Help?

[amyxx]

I'm just a teenager yet I weigh around 14 stone. I'm now feeling embarrassed about my weight and was thinking of trying this, any tips or suggestions? I'm from Fife, Scotland. Haven't found anyone to run with either!

[Zeinab Graduate]

Hello welcome to the group !

I am sure that weight or age are not in any way a factor in trying this program , I am not a Dr but I think as long as there are no health conditions then you can just give it a shot and walk/run !

I gave it a shot and its helpful in many ways ( general mood, confidence, weight watching , fitness )- I used to be breathless when I walk a bit faster with my laptop bag!

Why don't you give it a try for three weeks ? ( 9 runs ) and you can keep us posted with progress, difficulties and may be questions along the way ? may be you will like it you find a life passion ?

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Well perhaps think of it this way. If you search the Internet , you will find MANY examples of people who have lost lots of weight and now live healthy lives by exercising and watching what they eat.

Can I ask you two questions

1. Are you in as bad a state as this man?

youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJ...(Not working as expected?)

2. Will NOT doing this and continuing to sit of the couch, help you???

Go for it!!! You are young with your whole life ahead of you!!!!!!!

[deekay64 Graduate]

Hi Amyxx

Firstly doing C25K alone is unlikely to lose all of the weight you want to lose, you'll need to work on why you are overweight and change some things there too.

If you eat fatty sugary snacks between meals, saying no to yourself because you want to lose weight will really, really help.

If your diet îsnt good also then switch to smaller portions and make healthy choices. There is a weight loss forum on Health Unlocked too that you can join for advice ideas and support.

C25K is brilliant for exercise as apart from a decent pair of trainers you need nothing else - not even someone to do it with. It's a really gentle programme, at the beginning the runs are 'just' 60 seconds with walks between but inside of 9 weeks you'll be able to run for 30 minutes

It gets you out and feeling good about yourself for exercising, you'll be getting some fresh air and it will help with your weight loss

Good luck and keep posting for support you'll soon make friends here

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done Amy. You have decided to take control of your weight and C25k is a brilliant way to help. It will increase your body awareness and make you more conscious of what you eat. The exercise alone will not make you lose much weight but it will tone your body and make you feel great and give you the realisation that you are capable of so much more than you think. At times it is hard, but you will develop a determination to succeed that will change your life. Remember you can repeat runs if you need to. Personally I think you are better off doing the programme by yourself. If you run with someone else one of you will not be pushing as hard as the other, as we all have different natural paces.

You have everything to gain by doing this, Amy. Good luck. Keep us posted.

[helcl Graduate]

I think that as long as you take it nice and slow to start with you will be fine, but just remember to combine it with a healthy eating plan! I have lost weight, but it was a conscious change of eating as well as the running. Good luck with it.

[Sunflower86 Graduate]

Hi amy... First of all, good for you for checking this out! My advice would be just to take the plunge and go for it. I promise u will love it, and you will feel great. I'm also from Fife and was also just over 14stone when I started. I finished a few weeks ago, have lost a load of weight, but more than that I'm constantly amazed by and proud of my body. Don't worry about anyone else, do it for yourself xxx

[Gary-S Graduate]

I could not run for a bus before I started this !

So if I can do it at age 55, you can !

I cut down on cakes,biscuits and bread, and have lost one and a half stone,

The sense of achievement when you run your first 5k is amazing

Keep us posted !!

[Pollypanda Graduate]

Hi Amy,

I agree with the above, exercise is great for improving overall health and well-being and when combined with a change in eating habits you'll see weight loss results.

I find an app called MyFitnessPal useful. It's free and it helps you track what you're eating and calorie intake. One you're aware of what you're eating you can decide what changes to make.

Best of luck with the programme!

[Nerdio Graduate]

Good for you making this first step. The plan really works, you just need to take it steady, and not push yourself. If necessary do a week twice if you are not comfy with it though.

