Am I too fat to start couch to 5k?

[beej13]

Hi, I am 30 years and overweight and have been since I was about 16, and in all honesty it never really bothered me that much but my weight is now higher than ever after having my second baby last year my BMi is now over 40, but I am calorie counting using My Fitness Pal but want to boost my exercise, can I do couch to 5k?

[lycranotlikely Graduate]

I think if you go very slowly and steadily and walk when you feel like it you can do it. You can only give it a try and see how it feels. I would advise getting good running shoes after having your gait analysed though...after all even if you find the plan too much at the moment one day very soon you'll be fit enough Congratulations on taking the "fitness decision". I did a year ago last month. I've lost 3.5 stones - mostly before C25K but exercising hard aerobically because I have asthma and it was too cold to go to exercise outside in the winter. Also I'm 66 and my husband is 72 and neither of us had run since teenage years...so if we can you can Good luck...I'll be looking out for your blogs.

[Oryxx Graduate]

Well done for getting on board! I'm doing Weight Watchers alongside Couch25K, I was loosing slowly before but I've noticed that my Weight loose has been excellent since running too. See how you go, and don't be afraid to repeat the podcasts more often than Laura suggests. I believe I did W1 5 times before I felt comfortable moving on. You can do it

[beej13]

Cheers guys, I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet, Im on holiday next week so will do MFP whilst I'm away and swim everyday then get started on couch25k when I get back

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure you can do the program. Just take your time nice and slowly. Well done for considering it! You'll get the next well done" when you start! YOU CAN DO IT Good luck! Delia

[Appleanday Graduate]

Just take it easy and go at your own pace. I am sure you will be able to do it. Good luck"

[eveshamgal Graduate]

Absolutely not. I was 19st 8lb when I started this plan ans I am due to do week 6 run 3 as soon as a pulled muscle is fixed!! My bmi was 43 when I started.

My advice is go slow,listen to your body, take extra rest days if you need it and don't be disheartened if you need to repeat weeks. It's taken me much longer than 9 weeks to get to week 6 but I will graduate eventually!

Good luck and embrace the challenge!''

[sofaqueen Graduate]

Give it a go and see how you get on - I bet you'll surprise yourself. As others have said, just don't push it, take it slowly and steadily, listen to your body and most of all enjoy that you are doing something fantastic for you. Good luck, look forward to hearing how you get on

[GoogleMe Graduate]

If you're not sure you could try a kind of 'pre-C25k' week of 3 sessions of half an hour's walking. I actually find running easier than brisk walking - which is why I tried C25K. I run slowly, it is all about a different movement, and I found the Week 1 podcast harder than any of the others.

Unlike others my view is that it works best if you don't mess about walking if you can't run any more and then running a bit more ie if you walk or stop in a 'run' section of a podcast, you just walk the rest of the podcast that time. This allows you to build up and see clear progression. I managed 4 of the 8 runs first time, then managed it again and gradually built up. Took me six weeks I think. Don't forget if you are struggling you can run slowly, it only needs to be a different motion, and, especially useful this, take smaller steps - frankly even run on the spot for a bit if that's what it takes.

Find yourself somewhere nice to run (I'd suggest not a treadmill) - flat. And bear in mind that to start with you won't be burning many calories. MyFitnessPal overestimates - I use Runkeeper now (I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to you yet unless you can be sure you will ignore all the distance and speed stuff at this stage, what counts is just doing it)

[suki_007 Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

That's a great idea googleme, I started by doing a few weeks of brisk walking and it really helped. Good luck beej13, this forum is only ever kind, helpful and positive, you're in good hands!

[WillowFae Graduate]

I started doing this last summer aged 40 with a BMI of 44. The first time I ran for one minute I felt like I was going to die but I did it and kept going. I managed every run exactly as the programme says, just taking it slowly. Even now my 5k PB is just under 38 mins so I'm not exactly fast. But I have lost 87lbs and my BMI is 29 (so still someway to go). Currently on holiday in France and went out for a run this morning. It never occurred to me NOT to bring my running stuff. A wonderful hobby that is portable - all you need is your shoes and a path/road/park etc

Go for it!

[Indiebear in reply to WillowFae]

I felt like I was going to die after week one, week two was easier but my knees are shot at. is this normal for week two, as I didn’t think feeling like I was going to die was normal until I heard others saying the same?

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to Indiebear]

Go slower!

youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE(Not working as expected?)

This slow!

[Carolecal]

Hi beej13, there's so much good advice already and some really inspirational replies,I don't have anything new to add really.Just wanted to say "Go for it and good luck !" With sensible healthy eating and a slow and steady approach to C25K you are on to a winner. You will find so much support and helpful advice on here...it's a great place! Keep posting,would love to hear your progress.

[twigg]

Not at all just take it steady and if you don't do the run never mind keep repeating till you do. You can do it let us know how you go.

[Slowworm Graduate]

I can only share my experience of how amazing the body is, I was almost crying on my first run. I didn't think I could possibly continue I felt so cream crackered but Laura bless her encouraged me on.

I am now kicking myself if I don't 'perform' to expectations, by which I mean vainly not beating my previous time. But I'm no longer crying at a two minute run!

The main battle I've found is with yourself and not losing heart if you don't meet your own expectations.

I wish you all the best and give it a try, slow and steady is such good advice. Tell us how you get on?

[Aftabs Graduate]

Congratulations on actively looking to lose weight. I begun last October and have lost 27kgs (59 pounds) so far. Personally I begun C25K in April and had been using the cross trainer and bikes in the gym for a few months before. I had also been walking a lot before I begun C25K. However I probably would have begun C25K a few months earlier if I had discovered this forum and read everyone's blogs. You can see that people of all levels of fitness have begun and completed C25K, so I would say go for it but don't try and push yourself. Good luck and if you start let us know how you get on.

[danzargo Graduate]

Quick answer? NO you're not. You go kick some major assss girlfrenn. You can do this cupcake! Many people do and you can join the club! GOODLUCK!!!

[beej13]

Well I was on holiday last week so completed my first session of Week One last night and I'm not dead so that's all good x

[MarieMc73 in reply to beej13]

Hi 4 yrs on and ive come across this post,how did you do in the end??x