Yay! Week 9 completed by an obese procrastinator 😋

[rollyrol]

Well that's me done just completed my last run of week 9! This is the first time I've posted here (except replying to a couple of posts by other people) but I feel I can shout it from the rooftops now!!

So here's a little bit about me, why I've done it and HOW I've done it...

So I'm 42, female and overweight by at least 4 stones. My daily commute is by foot (2 miles round trip), I ride my bike occasionally, covering about 8 - 10 miles with relative ease, I occasionally flirt with yoga type exercise but apart from that I'm a total stranger to sport and exercise that requires me to move quickly 😂 but I knew I needed to improve my health, diet and wellbeing. I've known about C25K for about 5 years and always found an excuse not to do it but boy do I wish i'd just started years ago!

In January this year I was determined. I started with some extra walking on an evening, along with counting calories (my Fitbit became my friend and I clock up at least 12500 steps every day as well asking my calories on there) It didn't take long to feel more energised, healthier and a bit lighter too. So on 11 Jan I did week 1 run 1. I kept a diary of my runs so I could look back and see how I've progressed.... I can't believe I've now managed 30 mins at a fair pace! ...and I'm determined to keep it up. I see this as my 'foundation course' but I know there's a lot of work still to do. I have done the programme on a treadmill but my ultimate aim is to run in the great outdoors ☺ .. anybody got any advice for me? Should I revert back to an earlier week in the programme for this?

When I said that I'm 'at least 4 stone overweight', well this is my current situation but I've actually lost a stone and a half during this programme so if anyone is thinking they can't do it because they're too heavy just see this as an extra hurdle you need to overcome.

This has been a personal challenge for me and only my husband and young daughter have known that I'm doing it but now I've GRADUATED (yay!) I have a feeling I'll be asking for more advice on here about how to progress from now. I'm booked onto a 5k in July so the hard work starts now, I need to ditch the comfort of the treadmill and get out there!

Thanks for reading this and thanks to the people who post on here much more regularly than me, reading snippets of advice and encouragement from you all has got me through this! I've read it so many times on here but I'll repeat it anyway... this is the most encouraging forum ever! x

[Keepcalm-keepsmiling Graduate]

Congratulations 🎊🎉🎊🎉 And you definitely need to shout it out from the rooftops. It’s an amazing achievement and you should feel so proud of yourself. Good luck with your future running and your Race for Life. And thank you for sharing your story, it’s great for me (approaching the start of week 4) to hear of others success 😀

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Keepcalm-keepsmiling]

Thank you and good luck to you too Shazamie! Week four was a good place to be (for me anyway) Your breathing and rythm will have improved greatly from previous week's and at the end you're almost half way there! It's a great feeling ☺ Good luck!

[Madat57]

I to started on treadmill due to inclement weather and living in very isolated spot. Changed to outdoor running and found i needed to go back a few weeks as legs felt stiff and aching. Could have plodded on but cautious about previous knee injury. Found stepping back gave me confidence to know i could achieve. Now going to try park runs.

You’ve come so far and even if you do go back to previous weeks you are still getting a lot more exercise than before you started, so big WELL DONE to you.

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Madat57]

It's good to hear you've made the treadmill to outdoor progression Madat57. I'll have to bite the bullet soon ☺ One of my reasons for using the treadmill was because my husband works shifts so I can't go out many evenings (youngster in bed!) I'm gonna have to really plan ahead to keep up momentum with this new lifestyle! Thanks for your advice and good luck to you too.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

What a fabulous first post rollyrol ! 😊

Congratulations on completing the program and Graduating...you are amazing🌟

I think you will find running outside more interesting and enjoyable. You may find it a little tougher than the treadmill because of the changes in gradient, having to watch out for kerbs etc. but you shouldn't need to go back in the program, just lower your expectations for a few runs..

You now need your Graduate badge, so everyone can see how brilliant you are.Ask for it here...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Some consolidation runs of 30 mins then maybe the c25k + podcasts will be fun.

There is a link to aguide about what to do after completing the program at the top of the Graduate badge page.

Happy running 😊x and super Well done..

[ramsgaterunner79]

Wow! Congratulations. What a huge achievement. Well done x x

[Irish-John Graduate]

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE ☺☺☺

[mfamilias Graduate]

You are absolutely awesome. That is the kind of story that gets me grinning. Congratulations for having the self-discipline to keep at it. Running outside is a wonderful experience - I have never run on a treadmill (unless you count the first and last time, when I was thrown off it in front of a bemused gym instructor). I'd recommend finding a place where you don't have too many cars or people (both get in the way) and taking some music with you. Let us know how it goes!

