again before I seek treatment. Best of luck, I hope you get it sorted.
Sounds like things are tough. Didn’t intend to suggest you didn’t eat well it’s just I have a large appetite and therefore need to “fill up”. Used to be a part time Weight Watcher Leader so know a little about weight issues/food/fibre. Since I now eat far more veg in particular to help, I’ve lost one and a half stone without even trying, don’t limit olive oil, bread etc. Suddenly all my clothes were too big and it’s cost a fortune because I’ve gone from size 12/14 to size 10. Only two things I limit - 3 squares dark chocolate daily and stick to one large glass red wine if a special occasion. Good luck with your future plans - hope all goes well. I understand that you will have lots of challenges and that’s hard going. A merry Christmas to you and your family.
I’m guna do same too danni. I could do with getting fitter. I need to make time for some walking at least.! I do around 12.000 steps a day at work but it’s all flat walking and nothing strenuous.
Well done that aspiration! Very best wishes. Roughly speaking, walking (weight-bearing) for strength, swimming for suppleness. And both burn calories 👍👍!! Running? Wot? Ooh, me knees! x
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