Week 1: Obese Woman on the Move

[CursorUSA]

I am very obese and starting Week 1. I can't run very fast but I'm doing my best. Week 1 Day 1. It took 30 minutes to do 1.47 miles. It felt good at the end. Staying with it will be a challenge as I work and study a lot. Not an exercise person but I know that I need to make a change in my life. OO-RAH. Here we go.

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Good for you !! As you progress through the C25K programme, you will (like the rest of us) get a growing sense of achievement and satisfaction, which will inspire you to further efforts. However you are going to have to fully understand a saying that is prominent in the running community - that is that you don't lose much weight on the road, you lose it mostly in the kitchen!!

[Jacqui-fit450 Graduate]

I'm also obese, but 20Ibs less obese at week 9 than I was at week 1 - let that be motivation for you.

I run at 10pm at night. Firstly so that I don't scare anyone, and secondly, so I can avoid watching the News as the world is too depressing if you know what's going on. It's nice to leave the house knowing that all you're missing is misery and politics. It also helps you to sleep very well. Others prefer an early morning run or a lunch time run. Each to their own. It depends on how sweaty you get, if you need to change clothes, access to a shower, where you run (rural lanes aren't suited to late night runs, busy roads may make you more self-conscious, treadmills can be boring) etc etc.

This forum is lovely for motivation and tips. I'd also recommend logging on to myfitnesspal.com and logging all your exercise and food consumption together to ensure that you make the most of the increased exercise and don't eat back all the calories burnt off. I've sent other dieting friends there and it seems to have made a massive difference for them too, where dieting or exercise alone have failed to achieve long term or significant results.

Anyway, enjoy the course. The nine weeks pass quickly. Go stun yourself with what you can achieve. Join the rest of us shouting 'If I can do it, anyone can!'

Good luck.

[CursorUSA in reply to Jacqui-fit450]

Thank you!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yeay... Love your note on your profile...Running for my life... wonderful!

Welcome to this wonderful programme, and to this amazing supportive forum! Post your journey and we will encourage, sympathise, empathise and even give the odd push if needed!

As Bazza1234 says, C25K is not the way to weight loss... but, it will improve your fitness/health, both mentally and physically and almost certainly promote the desire to improve other areas of your life. e.g. healthier diet etc...

Slow is not a problem, slow is good, slower is even better! You will hear that advice many times on this forum... Heed the advice.

Making the decision to change your life was the hard bit....holding fast to that will be hard too.

" Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible; and suddenly, you are doing the impossible."

[DiamonteSandal]

Each step is a step closer to a healthier, happier you Well done for taking the first one!

[nhs2015 Graduate]

Great stuff. Take it easy, one week at the time, you will do fine.

[Hidden]

actually you will lose weight running - you go girl

[heavyhorse Graduate]

hardest part is done, you started! Well done! I agree the running is not going to make the weight fall off by itself but it will certainly help, and motivational wise is great to assist weight loss. I am overweight by about 2 stone but have already lost over 6 although mostly before running, the running is to keep my focus and motivation and stop me slipping back. I wish I had started it sooner, and enjoy it more than I thought possible, even when its blimmin tough!

[Bundoodle Graduate]

GO FOR IT! Just remember, you don't need to go fast you just need to go. If you stick with it for the first 2 weeks you'll be hooked. I am on W7R2 and can't get my head around the fact the 7 weeks ago I could barely run for 60 seconds and now I can run (slowly!) for 25 minutes. Wishing you the best of luck x

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

Hi there and welcome You definitely don't need to go fast. Don't worry if you feel you need to repeat a run before moving on, lots of people do that. It's gradual but challenging nevertheless which is great because you will feel so good about yourself as you note your progress - and we all get hooked in the end. If you make some changes to your diet, you will lose weight from running. What I have noticed and I only graduated back in Jan, is that your shape changes for the better.

[misswobble Graduate]

I think many of us here started off as obese, unfit folks. Not runners. We are now though as we came through C25k, graduated, got fit and now can't stop. Running has that effect. It's addictive.

I hope you will stick with it. Running slowly is key!!! If you go good and steady you'll finish each session and that's the important thing. Focus on that

Good luck, and have fun!!!

[Hidden]

Even if you just walk at the beginning is more than doing nothing! Keep it up! Don't give in to the couch!

[Hidden]

Well done. Go for it and take it nice and slow

[Beastie_MCCXIX Graduate]

Well done, great job....the hardest part is starting. I'm over 300lbs and training for my first half marathon, I started C25K in Oct last year, completed a 10K in June. The only thing that stopped me was my gremlins telling me I couldn't. When you beat them and you will, then you'll fly. Great Job.

Running has given me confidence and a mental well being I've never felt before.

Just realised the post is a year old... how have you got on?

[CursorUSA in reply to Beastie_MCCXIX]

Thanks for the reply. I did stop running but I have been walking. Still struggling to get a program in. I got derailed last winter. Thanks for the encouragement and the check in. Knowing that a year has gone by actually encourages me to get going again. Might as well dive in and get started and the time passes by quickly. Thank you!

[MrsShrek]

Getting started is half the battle so well done! Running is my bit of 'me time' as I too have a full time job and also studying for a degree - running helps to clear my head. I'm also obese but as the others have found, the weight is coming off too so win win!

Enjoy!

[LiisaM Graduate]

Good for you! You have a great attitude! I live in Michigan on the west side. Are you on the East side by chance?