I feel like I am so late to the party! But that's just me...
51, single Mum to a 25yr old after loss of my partner 10 years ago.
Since then I've been on what feels like a constant quest to get me and my mojo back as I've neglected myself for far too long.
A couple of fairly recent health issues have made weight loss feel like much harder work than it should be which can mean I give in as i get so tired of the fight - but now I have something I'm focusing on that's given me some decent drive and determination! 💪
One lifelong health issue I have though is Hypermobility and due to lack of decent support, understanding or actually being taken seriously as I was growing up, some damage has been done - especially to my knees.
When I did my first 'run' this morning I was very gentle with myself, warmed up, listened to the audio but actually only managed a couple out of all the suggested running bursts in the end.
At first I felt defeated but then told myself that I should still be proud as it was a huge first step for someone who hasn't run since they did Cross Country at school!
I know I mustn't write myself off, not after the first day. It's going to take time and I need to be patient.
I'll repeat the first run and the first week over and over again if I have to until it starts to get easier on me, and my legs/joints begin to strengthen.
I'm doing static cycling regularly to help with my legs.
I'm also far heavier than I was at school so I'm also working on healthier eating, weight loss and getting fitter along the way.
Looking forward to where this new venture is going to take me and what possible changes may lie ahead.
Hope anyone else just starting out can stay as determined too.
Even the largest of journeys has to start with taking that first small step....🙂👣
I have mild hypermobility. My sister has quite extreme hypermobility, such that occasionally joints would undergo subluxation.
The philosophy with EDS nowadays tends to be "use it or lose it", recommending maintaining muscle tone to support the joints, and avoiding exercises (like yoga) which work to increase mobility.
Not knowing that philosophy at the time, I stumbled across wearing minimalist (so-called barefoot) shoes a decade ago, and have built up the muscle strength in my feet, calves and ankles enough to counter my natural flat-footedness.
I had looked at that footwear before but was unsure of how good it'd be for someone with over flexing ankles.
I was always encouraged to wear shoes or boots that had a small low heal to help avoid strain of my Achilles which can be painful at times and also supported my ankles to stop me walking on the insides of my heals, which I did when I was little.
Nowadays I am actually far happier barefoot most times, when I can get away with it, so those shoes did catch my eye! 👍
Have you ever been referred to a rheumatologist for those joint problems?
I'm a fellow hypothyroid person, with it also being discovered in 2017. Possibly Hashimoto's. (I had a grey-out in a work meeting, resulting in my colleagues calling for an ambulance.) 100µg L-thyroxine daily. The one bonus is you get free prescriptions.
I did go to a rheumatologist a few years ago - they barely looked at me. She just said "Oh, you're just a little bit bendy, that's all"...but my knees have regularly given out on me my entire life causing falls and all sorts of problems.
It was actually a Physiotherapist that finally said "You really are very Hypermobile aren't you!" as she was working with me on strengthening exercises.
It was nice to actually know it wasn't all in my head, to be validated at last, rather than being made to feel like I was lying.
I'm also on Levo every day for my thyroid. I hadn't realised how rough i felt until that started to kick in! The free prescriptions are certainly a little perk of having the condition...
Yeah, I like this a lot. To be honest, not much else matters as much as consistency. If you keep going at your pace then you'll get there. Every single thing going forward comes from this (stamina, breathing, pace, fitness, heart rate etc. etc) Never compare, be you and keep going. The runs are brilliant on this programme which I wholeheartedly believe in. You'll get stronger as you go as long as you keep steady (in the main) and keep consistent. You deserve it so go and take what's waiting for you.
Thank you so much for your encouragement! I really appreciate that.
I was a little dubious about coming onto these forums as I thought I'd feel a bit out of place but the more posts and comments I've read the more I can see there's people of all ages and all walks of life sharing their experiences and helpful advice, so I'm glad I took the plunge.
I'll definitely try and keep up with my consistency and pace myself, not try to keep up with anyone else...👍🌟
you’re not late to the party, you’re right on time!
huge well done on doing the first run, that’s the hardest thing. I’m doing this the second time around. Make sure you read the intro reading, the slower the better in terms of jogging. I was an avowed anti-runner but now absolutely love it.
Also big high fives for choosing to do something for yourself, a thing that’s hard as a mum I think. Sorry to hear about the loss of your partner.
Take the rest days you need and keep coming back here to let us know how you’re doing, for advice, to share the hard bits and celebrate the good bits. First time around I was also very sceptical of the forum but found it a warm and encouraging place with lots of wisdom!
Bless you, thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words.
I will endeavour to post my progress as it gives me some accountability for what I do - and I know there'll be sound advice if I get stuck or hit a roadblock at any point.
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started..........first steps are just that, so congratulate yourself.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5.... and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
There is a lot more to learning to run than just putting one foot in front of the other.
