After loosing over 10 Stone I’ve stalled with my weight loss so needed to do something to kickstart it. I still have about 4-5 Stone to loose. I have barely moved in over 10 years, I have a few health problems that affect my mobility and when I’m out I’m on a mobility scooter so I decided to dust of my treadmill and give it a go.
I attempted my first “run” on Sunday. I did attempt to jog on the 60 second run, but the reality was just a faster walk. Well, when I say walk, I looked like a waddling duck on speed!! Where the treadmill hadn’t been in used for a long time there was a glitch when I first started using it…. When i sped up a little for the “run” part the faster button got jammed and the numbers and speed increased at full speed and it wouldn’t stop, so inevitably I ended up on the floor on my backside!!!! Luckily I didn’t hurt myself but I wish someone had filmed it, it could have made it into you’ve been framed 😆.
Anyway, I got straight back on it and didn’t have any more glitches after that! I’m really happy I completed it, as I was walking for the entire 20 minutes without stopping but I literally have not been able to move since!! I’m was planning on attempting to re do it every other day… although I may have to leave 2 rest days between attempts for now until I’m more used to it!
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Hi, welcome and wow what a journey you’ve been on. definitely a good idea to have 2 rest days as you haven’t done much exercise before. Why don’t you walk for 5 minutes on the treadmill? at first and increase slowly until you can walk steadily for 20 minutes comfortably? I would think you’d need to speak to your doctor before starting any plan and get your ability checked out. Trainers need to be right for you so a gait analysis will give you an idea of the best ones to minimize injury.
That’s all beginning to sound like a lecture, sorry it’s not I’m just in awe of you making a start you are one amazing person, losing the weight and wanting to gain fitness and health, looking forward to reading future posts and how you get on
I’m not even going to attempt to jog the next time I go on the treadmill, just a walk. I think I’ll do a very slow walk on the walk bit and speed up to get the heart pumping for the 60 seconds run bit. I wasn’t getting out of breath, I just couldn’t get my legs to move and I could feel a limp when I was moving faster…
Also, I didn’t bother to stretch before and after as I knew I wouldn’t be “running”… but I think maybe I should!
Also I’ve done a play list now full of high energy songs from my youth (80”s).
I wear trainers on the treadmill bit as I have lymphodeama my legs are massively swollen way more than the average person so shoes are always a sore subject for me. Everything in west makes me look like Miss Piggy 😆. And I’m getting into the habit of wearing decent fitness cloths too right from the beginning.
I also have some wrist weights that I might incorporate later on. I have some brilliant fitness dvds too called Dance my Walk, so the plan is to do that too later. Also I have boxing gloves and my son had a boxing bag thing and a weights bench, so I have so many options to do this all from home.. just need to find my motivation when I’m struggling with pain!!
Welcome to the forum and the program.And well done on your amazing weight loss!
We would normally suggest that you are able to brisk walk for 30 minutes before starting to run so this may be your next goal .
But great you are wanting to make a positive change.
Also as you say you have barely moved for 10 years and have several health issues, I would strongly advise you to take professional advice before starting to run, you certainly don't want to suffer injury also .
Huge congratulations for starting Couch to 5K, I look forward to reading more about your progress. It sounds like you have a perfect plan - repeating the runs and taking at least two rest days at first will really help you hit your goals.
You must have terrific determination to lose that much weight, well done. One thing you'll find once you start C25K is that you learn as much about mental strength and resilience as about the physical side.Good luck in your journey and be sure to let us know how it goes
Loosing the weight is a mental strength too. It’s a state of mind, curbing the cravings and not giving in to “I want” rather than “I need”. I eat for Comfort or to relieve boredom mainly and I can binge eat, especially in the evenings after dinner when the kids have gone upstairs!! It’s a daily battle but I’m hoping having regular exercise with help with my state of mind!
