Started... want to stop but don’t want to?!?

[Fatmannotslim]

Wow good morning, just started the couch 2 5k program. To say I’m so unfit is unreal! Wanted to stop but kept going this morning. Any tips on how to motivate yourself and keep going?

[mrrun Graduate]

You say you’re unfit. That’s your motivation.

[Fatmannotslim in reply to mrrun]

Common sense I guess really ☺️

[Ripcurlrana71]

Just keep going! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you get fit. 💪🏼

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Surprise was finishing the first run today. 🤣 Thank you

[Ripcurlrana71 in reply to Fatmannotslim]

It does get easier. Good luck on your next run. 😊

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thank you, it said leave it a day... would you or do it again tomorrow? 🤔

[Ripcurlrana71 in reply to Fatmannotslim]

I’d definetly leave it one day inbetween each run.

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Brilliant thank you. Have a good day

[Ripcurlrana71 in reply to Fatmannotslim]

You too. 😊

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Well done for starting.

Think about your friends and family. Who’d miss you after that heart attack that snatched you away from them at too young an age? There’s motivation in there.

And what about just feeling good for yourself, clothes fitting a bit better. Feeling a bit of confidence because, despite appearances, you can run further than most of the people in the office/bar/whatever. There’s some more.

And what about not wanting to be a quitter this time. See this 9 week programme to the end. See whether you can. (You can.)

Ultimately you will run or you won’t. It won’t always be easy so it will test you. You can do it. But you are the one who will make it happen.

Enjoy your next run.

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Jay66UK]

That’s a great set of points and motivation is there in abundance as I have two little boys.

Thanks for that.. all good and valid points

[Pippayoungart Graduate]

It is hard! I wanted to give up on every run to begin with. But now i start getting tetchy if i can’t run! I found the following to be true:

The programme works so trust it.

The hardest bit is in your head, so don’t let your brain sabotage your body.

Run really slow so you don’t get breathless.

The tingly feeling you get in your body when you start getting fitter is nature’s crack cocaine! Worth working for!

Best of luck!

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Pippayoungart]

What she said.

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Pippayoungart]

Thank you, I think the biggest challenge is in my head 🙄. I do shift work so getting up to do this after a shift of lates was hard! Thanks for advice

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Hello and welcome. This is a great programme and you have made a great life choice!

A rest day should follow every run day for new runners. Take a look at this info for lots of great advice. Come back and let us know how your runs are going.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you 😊

[Mrsjhw Graduate]

I’m overweight too. Week one nearly killed me. I found the best way was rather than move to week two straight away I waited until I could do the first weeks run easily before I moved on. I ran last week without the c25k soundtrack to see how long I can run for now and the answer is 17 minutes!

[Fatmannotslim]

That’s good going and well done, when the app said 8 mins I was impressed I made it past 1 min lol

Good luck and keep going too. Thanks for the advice

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Fatmannotslim! Every single run deserves a celebration! No matter how challenging it may be at the time, go for it and go slooooooooow! So slow you might wonder if you’re doing it right! But rest assured there is no too slow! You can do this. It isn’t something for the rest of us! We’ve all been where you are. Don’t think of it as being a challenge, think of it as a bit of an experiment!! I’m not sure if anyone thinks they can do this easy-peasy, but I know I didn’t. It was more like 😖! How can I do this? But take one run at a time and keep doing that!

Well done! You’re off the couch, you’ve got out there and you’ve only gone and done it! You’re off the starting block!! 👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Fabulous450]

Thank you, I think I was silly to think start fast even tho the app said start slow🙄 it did punish me.

Thanks for the comment and have a great day

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to Fatmannotslim]

You too! You’ve done something great today! Well done! ❤️

[Deborahchick46 Graduate]

Keep going you will be a runner in no time. You'll be getting excited about going out running and won't believe how far you have come . Good luck with the journey xx

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Deborahchick46]

Thank you 😊 and good luck on your journey to

[happysouls Graduate]

Hi, I did my first run yesterday. 60 seconds is a long time. From about 40 seconds onwards I was gasping like a fish out of water, trying to keep my swearing inaudible and trying not to be sick. I have no trouble with motivation even though it felt like torture haha! I want to be fit! I'm going to trust in the app and believe I can do it. I've liked feeling the changes in my body since I started doing various weights and other workouts and I really think this will change my life mentally and physically. Good luck, I hope you find your motivation!

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to happysouls]

Trust in the app and not what your brain tells you is a key thing to succeeding. Good luck!

