Starting C25K tomorrow!

[followmejdbfans]

I'm starting C25K tomorrow after much deliberation I've decided that this is the right thing to do. Not happy with my weight or my body and in the past have not being motivated when going to the gym.

Does anyone have any tips for a newbie?

;

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Welcome and congratulations on a great decision!

My advice is take it slow and steady. This is about time running not speed and distance, that will come after graduation.

My other advice is PLAN. Plan what clothes and shoes you will wear, plan your route, plan your schedule. That will ensure you do not find these excuses NOT to run.

Get out there and enjoy. Read plenty of posts and also post here yourself. Your forum friends have a wealth of experience they are all willing to share to support you in your journey.

Happy running 😀🏃🏻

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Great advice sweetie... I, like loads of us set out the stuff the night before.. ( I even took photo of my gear, all laid out, once for one post ) It added to the excitement... sad eh... and yet truly wonderful

[SexyBexy Graduate]

Welcome to the club 😀

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Wow, good for you and all the best with the getting healthy plan. You will grow to love and be obsessed with running and the forum here is awesome to keep you going. Just run slowly so you can do the run times and you will do it.

As a fellow runner who struggles with being overweight, I would recommend alongside running signing up for a calorie counting plan. I have found myself that otherwise I often eat more and reward myself with food which led to me gaining a few pounds while running. Now I am back on calorie counting, they are coming off again. My Fitness Pal is one that is free and allows you to track food and calories as well as set weight loss goals. Keep us posted, we are excited for you 😀

[mammalovesmango Graduate]

Hi Newbie,

The podcasts really do work. Just take it slow. I was in your position and I did a month of long distance walking first- a few weeks of an hours walk four times a week and then building to 2 hour walks or three hour walks once or twice a week. This built me up to begin the podcasts. When starting walking I was about three and a half stone overweight.

This morning I ran for 30 mins non stop - just 10 weeks after my walking began. I am on week five of the podcasts. I think the walking helped because I thought I didn't ant to rush into the podcasts and fail at the first hurdle.

Taking it slow has helped me make good progress . I have never felt I was at a stage I could not cope with. I have also lost just over 15 pounds in this time too.

Good luck!!

[followmejdbfans in reply to mammalovesmango]

Thank you for your advice. Congrats on the weight loss as well. I walk at least 10,000 steps a day but as it doesn't increase my heart rate it isn't enough excersise. Thought I'd continue with that but follow this plan alongside that and see if it helps at all.

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Keep your runs as slow as possible. Even if you think you're going slow - you can still slow down. And keep checking back in here. We're good for advice, celebrating with you and kicking you up the backside if you need the motivation. Good luck and let us know how it goes

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Trust the programme, trust your body and enjoy it. If you want to lose weight I would combine the running with a weight loss programme... myfitnesspal is good... good luck 😎

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow and steady; that is what you will hear a lot of...it is the way.. that and just one foot in front of the other...

We will support, encourage, sympathise and empathise.. cheer you and give you a gentle shove if needed...

Welcome to one of the best things you will ever have done

[Cuig1975]

I'm starting wk 8 in the morning, tips are keep going even if you feel your gasping because the feeling of completing each run leaves you biting at the bit to get to next one ...... Enjoy, slow and steady and just get out there .

Flat route if possible until your a few weeks in

Best of luck

[debze Graduate]

Welcome and good luck with your first run! As the others say just run slow and steady and the podcasts are a real motivator. I don't think I could've come this far without them.

[OldPossum]

Good luck for your first run 😀 I can only echo the words of others before me. Slow, slow and slower. Listen to your body and let us know how it goes.

[skysue16 Graduate]

My advice would be to listen to your body and take your time, repeat runs and even whole weeks if you feel you need to. Best of luck and well done for taking the plunge.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Lots of great advice already given. I would just add that you can repeat runs if you need to, there is no hurry to get through the programme, always warm up and cool down, always take a rest day between runs and stretch after each run. Apart from that, enjoy your transformation 🤗

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

[followmejdbfans in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you for attaching the link for the stretching. Was meant to look for it earlier