When will it happen?!

[AaronR]

I have written on here so many times about how rubbish I feel about myself again and how I cannot get my mind back into couch 2 5k for any length of time. I feel a failure, everyone is noticing how much weight I have put on and I generally feel rubbish. Why Can I not do it and stick to it? why can I not get my mind in the game and keep it there?

[AnneDroid Graduate]

I had several false starts with C25k before I finally saw it through. And when I did, it may have partly been down to the accountability of doing it with friends whereas I'd previously been doing it by myself. If you can find someone to come with you, the very fact you have arranged to meet somewhere at a certain time will propel you out the door when the couch beckons. If that doesn't work, announce on here that you're going and that you'll report back afterwards and we'll be your cyber running buddies.

Once you get started you will feel better about yourself and tackling weight etc will seem less of a challenge than it currently does because you'll be feeling like you're someone who achieves things. They say that 90% of this is mental and the other 10% is in your head.

Although I eventually managed not only C25k and Bridge to 10k, I have had a difficult year and am having to - well not quite start again - but certainly from way back nearer the beginning. I can feel the temptation to throw in the towel but I'm determined not to. I know how great I felt when I was at what was for me a lifetime peak fitness. And I know how rubbish I felt before I started on this great journey. I want that fitness back and hope you'll get there too.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

You’ve been there, done that, you know what the answer is.

You either get back on it or you don’t. It’s in your hands! You HAVE to do the work!

Eat healthily and exercise regularly. End of. It’s not rocket science.

You say you want to feel and look better. Well then you know what to do.

Make a start today! Commit! 🙂👍✔️

We will be here to help and support you but you have to show willing.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

You have to want to do it. To decide you WANT to change your body, then you use that determination to keep going, and then the results and achievements become your drive to continue. Its about mindset.

[Midriff_Crisis Graduate]

The beauty of the programme is that you are actively doing it for only 30 mins 3 x a week, so generally people do have that time to spare somewhere. Of course, you do have to allow extra time after waiting for your face to return to the right colour etc ...

When I started 6 weeks ago, I could barely run; in fact MY WHOLE BODY was begging me to STOP, but absolute belief and dogged determination has got me here. Today was a total beauty of a run, the sun was shining, I got through the tough sections and I felt absolutely buzzing. You've got to let yourself enjoy that feeling, because you will (in time), I'm absolutely sure of it.

[icklegui Graduate]

Your last questions are something many of us struggle with for other things, not just exercise programmes. Go easier on yourself first of all?

Then, this forum is here to help ... lots of people get accountability from posting about a run (either before or after), or you can message someone and ask if they'll be a virtual buddy, or ... there are many possibilities. Set up a schedule for yourself on an electronic or paper calendar? Can you keep your running stuff near your front door. If you're a morning person, lay your stuff out ready the night before. Maybe positive procrastination? Perhaps put off an unpleasant task by saying "I'll just go for a run" ... then the run will make you feel good and you'll get both that and the task done

When it comes to motivation there are all sorts of tricks - some of them will work, perhaps not even all the time (so again - go easier on yourself if you can!). With respect to running, you can only fail if you get back on the couch for *ever* and as it hasn't been for ever yet, I'm going to say you are not a failure.

[mrrun Graduate]

If you feel a failure then you need to change that mindset, that ain't easy but it's only you who can do it.

If you really want to feel and look better then work on it, work it hard and take your time.

People say quitting smoking is a torture, l was a 'proud' beneficiary of tobacco companies for decades, idiotically smoking my health away but when l decided to call an end, l didn't go through patches or therapies, consultations or 'scaling down', l simply quit on the spot, never having a cancer stick again.

You either want to change or you don't, it's that simple. That is your target, you aim and motivation. And if you try, and stay on course, the results and good times will follow. Happened to me.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

All in your hands.. as some of the other replies say.. if You want to do it. You will.

Get out there and show the folk who are noticing you..just what you can do....remember

" As long as you keep trying, you are not a failure"

This time do it.. we are here with you !

[LeeU Graduate]

I have always been large, I used to think it was just the way I was meant to be, I hated exercise but loved martial arts (strange I know, I think it was the fighting side of it, older brother and loads of cousins growing up together kind of thing).

I did look at C25K about 5 years ago and thought it wasn't for me, this time around though, I'd not exercised in a long time and thought I'd use the C25K to get 'into it' and work from there.

Instead of looking at why you can't do C25K, look at why you want to do it. Change the time you run, I used to run in the evening but now I run in the mornings and I find it much better.