[Fatmannotslim in reply to happysouls]

Thanks , good luck on the journey ahead. Sounds like me hour and a half ago. The feeling sick was a strange feeling too. I have Sarah Milligan as my “coach” I was saying bet you ain’t done this! Lol sounded a right loon, as sadly I was f-ing and blinding lol

Once again good luck

[Sortyourlife in reply to Fatmannotslim]

Honestly you’ll notice how quickly you feel a lot fitter over the next couple of weeks. I’m starting week 5 tomorrow and my recovery time has got so much quicker already.

You’ll both be fine, good luck x

[the_knack]

Well done for starting! I did my first run last Thursday and completed W1R3 yesterday. Every other day I told myself that all the time I was out there I was lapping everybody on their couches.

I’m totally unfit and that first run almost killed me (slightly over dramatic there!). It’s not easy but you’ve taken the biggest step and set out on that first run. You know now that you can do it. Let that motivate you to get out on the next run in a couple of days time. It still may not be easy, but it will be easier.

[Fatmannotslim in reply to the_knack]

Thank you and good luck to you

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Just keep going! 👍😁

Bear in mind that your brain gives up when only 40% of your energy has been used so not matter what it's telling you... you can finish 😉

[Fatmannotslim in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you 😊

[F1ipperation Graduate]

You can do it!! Keep it up and you’ll feel stronger fitter and healthier, mentally and physically b4 too long 😀👍💪🏻🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[Fatmannotslim in reply to F1ipperation]

Thank you 😊

[Fatmannotslim]

Thank you! Proud I done it this morning... just 😂

[Mdsherer]

It gets easier. You will start seeing results and feel amazing. Once you start seeing the results and feeling like a boss you will motivate yourself. Keep it up, it will be tough but you can do it.

[Ang33333 Graduate]

This programme really works. Slow and steady!!!

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Ang33333]

Think that was the lesson learned this morning. 👍🏻

[Ang33333 Graduate in reply to Fatmannotslim]

Slow is good. Speed might come later. I graduated 2 weeks ago. Still a snail but I can run for 30 mins!!! 🐌🐌🐌

[Teddly22 Graduate]

Well done for starting. I've just ran week 7 run 2 and the gremlins are still there telling me to stop. It's a battle that is not with the body anymore but with the mind but the key is to not let them win. The programme is amazing. Trust in it and you will be running for longer in no time. The gremlins will still tell you to stop but you tell them where to go and you keep running, slow and steady and you will get through! 🏃🐌🏃Good luck!

[Tkaye Graduate]

Listen to Sarah, you can do this! Oh and listen to the fab advice you will get on here, good luck to you.

[Hidden]

Well done for starting. You have done yourself the best favour you ever will. The hard bit is over now - you’ve done the first run. Honestly- you will get addicted- I didn’t actually feel that I was properly running until W3 & it wasn’t until W5 that I got the runner’s high. I used to run but not for long & had to give up a year ago. I started this programme & thought I would never enjoy running again - that I would never get my fitness levels back up & yet here I am - one run from graduation. Stay on the forum - you will get loads of advice & support. Good luck & keep us posted

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 😊

[Equi-geek Graduate]

I know how you feel. For me, my week1 runs only bought home how unfit and fat I’d become, despite being active and swimming. I could have given up and remained in denial of the need to sort myself out, or I could put on my trainers and step out the door again and see if I could rise to the challenge. It’s gotten easier - and harder - but I’m learning all the time, my knees have stopped clicking as much, my arthritic hip isn’t as painful, I’ve become motivated to diet as well during this programme and am losing weight, plus I’ve met some lovely people on here and at the Park Run (which I started by walking!) It’s hard to be negative around such support. I start week 6 today - and I have the same nervousness as for my W1R1 - but I can only give it a go and see what happens. To date I’ve had a few duff runs, a couple of ‘meh!’ runs that were fine afterwards and more often than not some blinding sessions where I’ve hit a rhythm and never wanted to stop. So it does vary, and you can’t assume the next run will be better, or worse, than the one before. Accepting that, and being excited to see what happens, makes it easier to start each time. Hope you find it rewarding 😁👍

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I think you've already got this. You understand that what you feel doesn't have to translate into what you do.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

You’ll be hooked within a week or so 😂👌🏽

[Fatmannotslim in reply to Tasha99]

Already looking to when I can run again this week 🏃‍♂️ lol

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Fatmannotslim]

See!