Whatever you're doing it seems to be working. Exercise will really help especially with toning up and self esteem. At the beginning C25K is a bit daunting but it works, and success breeds success.If you have any difficult times with it just post on here, we've all been there and will give you all the encouragement you need
Well done on your fantastic weight-loss so far - that is a huge achievement and you should very proud of yourself.
Given the information you've provided about your condition, I would say to completely forget jogging for now.
I'd echo SueAppleRun suggestion and just get used to walking , being upright etc.
I've always advocated that for those who are unable or shouldn't be doing C25K as it's laid out (jog/walk) then doing it as a walking program is an excellent alternative. But even that may be too difficult for you right now, so maybe consider doing half of each session.
Week 1 would be 3 sessions of:
- 5 minute gentle walk (warm-up)
- 1 minute speedier walk
- 1 minute gentle walk (and do 3 more speedier/gentle cycles)
- 5 minute gentle walk (cool down)
In other words, not 8x 1 minute jogs, but 4x 1 minute speedier walks.
Then do half of each Walk 2 session and progress from there and see how you go.
You've already made some excellent decisions with your life and have made amazing progress. This is now another excellent decision!
Good luck
PS forget about stretching for now - it really isn't very important for the walking stuff. If it makes you feel better though, crack on.
Congratulations on taking the first steps. please please get a chest strap heart rate monitor, don't rely on a finger/wrist device. don't assume heart rate and pulse are the same thing. As a fairly fit cyclist I went into VT riding up a very steep hill. My heart rate, measured by a chest strap, was stuck at 224! but my watch was saying that my pulse was dropping nicely. So assuming the chest one had developed a fault, tried to carry on, but had to stop. One trip to ER with a heart rate still at 220 and pulse of 40 and blood pressure of 60/30, they explained when the heart is going that fast it almost stops pumping blood, it just manages to squirt out a bit every few beats, hence the lower pulse.
I would say to anyone who exercises, no matter how fit you think you are, get a chest monitor. it could save your life, It did mine.
Hi was my first time on my treadmill since getting it before Xmas. And like you I fell off but got straight back on and adjusted. Safe to say I'm ok too. So glad you did not hurt yourself. Well done for getting back on and finishing . I nearly gave up but I pushed myself and managed to finish.
Hi, well done you, what an incredible journey your on. I too started this over weight, still am, its a work I progress. C25k will change your life, not only to your physical health but your mental health but it's tough. Making that commitment to move regularly is the beginning, don't worry about speed, time, distance, celebrate that you are moving regularly and listen to you body, so if its to walk at first then great, your on your way. Good luck I look forward to your updates so we can encourage you, this really is a very supportive community.
Hi! First of all you should feel really really proud - you’ve made a decision to get more active and you’ve made a start. That is always the hardest part! You might find that using the programme as a walking plan easier to start with, you can still walk briskly to get the heart rate up but without risking serious injury. And every time you do the exercise things will become a bit easier. Well done to you - and take care on that treadmill!
My second attempt was a lot more successful although I caught my arm in the emergency stop thing TWICE so the treadmill abruptly stopped just as I had got into a got stride!! Need to remember it’s there lol
I quite enjoy it, but it’s the pain that kicks in way before I feel like I’m getting out of breath! And between times I’ve found this brilliant little 15 minute resistance training gentle exercise thing on you tube that’s for older people, it’s perfect for me, so I’ve done that a couple of times too!
I managed to do a 15 minute resistance training on Monday but my daughter brought home norovirus from school and gave it to me so I’d been quite poorly last couple of days. But I’m feeling a bit better today so I plan on either a 15 minute walk on the treadmill or another 15 minute resistance training. I need to do 45 mins over 3 sessions a week for 4’weeks to get my slimming world bronze body magic. So I want to do some today but not well enough to attempt another attempt at couch to 5 yet! I’ve been advised to try and get myself to the point of being able to do a brick wall for 30 minutes before I try the couch to 5! How’s your sister planning on loosing the weight?
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