Yup, I'm still procrastinating on doing day 1 of C25K. I Joined this group in hopes it would spur me on. 5 months ago diagnosed with obesity, plantar fascitis, high cholesterol, at risk of heart attack, stroke and diabeties. Dr said go on statins now. I refused Rx so was given 6 months to make a change. Running was one of my goals along with weight management. I've dropped 2 dress sizes but I'm still freightened to run. Yesterday I finally broke down and purchased a few jogging outfits and some trainers. I guess now is the right time to bite the bullet as I need to revisit my GP in about 6 weeks time. I hope I can look back at this after completing step one of C25K and give myself the "what was I so afraid of" talking to. Any kind and gentle words of wisdom and encouragement lovingly welcomed.
Someone, please, push me off the couch!!! - Couch to 5K
Someone, please, push me off the couch!!!
Morning my lovely. Just about to go for my second consolidation run. I’m a big bird who needed to make a change. Overweight, on BP meds and meds for anxiety. It was an ask. Never ran before but a couple of life events had made me think I’d like to try. So I did. It wasn’t easy at first but I found my own routine and way of doing things. And no one was more stunned than me on graduation day. The high of success is worth every ounce of sweat. The sense of achievement will be totally yours and that’s precious. There are loads of clever supportive people on this forum who are the wind beneath my bingo wings and they will be there for you too.
I saw my GP this week and have now come off my BP meds as new fitness level means I don’t need them. In time I’m hoping to knock the anti anxiety off too but that will come In sure with the positive mental health benefits.
You CAN do this. Set small goals one at a time. Run slow, hydrate well. Look around you and enjoy the view. And when you get home look yourself in the eye in the mirror and say I did it!!!!
Good luck 👍🏻🏃🏻♀️👍🏻
Morning Vintage61. Thanks for your inspiring posts. I graduated around the same time as you ..Yay us 🏃♀️🥇 then had a holiday to celebrate my 60th. I had 9 days with no running and was feeling anxious about my first consolidation run... I read all the supportive advice on the forum then surprised myself when I ran with enjoyment. The sense of achievement is indeed precious.
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Please check this post;essential reading for Newbies.... then I will shove you off the couch 
The information in the linked post is important.
Read, also, the reply from Vintage61 ...one heck of an inspiration, and just one of our recent amazing Graduates
The mantra is slow and steady...it works...take it gently... and keep posting for huge support and encouragement.
You may run on you own, but you will never run alone... we will all be there with you
The first run is always the hardest but that is the hardest part getting out there in the first place, when you've finished the first day you'll be thinking why was I worried. You can do it just believe in yourself and you can achieve anything, good luck and enjoy it 😊😊
Hi Eldelde, you are not alone. This forum is filled with people who needed to make the change for one reason or another.
Do you feel like you're putting yourself under pressure and therefore doomed to fail? Because that is not the case at all. Yes, you need to make the changes, yes it will be difficult to make that first step. But you've already helped yourself hugely by dropping some weight! Once you start C25K you will not regret it! But don't over think it, drink plenty of water every day, get the app downloaded and get out there. Take it oh so slowly, the running doesn't have to be in any way fast, infact the slower the better! Let your body learn to do this, it's been a while and your brain will be screaming at you to give up but you won't, because you're stronger than that. That first run is hard, SO hard. But it gets better. Get out there and do it! 😍
Felt exactly the same was 17 stone and started doing couch to 5k but gave up after week 2 started again and now just under 14 stone. After the initial run you feel better I actually went for a run in the rain it makes you feel good I promise !
Now , don't let your money go to waste and put those trainers on. You'll find the 60 secs runs tough, so did I and most others, but the feeling of accomplishment you get after completing each run is amazing. It's addictive, after a while you won't be able to wait to go for your next run.
If you are worried about anyone noticing you, don't. People are too busy with their own lives . You're doing this for yourself, no one else.
As the others said, take it slow and steady. Then come back to tell us how you got on.
I think you’ll find there is an army of virtual running buddies coming to pull you off your sofa and show you what an amazing, at times difficult but ultimately life changing, rewarding and all round phenomenal experience this can be!
I am 55, overweight and would never have thought I would see the day I’d be setting the alarm and uttering the words “I’m going for a run!” - but here I am!
My suggestion? Glean as much support as you can from this forum, drink lots of water, take it one step at a time and remember it’s not a race - this is your journey, nobody else’s.
