2 years ago I started the couch to 5k program. I was truly a couch potato having done no exercise for 40 years. I was overweight, I had asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and terrible snoring, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. I smoked cigars (inhaling them!) and drank (moderately).
Well today is the day that I take my final blood pressure tablet. I am finally cured of everything and from today I will be taking no medication. And I mean I no longer use my inhalers, I no longer take statins, my snoring has all but stopped, my sleep apnea is gone, and my legs have stopped trembling and I am no longer kicking out and injuring myself at night. I have stopped smoking (finally) although I do have a vape on standby and will occasionally take a puff on it. I now have only 1 glass of red wine with dinner (cheeky I know but hey). Oh and I’m 15Kg lighter!
I’m 58 this year and I feel alert and alive like never before and it’s all down to running. So if you are doubting yourself or finding it tough, or you have a bad run, then pick yourself up and do it again. Believe in yourself and the journey. Come back stronger. You can do this. It is awesome. You are awesome.
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RunBrianRun
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Thank you Buddy 😊 Yes, the body is an amazing organism but it needs our help. Small steps, big goals and an iron will determination to improve. We all have this within us.
Exactly I'd put on 4 and a half stone after stopping smoking, after just over a year I've lost 3st3lbs. When you finally understand there is no quick fix and any changes you make need to be permanent you get the results 😊😊
Golly, that’s exactly what happened to me the last time I quit. I hated myself actually and convinced myself I was better off on the fags than being fat and overweight. So I started again. Thank god I found running this time.
Thank you 😊 Sally. I am very proud tbh. But I must say the C25K program and this forum and it’s positive lovely members have played such a big part of it.
I am so happy for you Brian that is truly a remarkable story 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏. I am going to show your post to my husband as apart from the smoking and inhalers my husband’s story is very similar. He had a quadruple heart bypass 2 years ago then a pacemaker fitted but I still cannot persuade him to change his eating habits or his lifestyle. Good on you Brian 🙌🙌🙌
Thank you so much Glynis. ☺️ I truly hope your husband can get started on the program. The first steps/weeks are always the toughest but he mustn’t let that stop him. I did a parkrun at Bognor this week and there were all sorts there. Each making a choice to be fit and healthy no matter how fast or slow. He may feel self conscious or demotivated. I did too. The change came for me when I spent £125 on a pair of running shoes! No way was I going to waste that money!
Hi Brian, my husband has agreed to go for a gait analysis tomorrow 👏. There’s no way I’m letting him start without proper running shoes! That way hopefully there won’t be any injuries at the start of his journey. I’m going to do the whole programme with him to encourage him and to help him. Snails will have to ‘beep’ to pass us but at least he’ll be moving at last. I can’t thank you enough for your post Brian, I think it finally woke him up 😁😁😁
Oh wow!! 😃 Glynis, that is fabulous news!! It’s the best news of the year for me! If he needs any man to man encouragement or advice he can just message me. Good luck!
Awesome! Will do. Hopefully you can keep us posted on his progress. Maybe if he joined up here that might help him too. It certainly helped me being a part of this community.
Oh wow! They are a fabulous running shoe. Very light and supportive for pronation. I wish him every success on his journey. There are to be no expectations. Just being out there and walking/jogging/running is better than nothing. And he’s made a massive start to a new him! Fabulous. Slowly, slowly , slowly does it. He’s very lucky that you are there to support him too. Well done Glynis! 👏👏👏 PS My first running shoe was a brooks! They are very good.
I intend to make him be like the slowest of slow snails Brian. Just to get him to have a gait analysis and get his shoes is a massive thing for him to do 😁😁😁
Well done 👍😃. It’s such a relief to be fit and well and off the stuff that makes us feel so sluggish.
I gave up fags, booze and bad food choices and got moving with C25k It’s like being reborn. I was very nearly 57 when I started the programme It’s amazing isn’t it 👍😃
Well done Brian, you’ve always been so supportive to those following behind you too. I cried when my Dr said I don’t need to take the hypertension tablets any more .
It’s great to post stories like this - people need to know what a life changing thing this running thing is. It seems so tough at the beginning but C25k is a brilliant programme.
Looking forward to your parkrun tourism 2019. If you are near Southsea on 31 Aug it’s my 50th parkrun.
Aww Dexy! Thank you for that. ☺️ You have always encouraged me and made me feel welcome here. You and UTS are a massive inspiration yourselves. Sadly, I am returning to the sandpit on 20th August 😞 but hopefully I’ll be back in December as I plan to quit work when I get back. I miss this country too much and it is time for me to have some proper me time. So I will catch up with you guys at Southsea PR in the future for sure! I did run it a couple of weeks back but I was in a real tizzy and had a bit of a nightmare run tbh. Maybe you were there then? Maybe I can pop,back there before I leave. My plans are really poor this holiday. Need to get my diary sorted. I’ve missed 2 parkrun weekends already. ☹️
For sure Dexy! You’ll all be sick of hearing about it before too long. I’m naturally shy but there’s something about parkrun that breaks those boundaries for me and I end up talking to anyone and everyone. 🤣 Good luck on your 50th run! It’s hard to believe you are already on that number of PRs! Fabulous 👏👏👏
Thank you Pinkpig20 😊 It’s an amazing journey for all. It has its ups and downs for sure. And injuries are the worst. But I always knew it was for the best in the end and I’m on top of the world right now. ☺️
You are the poster child of how amazing running is and how it can truly impact every part of your life. It is so great to read about your story - a great inspiration for many!
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