The new girl!

[omanpat]

I have just heard of this site and am delighted to meet you all!! I have just started week 5 and whilst it is so hard, I am very happy. I can run (sort of...you need imagination) for FIVE minutes!! I have lost no weight which is a bit of a disappointment...

[Dunnja Graduate]

Hi Omanpat.

Welcome. don't worry about the weight thing. I was losing weight steadily before I started this but haven't lost much in the last 9 weeks but my body shape has changed loads and my clothes are looser.

Stick with it. You will notice the difference

Jules xx

[omanpat in reply to Dunnja]

Dear Jules,

Thanks for your support. I am 14st 7ibs! Jogging is so hard and very humiliating...I thought the weight would drop off! Not so. Will keep going.

Pat

[Dunnja Graduate in reply to omanpat]

Pat. In April this year I was about the same weight and smoking 15 a day. I started my diet and lost 2 stone, started running and gave up smoking in week 5 so that I could run for 20 mins.

Don't give up. I never thought I could do it either but we can and will. Don't be embarrassed. After a couple of weeks, you won't worry about others. Honest

You are doing it and that is all that matters.

😘

[omanpat in reply to Dunnja]

Thanks so much. I gave up a 30 a day smoking habit a year ago (after 40 YEARS!!) and I had my gall bladder out last month. ! I can't believe I am now on a running programme!!

Your support is so great. Thanks. I will keep at it. xx

[nhs2015 Graduate in reply to omanpat]

One of the good thing about running is that eventually you will become more confident and will do things you used to dream of but never had the guts to do. Wear loose clothes and hob along then slowly get better fit pants and so on. It is an amazing experience.

[gary_bart]

Welcome! We all know how hard it is to run for five minutes, when you first have to do this. It just never ends. But stick with this, and you'll find new things to be amazed at, after this.

Weight loss is still mainly dependent on gradually getting control of what you eat, and how much. Running probably helps with burning some of the valuable fuel we carry in case of emergencies round here, but it's not going to take care of excess weight on its own.

So why run then? Well the weirdest thing of all is that if it's not already doing so, there will come a time where it makes you happy. For now, maybe (apart from making some small adjustments) just start by being fit with fuel supplies on board, and then switch attention when you feel like this part of the plan is really coming on nicely and self-sustainably. If you can run for FIVE whole minutes (and that's a recent memory for a lot of us - that happy disbelieving belief) you can do anything. Even really difficult things like weight loss.

[omanpat in reply to gary_bart]

Thanks so much for your support and taking the time to reply to my new post. I appreciate it so much and it gives me the courage, strength and resolve to carry on...despite how difficult I really am finding it.

[gary_bart in reply to omanpat]

You're welcome. Just go through all the old messages here, and you'll find there are many ways to overcome the obstacles that lie ahead. For instance you have people like me that have had to restart, and to redo some weeks, etc. Obviously the ideal situation is that you start at w1r1, and regular as clockwork, progress stepwise straight up to w9r3, but if that turns into foolishness or temporary impossibility, just stick around a bit and all in good time you'll reach the end. Get ready to amaze yourself!

[omanpat in reply to gary_bart]

I have a goal! I live in Brighton (UK home of the fit looking body!) I want to be able to do the 5k Santa run in December and not look like a total eejit! Your support is so motivating. Thanks xx

[ndgould Graduate]

Hi Pat.

I am reasonably new here too and also on week 5, just done run 2 today. Well done for reaching the 5 minute milestone. I am looking forward to sharing the highs and lows of the rest of our running experience. This really is a great forum to share and discuss. Good luck with the rest of week 5. Keep us all updated.

By the way, I've not lost any weight either but I think my cankles may be a bit more shapely!

[Idolitorus Graduate]

Evening Omanpat.

I have just finished week 5 and half way through week 6.

I too am working toward a 5k Santa Dash. Is yours Brighton based? I am going to do the one in Hyde Park for Great Ormond Street. I have not run since school, pretty much, so this is quite a revelation.

I've lost a little weight doing this but I'm not on any sort of diet so not really expecting much. Apparently, the longer runs do make some impact. I have heard that by just having more muscle mass it uses more calories even resting, so strengthening our legs and such will use more energy even when not running. It sounds like a nice theory, I hope it is the case.

Keep going and I hope this post is the first of many.

[Brummymummy Graduate]

Reading your message was spooky as I'm in exactly the same position (give or take a a few pounds). I have been really strict with my diet for around 6 weeks and was expecting the pounds to fall off (and they haven't!).

I'm going to steal all of the advice you've been given and keep my head down and carry on pushing!

I'm preparing for week 5 run 3 but feeling scared to try. Tomorrow. I WILL nail it.

Best of luck to you!!

[Rlear Graduate]

Hi there. I'm fairly new on here. Only graduated last week. I found wk 5 hard, really hard. But haven't looked back since. You should easily manage 5k by Dec. You will find the weight drops off once you start doing the longer runs regularly. I'm now doing a 10k training plan and under 10 stone for the first time in forever. Also my body shape has changed so much people have started commenting. You'll get there. Take care.

[nhs2015 Graduate]

Hey, don't despair. The weight will just shift to the right place and you will be more comfortable. I shuffle and dream to run graciously but that will come one day....

Welcome and keep posting

[RunningForBroke Graduate]

Welcome! I'm behind you week 3 run 2 and still pushing everything to run 3 whole minutes. I can't wait for my legs to get stronger! I intend to keep going. Look back a week or so - there I am! Did you see me waving? We can do this!

[AvatheGardener Graduate]

Hi and well done for getting so far! I am 54, week 4 run1 just done. I'm 5'8 and weighed a pound more than you in January; lost more than 10% through stopping alcohol and some sensible eating. Then got shingles and put some back on but not all of it! It's so encouraging to see other people on here in roughly the same place- well done you for all your achievements so far- giving up smoking and getting to week 5! I can almost see you ahead of me inspiring me to attempt week5 which looks daunting... Keep it up! 😀