Week 3 run 3 completed, but I still feel self-conscious jogging outdoors, I prefer hiding inside on the treadmill.

[madamepearson]

Looking forwards to starting week 4 though because if I manage to spend as much time jogging as I do walking that will feel like such a big achievement for me

I think as soon as I get a bit better at jogging then I won't feel so self-conscious. I am naturally shy and lack confidence anyway, but at the moment I am 2.5 stone overweight and my movement and breathing is a bit jerky and clumsy and I suppose that is why I feel a bit embarrassed about jogging in public, I try to visit the park at quiet times

[ultrabluedress Graduate]

Aww hun I know how you feel, I felt the same although I dont have access to a treadmill so have done all my runs on the road. I'm the most unco ordinated person in the world and must look a right idiot when I run, (have you ever seen the clip in Friends where Pheobes running ? Well thats me lol

The first three weeks I ran on roads that I knew would be quiet, then I don't know if my confidence grew or i thought "do you know what these people are passing and they won't see you again and at least I'm doing something" Now I'm getting towards the end, for the last couple of weeks I've been running the local roads and get so many positive comments from the Mums on the school run, who see me running during the day..

Be proud of yourself and what you are doing and enjoy..

[kickibro Graduate]

I hadn't seen Phoebe in Friends running until my sister sent me the clip and saod "That's how you run." I don't care any more. I know that I am doing something good for me.

Ny niece said that she could not possibly run outside as she felt too self conscious and so I asked her what ahe thought when she saw someone running and she said "it's always positive and I wish I was doing it and had the motivation to do it" so then I asked her what she thought if they were obese and she replied that she was full of admiration for them for actually doing something about it.

I hope this helps xxx

[Tattoojunkie30 Graduate in reply to kickibro]

That is such a lovely thing for your niece to think xxx maybe take her with you so she won't be so self conscious?

[kindly1 Graduate]

Hang in there - I started out the same way! It took a lot for me to get out there and do the 1st week on the road. I was worried what people would think (I am overweight and slower than turtles stampeding through peanut butter) and had to keep in mind that I am out there doing it. I am on week 5 and while I am still self-conscious - I worry about what others think less than before. It just takes time

[hoodles37]

I can identify with this. I am very overweight and have no treadmill. I ran in my unique style on quieter side streets with my cap pulled well down over my eyes to start with. After a while I noticed that no-one really noticed me. My confidence grew as time passed and now I run wherever I want with no hat and no worries. Good luck with your running journey.

[Hidden]

I always run outside because I have no choice but others don't really seem to notice me. I think, generally, they are either too busy doing their own thing or wishing they were as active as me - not that I care overmuch what anyone thinks - it is none of their business. I did get a comment one day from a woman walking her dogs who said "I'm barely half way round the lake and you're on your second circuit". She desperately (!?!) wanted to lose weight and get fit but when I offered her some tips (I'm a qualified weight consultant) her response was "But I get plenty of exercise out with my dogs" and "But I eat hardly anything" - bottom line, she is not prepared to make the effort.

Well done on completing week 3 and keep up the good work. Good luck with week 4. Best wishes.

[BethRF Graduate]

I always run outside, through lack of a treadmill, but I also think it has some other amazing benefits. One of my favourite things about running is getting out into the outdoors, tackling the weather, running my hand through plants as I pass, etc. Makes me sound a bit hippy-dippy (and maybe I am), but it's true!

Just stop caring what people think. I know it's easier said than done, but I figure that most people won't even notice you, and those that do will largely be full of admiration for someone getting out there and doing it. My experiences running around the same lake as other (MUCH faster, more experienced and fitter) runners have only ever been positive. The vast majority of the time I just get a small smile or a nod, sometimes I get a 'Morning!', and never anything negative! In fact, once I got a 'Keep your head up, girl' when I was starting to slouch and clearly struggling!

People recognise that we're all out there doing the same thing, albeit at our own pace. The last thing anyone should feel is ashamed of getting up and out there and doing something brilliant for themselves.

[Nilzed]

Work your way up to it. Start by walking this week in regular 'oh, i am just walking, not a get fit program, just a stroll, la la la' clothes. Try different routes and times of day to get an idea where/when you might prefer and get used to seeing who is around. Take notice that nobody really much notices the runners any more than the walkers,dog walkers, mums with pushchairs. And if they do, it is usually with a smile. Next week, move on to walking in your running kit, getting used to the idea of looking like "yep, here i am, out here getting fit!" By the third week, if not sooner, you might even feel like you might as well run, since you are out here and dressed for it.

Trust me, even those of us weighing nearly double your weight dont actually attract much attention, neither on the warm up walk through the neighborhood, nor on the park paths and trails full of more get fit people than trying to get from here to there people. Though oddly, i will suddenly feel incredibly self conscious of some person or another and have to concentrate very hard on what i am doing lest my nerves disrupt me until they are out of my sight. I count my steps and my breaths, and make myself look at and think about some other person in view. That lady with the dog, or what a cute baby in the chair. I dont know what triggers these episodes, but that is how i get past them.

[Tattoojunkie30 Graduate]

I completely understand I myself am 6 stone overweight and I DREAD to think what my bum looks like wobbling along in my stretchy pants BUT I haven't let it stop me....because the more I get out there and do what not even 6 months ago would have filled me with horror is the less my bum will wobble as I get fitter.....I have had nothing but positive reactions from people who realise that yes I am overweight but I'm doing something about it.....I have had dog walkers move aside for me, I have "keep going girl" I've had smiles from "those in the know ;-)" and I even had one gentleman at 5am clap for me as I ran past him! And so what if someone says something nasty?? People who project negative feelings are themselves deeply unhappy and more than likely wish they had the motivation to run.....so don't be afraid throw on those trainers and run....and if all else fails then turn your music up so you can't hear anyone xxxx good luck!

[madamepearson Graduate]

Hi, Thanks to everybody who posted, it made me feel much better

I am pleased to say that I did my week 4 run in the park today. I was glad that it was quiet but I did prefer being in the outdoors taking in all the lovely scenery rather than staring at the boring white wall in front of my treadmill

On the last run I thought I had hit the pause button it seemed to go on forever

[Hidden]

Well done in getting outside and completing your first(?) run of week 4. I can understand why you feel happier when it's quiet if you are very self conscious. However, as you get fitter and enjoy the outdoors a bit more you will see that it doesn't really matter what others think. I generally wear a track suit - it hides a multitude of sins - but now the weather is warmer I said to hell with it and squeezed myself into stretchy Lycra running gear. I am due to have some pictures taken shortly to display on my posters for sponsorship for my R4L in June so I will post one photo here when I have them - yes, you can get a quart into a pint pot! The Lycra shows all my lumps, bumps and bulges but who cares - not me folks. I'm enjoying getting fit and I've started losing the weight I put back on due to stopping smoking. Good luck with your next W4 run and my best wishes to you.