Back in September another group of mums decided to take up the C25K after seeing our progress. Unfortunately, one had to stop as she could not even complete the 5 minute brisk walk. Whilst out on a run a few months ago we met this woman (who knows my running buddy) and she had told us about her problem. Basically she did no exercise and just ate fruit and salad to try to lose weight but didn't. The lack of protein in her diet and no exercise meant she lost muscle mass and put on fat. So, although her weight was not changing, her body composition was. She saw her doctor and was put on a special diet and she was given an exercise plan by a physio.
I ran on my own today but at the end as I started my walk I met this woman again. This time she was walking a lot faster than the last time we met and at about the same speed as my brisk walk. I asked her how she was doing and said very well. I had noticed that she had hefty weights around he wrists and ankle's and asked how much they weighed. "One Kg each" was the reply, blimey!! She also told me she has a vest at home with adjustable weights up to 10Kg but isn't up to wearing that while she is out. (I was amazed at just the 4 Kg she was wearing now).
She told me her first exercise was to go up and down the stairs each day by an increasing number each day, then after a while to do it while carrying a bag of sugar, then two bags. One day, just at the top of the stairs she dropped a bag which split and covered everything in sugar. When she spotted the wrist and ankle weights on line she decided that they were a much better option as they will not split and she cannot drop them. At first she used either the wrist or ankle weights, then progressed to both. Then, after a while left them on for longer and longer. Now she goes on her walks with both. She said that if she dresses in sports gear, nobody takes the blind bit of notice of them (but feels a bit of a fraud). However, if she wears just casual clothes she feels more self conscious and people give her funny looks. I told her that walking at that pace with those weights she is definitely entitled to wear sports gear.
Her physio and doctor are both very pleased with her progress and have actually told her to make sure not to push herself too hard. She told me that failing to complete the 5 minute walk was a wakeup call and without it she dreads to think of what her fate would have been. She admits the first few weeks were agony but the thought of not being there for her children pushed her on (yes, that was the way she was heading). Her goal is to start the C25K in September if the doctors say she is ready.
When I started the C25K, the first few weeks were hard and without being in our running group may well have given up, a lot of our group said the same. This woman is doing this on her own and I have to admire her determination. One thing she said which sounds very familiar is that although it does not get any easier, at a point it switches from being a chore, to being enjoyable, then to being addictive. She said it sounds crazy but she cant wait to take the kids to school so she can do her walk.
One sad thing, the others that started the C25K with her all completed it but have all now given up. One has told her that she will give it another go when she is ready to start.
I dumped Laura! (don't tell her!!!)
The Pigeon has her wings. I Graduated today!!
Determined to complete it
Determined to do this
Amazed and determined 