Deekay64 is exactly right, running isn't the solution to help you lose all the weight you want to. It is though a way to tone up, build up self-confidence, fitnesss and general well-being.

Just give it a go. If you find a week hard, just do it again. The 9 weeks is a guideline not a rule, and a lot of people on here did not do it in 9 weeks. And keep blogging, we've all been through it on here, so you are not alone if it becomes a struggle.

Good luck.

[useitorloseit Graduate]

I agree with all the above. I think that this programme is almost better for the brain than for the body. Once you start to feel the benefits (and you will, along with a few aches and pains), you suddenly find that you don't want that chocolate biscuit, or a glass of water is more appealing than a can of coke, because you will feel your body start to change and it feels great - you start to notice when you run that if you've eaten good running fuel the day before you have a good run, but if you've stuffed a load of naughty but nice stuff the day before the energy can be strangely lacking (or wine in my case - a big nono the day before a run!). Can you get your mum to get on the programme as well? - if she is thinking about her body and the food she stocks the cupboards with, it will probably help you too - it's sometimes hard to eat healthily if there are hidey-holes full of snackeridge!

Good luck x

[rebeldiver Graduate]

this program would be a great start just take your time, there no rush. Sometime its great to be out there on your own "time to reflexed on life" good luck

[BloomingEck]

You've had some great advice from others, and I hope you are encouraged to give it a try. You have a head start on most of us here! I quite enjoy running on my own as well, but if you need some company maybe you could find a local running club? They have all ages and sizes and are normally very welcoming.

Do you have a target to aim for? Mine was entering a 5K Race for Life, and it helped me to have that as a focus date. My FitnessPal is a great app, but they don't allow under 18s to join in on the forums, and I've heard people suggest Spark Teens as an alternative.

Good luck, and have fun!

[Maysie1 Graduate]

Just get out there and give it a go!

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I used to HATE running, but now love it!

I also agree with what others have said, it changes your mindset about fitness and health, which for me was an unexpected benefit.

Make sure you keep us posted with how you are getting on as you will probably need some support during the 'low times' (which we have all had) and the forum members are all great at being there when you need someone to help out.

Good luck!

[Vanessa2712]

Hi Amy, i just read your post about wanting to use the C25K to lose weight and thought i'd share my experience with you. In April i weighed close to 100kg's (sorry dunno what that is in stone) and was a total recluse and couch potato. I stumbled on the programme and thought i'd give it a shot. I'm not going to lie, it was tuff at times but i dug deep knowing that the pain i felt from running was nothing compared to the pain i felt not being able to fit into my clothes, feeling absolutely worthless and insignificant because of my weight. Download the app, listen to Laura - she will become your rock and motivation - and keep going because your brain will try tell you that you cannot do it, but trust me and trust the positive voice that you can. There were days that i really didnt feel like going out the house, and the biggest hurdle was just putting on my trainers but once they on, you complete the task set out for that run, you will feel amazing. you will feel so proud of your accomplishment - those thoughts and moments are what you need to draw on for the next time you feel I CANT DO IT because... you proved before you CAN.

I went from a size 20+ to a size 14 with limited adjustments to my eating plan. It can be done.

Good luck on your journey x

[Curly123]

All I can say is it definitely works. Each week builds up steadily and you need to go slowly! I prefer to run on my own at the moment with my music on so the app lets you do that now. Make a playlist of stuff you like, pick a route along the roads near your house and go 10mins or so up the road then turn back to go home. I'm proud of you for giving it a go. Xx

[Tomas Graduate]

I totally agree with what others have said. You have taken the crucial first step, and now it's "just" a matter of putting one foot in front of the other a lot of times. Yes, it might be hard and you'll be tired and get achy legs, but as Vanessa said, you will feel SOOOOO good for knowing that you're getting fit, and while the achy legs will resolve themselves, the pride of your new body and fitness will last. So wellcome to the forum, it will be great to follow you on your journey!

