Starting the couch to 5k challenge tonight! - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Starting the couch to 5k challenge tonight!

yamyam91 profile image
14 Replies

Hi im 25 years old, majorly unfit and overweight.

Im 6ft 2 and weight in at 19stone 10lbs and after some thought over Christmas i decided that this year is the year i get back in shape and more importantly get fit.

I started playing football when i was 6 years old and played all the way through until i hit 17. training once a week on a Thursday and playing once a week on Sunday, this gave me the fitness i needed along with walking alot as a youngster.

Since i turned 18 things changed, i started driving, i started those quick trips to McDonalds to binge and the worst of all I started binge drinking. the weight really started to pile on. Ever since then the weight got more and more and the fitness deteriorated quickly... enough of my sob story

2017 is the year for me, no more excuses.

So as of tonight I will begin my couch to 5k challenge to get me moving and then push on to further goals.

Ever since the turn of the year I have given up the rubbish food and the take-aways and started walking 4 miles a day, but i feel like a goal is needed to keep me going.

Sorry for the long post.

YY

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yamyam91 profile image
yamyam91
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14 Replies
RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate

Well done for making that decision, and for finding your way here! There's as much support and encouragement here as you could ever hope for :) We've all in our own ways reached that point where we decide we have to make that change, so can very much identify with you there.

Do post after your run this evening, and let us know how it goes! Happy running! :)

Qscout profile image
QscoutGraduate

Way to go. You have already made some changes so well done you. Good luck with tonight's run. Do let us know how you get on. Trust the program, it really does work.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

We can keep you on track here if you need it. Hopefully the push to feel and look better will be all the motivation you need. The biggest changes to your diet and exercise have already begun by your giving up takeouts and starting to walk. Doing those two things alone will have an impact very quickly. Cutting down your drinking will also help your waist line and make you feel more energised.

C25k is great! Go steady and you'll manage it. Don't overdo things. Going steady is key to getting to week 9 without incident 🙂

Get your food organised. Planning is so important if you are to realise your weight loss goals. Having the right ingredients to make healthy meals means you don't reach for the wrong things.

Good luck 😊

T1gger profile image
T1ggerGraduate

A great decision, well done. Dont try to go too fast to start with, if you are carrying extra pounds you are working much harder than lighter runners and it will be easier to pick up injuries, good luck.

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate

Brilliant post! You've definitely come to the right place if you're looking for encouragement, fun, even accountability. This really is an amazing programme. It will build you up slowly but surely and in my case, it not only built my stamina and fitness but also my confidence and self esteem. There are so many people on here willing to advise, cheer you on or give a gentle shove in the right direction ;) Good luck tonight, actually getting out the door is sometimes the biggest hurdle. :)

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Well done for taking action and planning a fitter healthier lifestyle. This program works and you will be surprised at how much confidence and self esteem you get from each successful run. Take it slow and steady (no sprinting required here) and you will know from your football training to do some gentle stretching afterwards and drink water to replenish your muscles.

Good luck, keep posting.😊

JadeGump profile image
JadeGump

Well done and good luck! I did my second run of Week 1 this morning. I love to think of all us newbies out there doing Week 1 this week!

yamyam91 profile image
yamyam91

Thankyou for all the kind replies, I will report back tonight on how it went.

Is it best to use the APP from google play or download the podcasts from the website?

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Its up to you which you prefer. I downloaded the podcasts onto an mp3 as my ipod is one of those small ones, less bulky and precious than a phone.

I believe podcasts are more reliable because of signal fluctuations than an app, but have no experience of this.

Hope you get on ok...😊

RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner

I like the podcasts, so haven't tried the app. But Laura is so nice and friendly, and chips in with her encouragement at exactly the right moments. And even if her taste in music and mine don't entirely agree, the distraction of trying to learn the words for songs that I don't know helps to pass the time... ;) (And of course, the 'subtle' messages, like 'this is the greatest day' in W1, or 'can't do this long-distance thing' in an early week and again in W7, well, they make me smile too!)

Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate

Good for you and well done on the good start to the year. In many ways, the toughest step will be tonight - getting yourself ready and out the door. That's a lot of weight to be impacting the joints with so please just take the running phases very gently.

All the best.

Razouski profile image
Razouski

You're definitely in the right place to achieve your C25K goal and everyone in here will be rooting for you.

👍🏽

I started off using the app, but that was when I was running in the gym on a treadmill. For the app you can also play your own music at the same time. I then started running outside and the app wa no good as I have very limited data on my phone, so I downloaded the podcasts, and in fact I much preferred these, and the lovely Laura, who is the voice on the podcast, was so encouraging. You'll see lots of mentions about Laura, our virtual running buddy, in posts. She was really good at keeping me going when I got tired or about to stop.

Let us know how your first session goes, just take it slow and steady.

yamyam91 profile image
yamyam91 in reply to Razouski

For some unknown reason, I have downloaded the podcasts from the website, but unfortunately they don't seem to be playing on my phone :(:(

melly4012 profile image
melly4012Graduate

Welcome! C25k is such a great programme. Go slow, stretch, take your rest days and listen to Laura. You'll be back to the old athletic you in no time!

This forum really is the best place on the internet and is full of the most amazing, inspirational people. Post after your runs for advice, encouragement and motivation and to let us celebrate your successes with you. We will be with you every step of the way! :)

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