Well done and welcome Larry571. You’ve made the first steps which is a big deal and you recognise it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Good luck, keep going and keep posting.
you may be trying to run too fast. Ignore the mad PE teacher in your brain and just jog so you can talk aloud to yourself (not all the time!) Don't be like me though and think that you deserve a treat after every run (maybe a little one each week!) Running will help your fitness and it will help you lose weight but not if you don't eat properly. If only I could stick to my own advice....
btw I started my running 2 years ago and I am 59. So you have started early. Some people here start much, much later. Enjoy it. It's going to be great.
Thank you 🌟🙏😌 Physically I don't think there's a danger of me running too fast.. not just yet. It's more of a steady plod right now - but in the scheme of things I think you're right and that's where I'm reining myself in and learning a bit more patience along the way.
I'm with you when it comes to rewards and treats but I've begun swapping out the 'bad' ones for better choices, and sticking to things in moderation... it's not easy at the start though is it! 😱😁
keep going you can definitely do this. This space is a great place for advice and support. Whether you repeat week 1 or move to week. 2 you’re on the road now and you’re not looking back!
Hi and welcome! I didnt find the forum until week 4 or 5 I think so you made it here earlier than me 🙂 It's a great place - very friendly and supportive - and will help you no end on your running journey. Good luck!
Just keep posting and taking on board the wealth of advice and you'll do it! There's no rush - like many of us, it took me a lot longer than 9 weeks but has been life-changing.
Dieting alone I don't think is the answer for me, I've needed to change my whole attitude towards exercise and realise it's not a chore but something that can and should be enjoyed.
I'm really looking forward to where this can take me, and following/supporting other people on here along the way if I can 😌🙏
You're not late to the party at all! I started C25k at 53 having not run since school days and am now a regular runner 2 years later. Lots start the programme much later in life. Don't feel defeated - the first week was the hardest for me. In fact after the first session I thought "I'm glad I haven't told anyone I'm doing this because I don't think I'm going to be able to manage it!". But by the middle of the second week it was already feeling easier.
Turning to weight loss, I lost about 2st just before I started C25k using the 5:2 approach. I've kept most of it off since so it worked for me. It's not for everyone and you should check with your doctor if you wanted to try it yourself. Running at the level of C25k probably won't lose you much if any weight by itself, but it'll definitely make you feel much better in yourself generally - it did and does for me!
Good luck, and take as long as you need to get through the programme. And when you've finished it, make sure to keep on running!
Thank you so much for your lovely reply...that has definitely spurred me on, knowing I'm not alone in finding the first week hard but I know that was to be expected.
I too haven't told anyone, other than my son as he lives with me, but no one else knows. I don't want to share that just yet - not until I've found my pace and have started finding it a little easier...so it's so nice to have friendly souls here to chat to now.
In terms of eating/diet...I am following Noom for the second time. I did really well previously in 2020 and lost 2st but went backwards due to one thing and another so I had a break but now I'm back at it and ready to succeed but with the addition of C25K this time around...
I think, once I've lost a little more weight -- it's only been a couple of weeks so only 4lbs so far...the running should get easier there'll be less for my joints to contend with..but all in good time 👍👍
I live alone so I was able to stagger back into the house without anyone knowing! I guess I didn't want to set myself up to fail at the beginning, so I was about half way through before I told anyone. I also did the whole thing in a nearby empty carpark, only venturing out on to the pavements when I was confident I wasn't going to grind to an undignified halt. Seems strange to have been so self-conscious now. Now I don't care what people think, even when I am overtaken by people clearly older than me! Remember we're all here to offer you encouragement until you feel ready to share your success with the world around you, wherever that may be.
I'm not familiar with Noom - will have to investigate! But it's great you're tackling the weight as well - it will certainly help with the running.
I'm lucky in that my son won't say anything to anyone so know my secret is safe with him 😁
I just want to get myself into a good routine, be consistent and once I know I've definitely improved and am getting somewhere I'll then consider making it more general knowledge...
I have a nice quiet lane near where I live so I can take a short stroll to there then run where there's no neighbours to see me!
As for Noom, I've personally found it very handy, on and off, for keeping track of what I eat; what's better for me etc. Even just accessing the free part of the app is helpful as you can still log exercise, foods, weights, blood pressure, water intake..and I'm the kind of person that needs to record things so I can see my progress in chart or number form 👍
I'm glad I decided to join on here as everyone's been so nice 🙂
Ahhhh, Noom is an app! I was thinking it was a diet plan 😆! I'll take a look - my Garmin app tells me how many calories I'm burning but I'm sure it would help to know what's going in in the first place!
Noom operates a kind of traffic light system; green, yellow and orange foods. The aim is to try and get mostly green and yellow.
I discovered there were things I was eating that I thought were healthier for me that weren't, and vice versa - avoided things that were actually okay.