[Pollynorris Graduate]

I'm no expert but I can give my experience. I was 13 and a half stone at the beginning of the year, which gave me an obese bmi, being only 5'2. As well as starting the programme I took a hard look at what I was eating and limited my calorie intake. I learned quickly to find food that was good value for calories, in that I was satisfied with fewer. Myfitnesspal app is useful because it monitors nutriants, fat and sugar content as well as calories. If you use mapmyfitness it will import your exercise, increasing your allowance when you burn off more.

The early weeks of c25k, you'll find any weight loss is down to diet. You are building up your fitness and confidence. As you progress, the exercise makes a bigger difference.

Having no one to run with will help! You can choose your running time to suit yourself and your confidence. A lot of us were very self conscious about being seen and having a running partner can be counterproductive, as you willingly cancel if they can't make it. You are doing this for no one but you.

I am now a healthy 9st 10lb, in a size 10 dress and fitter and healthier than ever before. I have such a busy lifestyle that things like gym and classes can't work because they don't fit my family's timetable. This is just half an hour, 3 times a week. You can increase later if you have the time and the inclination.

So you see, if you want it, you can do it. You have come to the right forum, we've all come from a similar place and know what you are going through. We can be your virtual running club, cheering you on!

Good luck

[BluebellRunner Graduate]

Hi Amy,

Well done for coming on here and telling us a bit about yourself. I can't say anymore than what everybody else has put but I can tell you I also weigh just over 14 stone and i'm 43. I started this program 10 weeks ago and only in the last couple of weeks been watching my weight. I actually put a couple of pounds on when I started which i've read is normal.

Give it a go but also watch what you eat, cut and you will lose some weight.

Good luck!

[MarkyD Graduate]

Hi Amy, I can tell from your post that you have the motivation to change your life. That is a tremendous step forward, and on this forum, you are among like-minded people. I'd say that we are mostly older than you, but we are also here to improve our fitness, lose some weight and just enjoy running.

The journey you'll be sharing with us is quite tough. You'll sometimes wonder if you can complete C25K, and some days you'll not want to get out of the front door. Many of us felt embarrassed in the first few weeks and worried about what people in the street might think. But we all got through that, and with the help of this forum, went on to graduate as runners. Most people reported that they did not lose a lot of weight in the 9 weeks (or however long) it took to go through the program. But we all changed shape - became more trim and toned - and family and friends started saying how we'd lost weight (even if we had not). That is the gift that you can receive from this C25K program and community.

So my advice to you is - GO FOR IT! Find a time when you are happy to start the program, and commit to us that you'll do 3 sessions a week. Forget about a diet... don't make any drastic changes, but swap snacks for healthy options. Make sure that you are drinking enough water (diet drinks, tea, coffee... are not water) and if you feel hungry between meals, have a glass of water, then wait 30 minutes before snacking. Don't reward yourself with a snack after a run... as Laura will tell you, a banana is good recovery food.

Second advice - take a full-length selfie of yourself now. In a few weeks, you'll start to see a change in your body and this will be massively motivating.

Last advice - be honest, post here often. Ask questions, ask for help, let us all know how you are progressing. There are loads of really lovely, caring people here and we want to support you. C25K is a magical program, but it is the community here that will really help you to succeed. Good luck!

[Mobo40runner Graduate]

Hi Amy

I am really pleased to see you on here. There will be loads of good advice. Try not to be embarassed about your weight if possible. It is so much more important to be an amazing person.... However as someone who struggled with weight as a teenager I know how you feel! I'm 43 (dead old) and wish I'd discovered running years ago instead of this summer! The programme is great and will take you from not being able to run to running 5k. It will help you lose weight but maybe depending upon your age talk to someone about diets too. There are some good ones out there such as Slimmers world and weight watchers. I do 5 2 but not sure if that is suitable for teenagers.

You've taken the first step which is awesome.

Try and find someone to talk to if you haven't already.... Mum, dad, doctor, someone at school etc. good on ya Amy!!