Im fat, I like food (the bad stuff as well as the good stuff), i enjoy a drink but not too excess. I have an underlying heart condition that while it doesnt stop me in any aspect of life (don't take any medication) it has been with me since birth (41yrs). I know i need to get my fitness up and my weight down. I don't want to be skinny but id like to loose some weight.
That felt good to say.
I haven't said it to anyone - im seen as the alpha male, provider, strong etc. I probably don't want to loose face or admit something to the ones i love and they are possibly to hesitant to say anything.
I know what i need to do, but i just haven't had the guts to start. Ive had the app on my phone for weeks - each week telling myself "this is the week, this is the start''. Then i find some excuse.
My wife just came in and said i stopped breathing a little in my sleep last night. Thats it, the push i needed.
So today is the day. The start. Ive got the app, some shorts and t-shirt, trainers and park local to me. The walk to the park is around 5-7 mins. When i get there im going to start the journey.
Im nervous. Not sure why.
I want to stick to the app, stick to the plan, stick to my plan which i think will be M W F with the weekend off - is this right? I don't know, what would you suggest.
I know i need to start and today is the day.
Im going to post this and go.
Then when i get back ill post again - i think i need a space for support.
Thanks
M
41/Husband/Father to a 5yr Old
Written by
Fat2Fit79
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The 1st time is scary but challenging yourself is good reason. 8 weeks ago l was the same wanting to start so l just went for it . Just come back from doing 28 mins l am not quick but l am determined to finish this journey.
You've come to the right place and congrats on making the decision to start and for starting!
Yes, stick to a M/W/F pattern - perfect.
Let us know how you got on.
As for motivation, it seems you have plenty of that already. You're motivated by your desire to improve your health and lose weight. Hold onto that and get into the habit of heading out for your C25K session, no matter the weather.
Hi, I'm 65 knocking on 66, just completed week9 run 1 so the podium is in sight. This forum provides so much support and inspiration! Your walk to the park will be your warm up then just take it slow and steady. It's not a race. One step at a time, one run at a time and before you know it you'll be on week 9 running or (as in my case) plodding for 30 mins. The achievement is amazing! You can do it, go!🏃
I'm the same age as you and also do Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Currently on Week 5 (completed run 1 this morning - it went surprisingly well). I was very unfit when I first started but already feel so much better, even though I'm only half way through the program.
Everyone's different but this is what works for me:
1. Run first thing in the morning. I just know if I waited until after I finish work I'd give it a miss more often than I'd do it
2. Listen to a podcast about something I'm interested in (alongside the C25K app, of course). Helps relieve the boredom, which for me is the biggest barrier. Other people prefer to listen to music but it doesn't work so well for me.
3. Don't race out of the blocks. I've done that a couple of times and have very nearly had to give up. I start very slow and steady and then, if I can, I give it a bit more in my final run interval each day.
4. Try not to miss run days. I have done this once (on the bank holiday Monday) and almost lost motivation. I now make sure I go out regardless of my mindset, although sometimes it's a real struggle. I always feel miles better in myself when I get back from the run, even if I was struggling to motivate myself to go out. So that is motivation in itself!
Welcome! Great decision to start C25K! You have begun something which could be life changing in the best way.😄
You say that you are
“seen as the alpha male, provider, strong etc.”
People will see determination to change your health, fitness & weight as something “strong” - it takes determination & strength of mind to do it! No “loss of face” there - quite the opposite!
If your wife told you that you stopped breathing in the night, then she is already concerned about you and I would guess keen to help you gain greater fitness. Perhaps you could think together about how to reduce eating the “bad stuff” - not having it in the house really helps.
I wonder how your run went? There is plenty of support on here for you & no loss of face - we are all in this together. 😄
Great to hear you are starting! To everyone wondering if they should do anything to improve their health....DO IT NOW!! My husband died last Monday, 1st June 2020 of a heart attack; ironically 4 months ago he had an ECG that said his heart was fine but he was very overweight, type 2 diabetic, liked his food and did NO exercise. The whole family had tried to get him to do something to lose weight and get fit. So please anyone who is like him do not leave it.....make changes now. He died on the day I should have done my W8 R1. I did not run last week and haven't really been eating properly but have drunk gallons of tea but went out today to see what I could do and completed the run. Of course he was not here to here the jubilant "I did it" shout that I always do when I get home...….. I am crying as I type but if it saves one person and stops a family going through what we are going through then it is worth it. This programme is amazing. I am 62 and KNOW I will complete it.
Thank you for sharing - so sorry to hear about your husband- my condolences. You are telling me what I must say to my partner - time doesn’t stand still and we have to get our loved ones to realise this sooner not later - you will graduate - your family will be so proud of you. Take care fellow runner 🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
What as inspirational post! I send lots of love your way.
I have been obese for 40+ years. I had a heart attack aged 52 and my family were told I wouldn’t last the night. That was almost 13 years ago.