If you don't want to be seen out running, either find somewhere extremely quiet or look at a treadmill in a gym or at home if you can, there are some good deals on eBay.

I can't run outside, I can't regulate my pace, so I run on a treadmill for now, where I can run (jog) for over 45 minutes at a slow and steady pace.

Looking at your previous posts, I can see an issue there, you get disheartened when you don't loose weight, I understand that, I was over 25 stone in March when I returned from a business trip to Texas, I'm now around 21, I say around as I don't weigh myself as much as I used to, I sometimes do once a week, other times, once a month (that's the target anyway).

I don't always loose weight, it's a little disheartening if I'm honest but you need to look past that and look at the other side, I can now run up and down stairs without breathing heavy, I can walk without getting backache, etc, etc.

Try finding someone to do the program with you, this may help you get motivated knowing you'll be letting someone down if you don't go, etc.

As already mentioned, it's all in your court, no one is making you do anything, if you want to do it, you'll find a way to do it.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you want to change your life, you need motivation. That can come only from you.

Ask yourself why you think you want to do C25k and write the answers down.

Next time you feel like stopping, look at your list and remind yourself. Of course some of those criteria may change over time, but if they are serious then they will probably stand the test of time to provide you with motivation.

I don't know your age, but for me the very personal reason for beginning to run, when I was 57, was that I became aware of my decreasing stamina when out walking. C25k answered the need perfectly.

Underlying my desire for change was the fact that over the previous five or so years I had watched many of my friends and acquaintances, of broadly similar age to me, having to undergo major heart surgery, have strokes, suffer from diabetes and a whole list of life limiting conditions which were heavily contributed to by lack of activity. Only a couple of them died, fortunately and most have increased their activity levels now, but they would have found it so much easier when they were still relatively fit, rather than having to build up from being near deaths door. Only one is housebound, after a stroke.

By the time I was 60 I was fitter than at any time in my life, simply by running three times per week. I am happier and more confident as well, which was a total surprise to me.

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, something that is not associated with lifestyle, so may have been unavoidable. Later this month I will be starting radiotherapy. I was told by my oncologist that the fact that I was fit, meant that I could be offered all the appropriate treatments for my condition, with a curative aim. Had I been overweight or suffering from other medical conditions or taking other medication, that situation might have been very different and the treatment might have been restricted, possibly with a different outcome.

I feel very fortunate to be fit and to have the positive mental attitude that has been boosted by regular exercise, as I face this challenge. Ask yourself, would you fit into the same category as me. Would you be able to be offered all treatments? Would you have the positive attitude to cancer that makes survival so much more likely?

Only you can answer those questions.

Only you can make you make the changes.

Only you will stop you from making those changes.

Looks like it is up to you.

Good luck.

[icklegui Graduate]

I had a good read of the other responses and there's so much good in there and lots of encouragement.

I can't speak for the specific weight issue, it looks like you have some great advice from LeeU there though. Maybe what I feel about running isn't applicable generally.

But I wanted to say that for running I maybe didn't put any pressure on myself by saying I need to make it into a Big Life Change. I have tried to do that numerous times in other areas and failed! But with running I just took it each run and rest days at a time and that is how the habit is being built for me. It also means each achievement - each run - is manageable and targeted. I haven't yet felt *too* down even when I have taken a few too many rest days, because I am starting to believe I will go back again soon even if it's been a few days.

It's important not to lose sight of the big picture, of course. If you have to make the big change, you will, I have faith in you. But I feel it might be easier to make the goals more manageable and then one day you will look back and realise you have been running for weeks, months, years?

Really good luck x

[DBlou]

Hi. I’ve read through all the replies on here to your post and there is some very positive advice there mate. The only thing that stops you doing anything is YOU, simple as. If you read this forum as I do you will see good and bad days/runs from everyone. Human nature makes us look at all those successful achievements and think ‘ I wish I could do that’ or ‘ I wish I felt like him’. Understand that each and everyone of us have a private life that throws illness, work stress and relationship problems at us all. Life is tough, it bites you on the bum! What is true though is that every person on here started at the beginning, it wasn’t easy peasy, it was bloody hard work!! But that sense of achievement keeps most of us going. It’s a step by step Programme that builds you up bit by bit, sometimes without you realising it. You CAN do this, you posted on here which shows that you want to doesn’t it? Don’t worry about your weight that can come later. Try and join an organized C25K group, or if there isn’t one- start one? Otherwise we are here to support you. This program does work mate, the great feeling it brings you is an added bonus. Keep posting xx