It helped me learn a bit more. One thing I'm always mindful of, whenever possible, is portion control too. I'm a big lass but I don't actually eat that much at all...
Hi - I started C25K Jan 2020 - I couldn’t run for 1 min at all xx keep going it does get easier I take it slow and repeat the runs/weeks as needed. You are doing this for you - no one else! I have just bought a good pair of trainers from a local running shop (properly fitted) good luck and enjoy it - I find I do enjoy being outside.
Thank you 😌🙏 I too didn't manage the full minute, but did manage more than I even thought I would, and when I wasn't able to run I tried to at least keep a reasonable brisk pace to my walk.
Whatever I did, it was better for me than being sat on the sofa 👍 I'm due to head out again tomorrow sometime for W1R3...I don't expect to be able to run a vast amount again but I will certainly try again, that's for sure.
I bought some Asics Gel Sonoma 6 as a kind of good starter/all rounder pair of trainers. I'm on a bit of a limited budget right now so couldn't really splash out on really decent ones. I figured once I get better at it and know that I can stick with it I'll maybe save up and treat myself to a really good pair.
Last time I was out I really enjoyed it and felt great afterwards when I got home. The sun was out and it was lovely.
I have invested in a lightweight waterproof jacket too as I don't want the rain to stop me either! 😁👍
I bought a lightweight rain jacket 18 months ago. I have never used it! For short runs there is usually a long enough break in the rain. Plus a light drizzle is nature's cooling system. I have been caught out a few times by sudden heavy rain, but as Ianoda says, skin is waterproof, so I just carried on. Only once did I seek cover during a mighty deluge in 2 years even though I was just 500m from home.
Good running shoes needn't cost a fortune. I started out with some Asics Gel Contenders (about £40) but after a while went to a running shop (which I should have in the first place of course!) and ended up buying some Brooks Adrenaline GTS shoes - they were 'last years model' so were half price at £65, but are much better than the Asics. It does seem quite common for there to be big discounts like this on offer when new models come out.
So, when the time comes, do go to a running shop if you can, and have a look on their discount shelf - they will be happy to take your budget into account I'm sure!
Great for starting, you're a spring chicken, never too late, I am 70, been going 6 months! You have the potential to run for 30 minutes (or more) and C25K WILL unlock it. Read all the advice of mentors, keep your progress public, being open is a great motivator to succeed. You will be amazed and you will have no doubt how your health has improved. PS its not a weight loss program but it will help control weight for sure.
Thank you 🤩 And well done to you too - 6 months in is brilliant!
I'm hoping this is going to help me greatly improve my overall health and mobility issues, and coupled with some light weight training and exercise biking at home, along with a much improved diet it should all come together and turn things around - at least, that's my plan; to go from an exercise-phobic into someone who truly enjoys it!
Today is meant to be my rest day and it's taking all I have in me not to at least jump on my bike for a while, but I know rest days are important too, as well as the run itself.
I got some steps in today; a bit of walking just so I keep moving and not sit for longer than I ought to.
Have been on holiday from work this week so trying to keep myself active was important - at work I'm on my feet pretty much all day and moving around here and there...
I cant speak to your specific health issues, but others have added very useful comments. But wanted to share that I started 2 years and 9 months ago, at the age of 54. Obese with asthma and joint pain. It took me 18 weeks to complete the 9 weeks because I found it so hard, 10 months after I started I managed a 10k. I always thought my body wasn't built for running. Trust the program, its so well thought out. It doesn't matter if you take a bit longer. Look up Japanese slow running - it changed everything for me. Had a 9 month break due to health issues, just completed c25k again. You can do this. And come on here and let us know how you are doing- one of the most supportive and non -judgemental groups I've ever known!
Wow! Thank you...sounds like you've done amazingly 🤩🌟🤩🌟🤩 Congratulations on all you've done. That's brilliant.
I will be sure to pace myself and know its no big deal if it's not completed exactly week by week, that its absolutely fine to repeat weeks as often as needed before even thinking about moving onto the next...
The support on here is so nice and I look forward to reading other peoples journeys too...
I'll certainly look into the slow running..have never heard of that before.🤔🙂
Thank you 😌🙏 Yes, it's just taking that step and getting going isn't it.
But feeling super chuffed that I finally took it and so far am keeping some kind of consistency, be that out on a walk/run or on my static bike...I schedule it, and make sure I do it (I seem to have developed a little inner voice that won't let me break the routine now!) 🏃🏼♀️👍🌟
I've been lucky that I had a few days holiday from work this past week, but hoping to do the same as you and get at least three days of decent activity in, as well as being quite active at work...it all adds up doesn't it 👍🤞👍
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Just starting out
Just starting out!
5k is a long way
Is walking ok.....feel a bit deflated....
W7R2 - A new soundtrack makes all the difference! Sorry Laura!