You’ll be surprised and fair tricket as we say up here at what you can do!
Happy running 🙂👍
You can do this.
We've got your back.
Post here to keep yourself honest (worked for me).
You will be happy you did it, I promise, you may love some of it, hate some of it, ask yourself why you started, why you're getting up at 5am, or why you're taking your running shoes on holiday, why you suddenly think running shoes are the best shoe porn and why discussions about sports bras are now interesting, but you WILL be glad you did it 😄
This is true! I took my trainers away last week and had a fabulous, calming, scenic run. Never ever thought in a million years that I would do that. 🏃♀️
Hello, c25k really is amazing and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here good luck 😊
Read all the fantastic posts here and consider yourself definitely pushed off the couch - you really won’t regret it! The first run you’ll just get through - your body will be yelling rude words at you for your sheer cheek in getting
it out and moving ! How dare you! But you’ll get home grinning from ear to ear and back again because you did it! Well done and let us know how you get on!
You can do this! The hardest part is getting off the couch and you have so many people here who will help you every step of the way with kind and gentle words of wisdom. You will be amazed once you start. I did not believe it possible that I could run and I have just graduated. Follow the plan..slow and steady..I am always reading the advice on this forum, these VRB's accompany me on every run! You will definitely feel a difference in your fitness in a short space of time. Come and join us! 😀
I’m sure that you have lots of things planned for your life. And so you’ll want to live as long as possible.
Each run of C25K is going to take at most one hour (including getting changed, the run and a shower) three times per week.
Each run that you do (1 hour) is going to add one day to your life. It is the best possible investment in your life.
Right. Trainers on and out the door with you. Go! Now!
Great advice from so many here, read that and others - once you’ve done the first run you’ll feel invigorated to keep going and don’t worry about doing every run consecutively if you don’t feel you can....my wife repeated W1 several times and is now steaming into W4!
Mrs D and I are not nature’s sporty types but once that massively difficult W1R1 was done, we’ve become completely engrossed!
C25K is the only NHS programme that creates and encourages addicts!!
We were going to start a c25k addicts club ; ) MuddledGardener was going to run it.
😆 can I join too? Is there an initiation?
Hello, my dear. The word “running“ conjures up images of people built like whippets going hell for leather. I would quite confidently guess that the majority of us on here are nothing like that. We’ve all had to start at the first run, and again, the vast majority of us thought we were going to die. I know I did. Give yourself a break and a leg-up, and watch the video on Japanese slow jogging on YouTube. It will help you no end. I’m convinced it helped me to complete the programme with a smile, rather than a pained expression. Good luck, and get running! 😀 xx
Just do it. I know that's easier said than done, but just do it and don't look back. You've lost weight, which (I'm guessing) was one of your reasons for not going out (catch 22,I know) - but if like me, you don't want people to see you, go early morning or later at night when less people are around. Slowly, slowly you'll feel better about yourself and give less of a stuff what anyone thinks. And then you'll realise that either they don't even notice you, or they're supportive. Use this forum to ask questions - nobody minds and everyone's really positive and supportive. Just GO and DO it! Set days and times and places so you can make it a habit, go with a friend if you can get someone to go with you, but go. After a bit, you'll realise you feel better and that other people will say that you look better and then you'll be hooked on doing it. It's a huge buzz of achievement and it'll help you stay alive longer and better. (That's my plan, anyway. ) I had got very unfit, put on weight, suffered from stress and anxiety and all those things are better now. Not gone, but enormously better. Also, as you lose weight and feel better about yourself there are leggings and t-shirts and pretty things to buy that make you feel like a proper runner and not just a beginner. I was more excited about my first pair of decent running shoes than is entirely normal. Go and do it, then come back and tell us all you have. Good luck xx
You can totally do this. The plan is amazing and it does work. So trust the plan, trust yourself and pop on your trainers and head out the door.
I realised this morning that it’s roughly 6 months since I started C25k and it was pouring rain then too. Today I started a 5-10K training plan. I’ve had to give myself a stern talking to because I’ve been neglecting my running of late. But I pulled on my gear and headed out in the pouring rain.
You can do this too. It has helped me mentally-so much I can’t tell you. And it’s helped me to tone up and shed a few pounds too, alongside a SW plan.
In six weeks when you go to see your GP, think how fantastic you are going to feel. Come on, get off that couch and embrace a positive life changing plan.
Can’t wait to see you go through the experience-it’s just fabulous and this group is inspiring. Xxx
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