W7R2 Done - I think my weight is causing problems...

[anand12]

...but I WILL NOT stop, till my body physically stops or I collapse or something! I am bit stubborn and a sore loser. I haven't failed a run yet and I wish to keep it that way.

Anyways, I am having intermittent knee pains and ache plus I find it harder to manage my breathing. Part of the problem is from running on hard ground I guess but I discussed it with my mum and think she has a good point - Becoz I am a bit fat (ok actually obese!) my legs are having to support a lot more weight plus the fatty abdomen is not letting my lungs expand as much as it would like to

So I am not sure what else I should do, may be I should watch what I eat.

[Mazzero Graduate]

Well done for finishing your run. We're at the same stage and like you I have not missed a run as yet. However they have been challenging as I too am over weight and not a spring chicken. The NHS choices site also offer support with weight loss if this is really what you want to tackle. I have been losing about 1 lb each week using My Fitness Pal which is a free app on smart phones. This helps to keep track of what I eat because its surprising how much we can shovel in without realising how many calories we've consumed. It certainly gets you thinking about portion sizes and how much your body really needs. The app also lets you register your activity so you can earn more calories with your running etc. Good luck with the rest of the programme you know you will graduate by sheer determination

[crox Graduate]

You're not alone, I started in march 2012 at 17st 8lbs, now weighing in at 12st 7lbs, the only exercise I do is running 3 times a week and I watch what I eat with myfitnesspal. I remember the sore knees and shins ;-). What I did was get some tubi grips from boots, 1 cut in 2 should do, doubled up over my knees. Take it easy, stick with it and believe in hard work, not miracles

[lycranotlikely Graduate in reply to crox]

Wow! Well done you.Thanks for the knee problem solver...I'll try that.

[Tready Graduate]

Keep going. I began in April this year and never missed a run. Somedays it was so hard, but I graduated in nine weeks and have continued to run 3 times a week since. I am still obese (BMI 34.2) but am slowly losing weight and my body is toning up nicely, and now I can outrun my very slim size 6/8 daughter! You will do it.

[lycranotlikely Graduate in reply to Tready]

That is absolutely fantastic. Congratulations.

[anand12]

Thanks for the advice I see myfitnesspal being throw around a lot. My main problem is I can't properly count my calories in a way as I cook everything myself from scratch even pizza's, bread etc. Hence I actually don't know how much calories I am consuming.

[Mrsbelt1 Graduate in reply to anand12]

Try the 5:2 diet working well for me so far! on my fast day I pick up a ready meal from asda for around 300 cals ( the healthier micro bag ones) and 1/2 tin of soup for lunch. Only water during day, i eat what I want rest of week but don't go over bored!

Tip for making pizza - warburtons flat bread with some passatta, tuna, red onion and veg, grated cheese an oven bake for 8 mins. Quick easy and about a quarter of the calories of any pizza (home made or bought!).

Invest in good supportive running shoes to help with ur knees. I just got me some new balance in the sale an had my gait analysed or free at dw sport, spent about an hour trying out different pairs on the tread mill.

Took my new bad boys out for run 2 this mornin - did 4 miles and not a hint of pain in my right knee and hip. I'm a happy lady

Hope this helps

Abi x

[anand12 in reply to Mrsbelt1]

Did 5:2 for a month, saw very little difference so I lost motivation. Then I started running which is going well so far. I make my own dough and bread too but point taken. I am off on holiday in a week, I will get back on 5:2 once I am back. I did have gait analysis done in my week3 and bought new shoes. Thanks for the advice.

[witchy83 in reply to anand12]

You don't have to count the calories on Myfitnesspal that's the beauty, it does it for you. I cook everything from scratch too, but you can create recipes in the app - you type in the ingredients and how many it served and it saves the number of calories per serving. It also saves the recipe so if it is one you use regularly you don't have to put it in each time it is there to click and add. It is genius! It has helped me a lot.

[katee1958 Graduate in reply to witchy83]

should have read all the posts before adding mine, as you had already put this LOL

[katee1958 Graduate in reply to anand12]

on the my fitness pal there is a function where you input your own recipes by listing all the individual components and say how many portions it is for, and it works it all out for you

[crox Graduate in reply to anand12]

I'd say give myfitnesspal a try any way, even guesstimate could be useful. You can add all the ingredients for your pizza, save it as a meal, then next time it's already for you to add.

[anand12]

Ah cool, that makes things so much easier, I will give the myfitnesspal a go too once I am back from my holiday. Then make a decision on a diet to follow.

[Hidden in reply to anand12]

Hi anand12. I'm a "real cook" also using myfitnesspal, and it works a charm. Really very easy. And once you've entered your own recipes, you can pull them up again and again, change portion size, substitute ingredients, etc etc. It's easy and a great education -- more info on nutrition than just calories, too. I've found upping the veggies and drinking lots of water much more satisfying than I'd imagined. Sort of like C25k being much more possible than I'd ever imagined. So when you get back from holidays... go for it! Stretch your imagination for what is possible! Best wishes for success.

[anand12 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the advice I will give it a go. I am vegetarian anyways so veggies is all i eat. The cheese is the main killer.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I have found that home made is terrifyingly high in calories - a slice of my own bread is twice a slice of supermarket sliced for example. Just shows how much air we are buying!

Might be worth checking out your shoes, especially if running on hard ground is your only option

[anand12 in reply to GoogleMe]

I run in the park so I guess I could run on the grass but it does not feel as comfortable. I do have proper running shoes, I got them after I had gait analysis done by a professional.

I agree, I am sure my home made food has more calories especially when I eat nearly twice the portion of a supermarket meal. The only plus side is I don't use much oil but I do have huge portions.