Motivation needed: Hi guys I'm new to the site... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Motivation needed

Shelly1272 profile image
9 Replies

Hi guys

I'm new to the site and just needed a bit of motivation please. I lost 4 stone two years ago and it's slowly creeping back on (about a sone and a half)!

I just a have no motivation to get going again. I did the couch to 5k before Christmas, got to the end of week 3 and haven't done anymore.

I'm eating shite

Help!!!!! 😱

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Shelly1272 profile image
Shelly1272
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9 Replies
LeeU profile image
LeeUGraduate

Ok, first off, simple thing, download an app like MyFitnessPal and log everything you eat, if it has a bar code on it, scan it with the app (if the app does that), if not, choose the nearest thing but go for the higher calorie to be on the safe side.

Be brutally honest with it and it will give you a true idea of what you are eating.

Start moving around more, C25K isn't a weight loss program as such even though many, including myself have had great success with it.

If you feel you are ready to start the program do it, don't think about it, the hardest run is the first one.

Pick a place that is relatively flat for your first week or two, install the app or download the podcast and away you go.

If there is someone else you know who wants to do the program with you then do it together, that way you give each other encouragement and the motivation to go out for the next run.

Try to set your running days in stone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for instance and try to do it at the same time of day.

Even on run days, don't eat more than you currently do, you really want to be aiming for a calorie deficit of 550 calories per day.

Shelly1272 profile image
Shelly1272 in reply to LeeU

Thank you so much Lee. I lost the 4stone with MyFitnessPal but I've stopped using it.

Right I'm logging back in and making a running schedule. Should I go back to week one or carry on with week four? I have dogs so I'm fairly active

LeeU profile image
LeeUGraduate in reply to Shelly1272

Sorry, I totally missed that part, the thing about running is this, start a week 4 run, if you find it too hard, change it and then work from where you are.

For instance, you start a week 4 run and you only manage 3 out of the 5 minutes then drop back to week 3 and work from there.

Wenderwoo profile image
WenderwooGraduate

Hi Shelly 1272, I’ve battled with my weight all of my life and have also successfully used MFP, but also find the weight creeps back on. Use that if you fancy, but general good food choices and regular exercise should help. You don’t really need a running plans, as that’s what C25K is, at least for the 9 week plan anyway. If you can motivate yourself to do the first (and probably hardest) run, and take it slowly. Hopefully you’ll feel great afterwards which is motivation in itself 👍😁

Alast profile image
Alast

Hi Shelley1272, a good idea to post and ask questions, you will get nothing but good advice and support on here. I get the impression that you want to do this but need to give yourself a kick up the bum (a difficult thing to do if you're not a contortionist) to do it. Apart from being more thoughtful about what & when you eat, I'd say don't rely on C25K helping you to lose weight, it's more biased towards health & fitness (but then a side-effect of that is you'll probably take more care with what you eat, I know that I do). I started C25K last September and then fizzled out at the beginning of December. The furthest I got was W4 R1 (eventually!). I vowed to re-start in the New Year and in the end, decided to start again right from the beginning, I am sure that this was the right decision (for me anyway). So far I have completed each run without having to convert any into practices, and finished W3 this morning. It certainly has not been easy (it's not supposed to be I guess), but transferring what I learned with what I did last time into this year has really helped. Also, knowing that I'd been able to complete these runs before (and forgetting how many became practices first) also gave my confidence a boost, which is another key point, for me I am sure that at least 75% of the challenge is mental, not physical. The other bit of advice I'd give you is to post regularly on here and let us know how you're doing as along with the support you'll get, it adds to your commitment, making yourself accountable to the rest of the gang will be another reason for you to get out there and keep going. Good luck to you with it all, co can do this as others have already proved. Do it at your own pace, don't set any unrealistic goals, and enjoy the running, and all of the benefits that come with that.

Shelly1272 profile image
Shelly1272 in reply to Alast

So although I'm on holiday I have MFP my food today and done an exercise diary for when I get back 💪🏻

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Welcome to the forum.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Motivation is just about the one thing that we cannot supply........support, advice, consolation and a kick up the backside, yes, but motivation is down to you.

For me the motivation to start C25k was that at 57, I saw many of my peers and slightly older friends succumbing to diseases and conditions caused by inactivity.............only two died and only one had a stroke, but the life limiting conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure did not look like much fun to live with.

I thought that running would be a necessary chore, not realising its addictive nature and soon I loved running and by the time I was 61 I felt fitter than ever before in my life..........which was a good thing, as I was diagnosed with aggressive, locally advanced prostate cancer.

I was told that because I was fit that there would be no restrictions on the treatments I could be offered and that my chances of avoiding major side effects and long term survival were also enhanced.

My treatment has seemingly been a total success and has now finished and I am so glad that my body was in the best possible shape to deal with the rigours of the cancer and treatments.

You get one go at this life and I can tell you it is so much more fun when you are fit.

There is only one person stopping you from completing this plan and very possibly transforming your life and future health prospects...........there is only one person who is going to make you do it.

Enjoy your journey

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

The fact that you're back on the forum means you are ready to re-start! You're nearly there with getting out of the door. Christmas probably got in the way and it's winter, so please din't be hard on yourself!

Maybe just get your running stuff together and plan to do it tomorrow? Maybe repeat a couple of the earlier runs too? Good luck.

Shelly1272 profile image
Shelly1272

Thank you guys. Can't start til next week as I don't have my running trainers but I'm going to post next week for sure with an update. Thank you x

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