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Ha ha I bet the gym instructor loved that! I'm quite tall so have sometimes struggled with the constraints of a treadmill (or am I just clumsy?!) Can't wait to get outside, got a fairly flat route planned in my very hilly town! Thanks for the encouragement ☺

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

Well done you, impressed!! Mfam also advised me to run outside and I have done all of my slow-paced ploddy jogs outside. I was a bit nervous of being outside at first, but since gyms are full of people running merrily at high speed for 30 minutes straight I felt like that might not be the place for me. Anyway, I enjoy running outside and being in the fresh air. I have carefully planned my route so that I am always running on flat. I don’t want the added difficulty of going uphill, I will leave that for later (or possibly never 😄). Enjoy your flat route in hilly town! And let us know how it goes

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Rua8]

Oh gosh yes gyms are pretty intimidating places but I'm lucky enough to have a second hand treadmill so have been doing it at home. I will keep you posted about my first outdoor run 😋 Let's hope for a gentle breeze that day x

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

Ooh home treadmill, lucky you! Running into a gentle breeze is lovely if you tend to get hot running, it cools your face down nicely

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Rua8]

I get very hot and red faced!! I usually look like a beetroot at the end, definitely need some outdoor breeze for my fair complexion☺

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

We pale-faces tend to go that particular colour don’t we 😄 I know exactly what you mean!

[Hidden]

Congratulations. It is an amazing feeling to graduate and you have my sincere congratulations on how well you've done. Having been really quiet about it, I bet you wont be able to resist dropping little comments... Oh I can't do anything this evening, I have a run planned .... It was very rainy this morning when I was doing my 5k... Oh I'm a bit achey, I must have over done it when I was doing my running training

You'll have to come and post on here just so you don't bore everyone to death!!

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Hidden]

So true, I'm gonna be telling everyone now!

[SendWine Graduate]

Amazing, well done x

[lets-go Graduate]

Wow oh wow !!! Biggest congratulations 👏👏 what a fantastic achievement you must be bursting with pride 🎉 - well done 👍 what a 🌟 you are x

[Ally25 Graduate]

Oh my goodness your story has brought a tear to my eye......huge respect and many many congratulations, what a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Well done! That’s brilliant 🎉🎉🎉

[Flaraflarkin Graduate]

*Goosebumps* Amazing achievement!! Well done and enjoy the rest of your journey! 🎉🎉🎉🙌

[rollyrol Graduate]

Oh my gosh, I'm totally feeling the love here! When i have more time tonight I'm going to sit down and read all your responses properly. Thank you for the positive vibes. x

[Jell6 Graduate]

🍾🍾🍾congratulations, that's a wonderful achievement 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Madsimmo Graduate]

Congrats fellow graduate 🎓🙌🏽

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Madsimmo]

Aw well thank you and well done to you too - we did it! Now to keep going ...

[oldwheezer69 Graduate]

Oh my goodness! I have been so encouraged by this post! I'm 48 and 4 stone overweight, been walking 10000 steps a day for the last 3 weeks (bought a Fitbit and a second hand treadmill) and just done the 3rd of the week 1 runs!! Also haven't told anyone I'm doing it except husband and kids . Reading your post has given me goosebumps as it could be my own story.. here's hoping that I will be able to write a similar post in 9 weeks time! A MASSIVE well done to you! 😀

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to oldwheezer69]

Oldwheezer69, wow! I'm a pretty determined person and at times I needed to be. I have had good and bad weeks and you probably will too but just keep going! I have found that I'm better on a morning so I usually have a breakfast of fruit and tea and tell myself that I can have a fresh coffee with hot milk as soon as I've finished that particular run. This is usually enough to spur me on (I'm easily pleased!) Only once have I stepped off that treadmill after only the warm up walk and about a minute of running but I just guess that wasn't my day, for whatever reason. The next day I got back on and finished. BTW it took me 13 weeks because I struggle getting the time alone but to be honest this feels about right to me. I never set out to do it in 9 weeks, just to do it!! I'm going to follow your progress and I'll congratulate you all the way. Go go go!! x

[oldwheezer69 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

Awwww that's lovely, thank you x

[cobrien]

Fellow overweight out of breath old bird here only on week 2 but determined to keep going.

Massive well done to you.

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to cobrien]

cobrien you will do it! Just keep going. Good luck to you, fellow huffer and puffer 😋

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Huge congratulations.. very well done you !

You have done brilliantly and guess what.. the running goes on... and..the best bit... we will be right here with you

[thisfishcan Graduate]

Congratulations!!! Amazing achievement. Bet you feel great.

[Mcdon Graduate]

Brilliant well done 👍

[JaneE71]

You are amazing and inspiring to all of us chugging along behind!!! Thank you so much for sharing your story, it’s what keeps us all motivated. Enjoy your celebration, you should be very proud! 🌟🏅🏃‍♀️