Ironically, my attempts to lose weight were half hearted and sporadic and my attempts to get fit were non existent. My mother passed away one year ago last weekend and this made me think about my own life and health. I have lost 6 stone and started C25K on Mother’s Day this year. My next run is W6R2 and I am amazed at how long I can run.
I just wish I had done this whilst she was alive.
Thank you for your post. I’m sure it will make a difference.
I paused the app after the 3rd run and had a sit on a bench. Huffing and puffing, sweating, heart beating fast i thought about chucking it in at that moment. I didn't think i could do it. Im not a runner, never really have been, never liked it or had any social groups that did.
It was hard.
So i sat and thought - why am i doing this, shall i just stop.
When i left the house my wife was visibly shocked and said to me 'Ive never known you want to do any kind of fitness' - says it all really.
I sat on the bench and resolved in my mind to complete the R1 - however long it would take. I didn't want to stop. I didn't want to give up.
My legs were aching (tight muscles already? is this normal?) but i started again from where i left off with 30 seconds of a walking phase left.
This time i managed another two running sections before having another pause of the app.
My break was less time and i said to myself that id give it a big push and try and complete the run from this point on knowing i had 3 running sections left. I didn't want to stop this time.
I did it. I pushed. It was hard. F*** it was hard.
I thought about the crap id been eating, the drink etc.
I had another sit in the park before walking home.
'How did i feel' the app asked? Pick a face. Knackered, relieved.
I think i feel good - im not sure. I know im supposed to feel good, maybe its too soon. Im not expecting overnight results.
I am going to stick at it. My instinct is to go again tomorrow, but ill wait, stick to the plan, M W F.
Thanks for listening.
M
P.s I didn't go straight away as i said i would originally, i found excuses, dithered around etc. I came back on here and read the replys - Thank you all. It was the push i needed. Inspiring and emotional posts. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Brilliant! I’m nearly 65, still in the ‘obese’ category (3 more pounds to lose to get into ‘overweight’) and W6R2 is my next run tomorrow. By far the hardest run for me was the first one. I am amazed at how long I can run already. I run/jog at a snail’s pace and hope to get up to a tortoise pace soon, but it works.
Good luck! I only started last week! You got this 💪🏼
Brilliant, well done. I was in much the same situation as I am overweight with a bad diet. I’m nearly 60 and had done no exercise at all since school, running was something I thought was too energetic for me. But I started 6 wks ago and will do wk6 r2 tonight, I am determined to finish. To be honest you will have bad days that are hard but you will also have good days when you are elated. Stretch well and drink plenty before each run and start ticking off the weeks. WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU, keep posting.
Do that, and it should NOT feeling hard. You're not trying to break records here. Your fitness level is 'couch' and you're trying to build that up S L O W L Y.
If you're thinking 'run' ... stop right there. Starting thinking 'JOG' instead. Nice and slow, nice and easy ... your jogging should be nice and relaxed and your breathing is the best indicator of how hard you're working. Out of breath, gasping - very simply, you're going too fast!
You should try and aim for a pace that means you finish feeling like you could carry on jogging for a lot more time if you had to. So that means, going at what we call a 'conversational pace' or a 'chatty pace' - one where you can comfortably hold whole sentences at.
Hope that helps,
John
PS And do NOT run on consecutive days.... no matter how good you feel.
You can do this - you’ve taken the hardest decision, stepped out the house and you’re on your way to the park - the feeling is amazing when you’ve completed a run - the programme really works. Keep a steady, slow pace, no need to race it’s your journey and you will get there in your time. Good luck tell us how you get on - you’ll be fine - we’re all working on getting fitter together 🏃🏼👍🐌😊
Well done!! It’s pretty rough at first, but you’ll get there. The only thing I would add to everyone else’s advice is to focus on measurements as much as, or maybe even more than, the scales.
I also love food - I haven’t changed my eating habits at all - I also haven’t lost any weight - but I have lost inches and I’m good with that.
This is a brilliant group to join. We’ll be your cheerleaders. One step in front of the other, slightly beyond a fast walk. Take your time, repeat sessions as much as you want (many of us have) without losing sight of eventually conquering your goal. You will get there. With good hydration and dynamic stretching beforehand, warm-downs after and without the expectation of a perfect t run every time, you can do it. The journey is not always the destination, but the reward of finding ways to get there. Steady as she goes. Tell us how you get on. So many of us novice runners in our late mid life #goforit 💪🏼
Wow you have done it. I too have just bought my parkrun wrist band for when they start up again, I have wanted to join for about a year but as a non runner it felt to much of a step, but now I'am into W5R3 on Thursday, so I'am looking forward to joining ParkRun and Thusday
Wow just reading some of your posts.... love your honesty!! Thanks for sharing..
You will end up loving the journey.. support on here is amazing... I’ve only just found it but am on week 5.. I wish I had found it week 1....
I was a proper sceptic ... week 1 run a minute walk for 90 seconds ... before I did it I thought easy peasy- I was pooped at half way!... the last run of week 5 was such a mental battle 20 mins sounds huge but this app does what it promises... you will feel fab sense of achievement and we will all support you along the way 👏👏
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#goforit 💪🏼
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