I asked two questions yesterday - one am i doing enough to gain muscle and is 4.2mph too slow?

The response I received was inot really an answer was it? Just an online advert. I would appreciate it if someone could give me a proper answer to both the questions.

[Hidden]

Hi ebony, I reported the advert on your question as spam so hopefully it'll be removed soon. I unfortunately can't answer your questions, but if you use the wee search box at the top right hand side of the screen and type in a few key words as search terms, it'll bring up loads of info from people who've asked similar questions before. Hope this helps!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi newbierunner

Thanks for doing that. I will use the search box as you suggested.

What week are you on? I am about to start week 6 but am thinking about reversing the runs i.e. doing run 3 first then run 2 and 1 on the treadmill during the week when its too dark to run outside on my own.

I still cant believe I can run for 20 minutes without stopping. I would never have been able to do that 6 weeks ago.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I graduated earlier this month but I really struggled around week 5/6, so well done for keeping going!

I'd stick to the programme as much as possible if you can, it is designed in such a way as to help build stamina. You could probably do W6R3 no problem now, but runs 1 and 2 will most likely help you in the later weeks when it's long runs every run.

I'm curious of your comment about it being too dark to run outside alone - what is it that's putting you off doing this? I run in the dark on my own all the time - as long as you take reasonable safety precautions (hi-visibility running clothes, reflective bands, maybe a head torch, only running with one earphone in so you can listen to what's round you) I suspect you'd be fine, unless you lived in an area with few footpaths and fast roads. I'd really recommend it, I love running in the dark and as long as I'm visible to cars, I definitely feel safe enough to do it.

20 minutes is a brilliant achievement - I still remember that feeling! You'll really start to notice your fitness improving from now on and before you know it, you'll be saying "I can't believe I can run for 30mins!"

You sound like you're getting on brilliantly, keep it up

[thinnerandfitter Graduate]

Hi Ebony2012,

I may have got your questions out of order but hope I can be of a little help....You may not believe you can do 20 minutes now, but if you've completed the program so far (including Week 5 R 1 and 2) you almost certainly can! I think Laura says it's more a mental hurdle than a physical one. In fact many people here report finding week 6 difficult as you go back to intervals for a couple of runs. I'd definitely take the program in the order it was intended. I can't comment on the treadmill - that's one possible root of my own problems at the moment as I "failed" a run on returning to outdoors after a couple of treadmill runs.

Like you, I could not have contemplated doing this a couple of months ago (I struggled with week1 run 1 and actually had to rest a week and repeat it) but now I'm on week 8 run 3 which means I've done 20 mins+ SEVEN times. Just worked that out and had to count a second time!

Regarding muscle mass - I don't know. I have been on Slimming World since January and weight loss has been very slow since about July (2 1/2 stones at that point). I started running to try and kick start the weight loss but I didn't shift even 1 pound until week 6 - and even now I've only lost 2 pounds since running. Reasons I've read and currently believe are 1) as you build up the running you are converting fat to muscle. Muscle is a bit denser than fat but also tends to retain some water initially. 2) when you begin to plateau at running you have the muscle you need so you burn fat and consequently start to lose weight. I would say I couldn't measure the amount of muscle built up but as I'm not much lighter and definitely less "wobbly" than I was I must have built up muscle.

Hope that helps and good luck with the dreaded week 6!

[Hidden in reply to thinnerandfitter]

Thanks thinandfitter

I will just have to be patient and hope eventually that the weight to starts to move again (although I admit that I wasnt tracking all the time and fell into the trap of thinking any excess calories would be burned off by my running activity - how wrong I was!) I have been doing weightwatchers since april and have lost just over two stone. At one point had lost 29.5 then put some on then lost 3 (incidientally this was the week I started C25k along with swimming, group indoor cycling and zumba) then stayed the same for two weeks, gained 2.5lbs then this week lost 2lbs.

I go for my first run of week 6 this afternoon.

[shelleymcb Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I was also trying to slim down when I started running & found that the best way for me was to stop relying on weight loss & to measure myself. even if you arent losing weight I bet you are losing inches overall & your body shape is improving

[sfb350 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I think most people find that the weight loss comes later on so don't worry too much. You will certainly start to notice more muscle definition as the weeks go by and as you build muscle, you will burn more calories and hopefully start to see some weight loss (although I do find I'm hungrier as I run further!).

You're not too slow - the main thing at this stage is to build endurance and keep running, learning to pace yourself. Once you have graduated, you can think about following the interval poscasts (Speed, Stepping Stones and Stamina) and, over time, these should help you pick up your speed.

Good luck