Couch-to-5K

i haven't don an 'official' couch to 5 K, but i sort of did it organically in my life.
my ultra-marathon friend martha started joining me on my power walks, well over a decade ago. she gradually coaxed me into doing little jiggety-jogs, and in 2000 i did my first ever 5K. came in dead last. was SO thrilled to finish!
i didn't run again for years. but the seed had been planted.
i'm still overweight, and still run slowly. but i do a bunch of 5Ks, a few 10Ks and a half marathon every year. and i know my overall health is far, far better because of my frequent, long, slooooooow runs.
and i still have ambitions to go the full 26.2 one of these days. i'm not getting any younger, so i need to hop to it!
do it! and yes, invest in running shoes. i spent YEARS in cross-trainers, but have been ecstatic at how much real running shoes help out.
khairete
S.

My cousin is doing it. Since she is sticking with it I assume she likes it. IMO... exercise is great but you also need to change your diet.

I needed to loose 20 lbs too. I did it by cutting carbs out of my diet. I eat as much as I want as long as it is not bread, pasta, rice, pretzels etc. I also don't eat junk food. Now that I lost the weight, I like being thin far more than I like any donut or piece of cake😊. (I also bought a recumbent exercise bike that I ride at least 17 miles /1 hr per day.). Good luck!

I did this with my teenage son two years ago - love it. Wow - those first couple of days were definitely the hardest. Your body is getting used to using muscles that haven't been used. Keep going. It gets easier and it is worth it.

I would second the fact that the program alone is not going to result in rapid weight loss. Remember you will be gaining muscle - but you will find yourself becoming leaner.

Adding changes to your diet into the program will make a huge difference.

At the same time we did this program, we also started transitioning to a Paleo diet. We are not strict Paleos but we do tend to eat primarily veggies, fruit, tree nuts, etc. now instead of the breads, pastas, processed foods that we were eating before.

We both lost between 30 - 40 pounds in 3 months time which was really what we needed to lose. We're at healthy weights now and happy.

Why go through all the drama? Why not just take a walk around the neighborhood? Right now. Just push your chair back, stand up - and go for a short walk.

:)

There! Now you've started! :)

I went to a good running shoe store. First thing I ask for is a shoe under $100. They looked at my gate, measured my foot and found a good priced shoe. Turns out it was a size and a half bigger than I usually wear! I love my new shoes and my feet really do expand with all my walking. I don't have the kind of foot pain that I did ( neuromas ).

Get a good shoe!

I did this program for the first time 2 years ago. I was quite out of shape at the time and had trouble with week 1 day 1. But I finished it and ran my first 5k two years ago. I wont say I lost a lot of weight doing it, but I definitely felt better about myself and was obviously a healthier person. I have since then run 3 more 5k's and have been improving my time. I honestly can't say I love running still, but I do like the way I feel after I run. Doing this program worked best for me when I did it with buddies. The peer support definitely got me through it. And yes - get running shoes. I started with my regular shoes and got shin splints pretty early on. Now I can tell when I'm due for new sneakers every time my shins start to hurt again. Good luck!

Get good shoes if you feel you need them, but don't wait to get new shoes to get started. You probably won't need them right away. I'm just saying this because you don't want to feel you have to wait for the perfect shoe to get started, or you might end up waiting a few more months. Just do it.

I am currently doing this (kind of). The kind of is because I have the app on my phone and I am doing it with the elliptical. Now I am pretty sure that I don't get the full benefit as going out and jogging but with the heat and the children this is what I am able to do. Something is better than nothing. I do feel tons better and when I am outside playing with the kids and have to chase after an overthrown ball rolling down the street I can actually run after it without dying and wanting to go lay on the couch right after. I am on week 4 day 2 and every time I get to the beginning of the week and the jog time increases i cringe but I manage to do it and feel great about it afterwards. Its only 3 days a week and I did it yesterday and Im wanting to do it again today because it makes me feel so much better working up a sweat. At the beginning I didnt make any changes in my diet and I could notice that I was toning up a little but definitely not losing any weight. So about 2 weeks ago I started counting calories and changed my eating habits and I am down about 3lbs and I can tell a difference in my legs, and stomach area.

Get good shoes. It will make all the difference.

I did it! It does work and it makes it easy. Unfortunately I stopped doing it, so I am back on the "couch" status. LOL Oh make sure you stretch you calves and shins!! Mine KILLED me that first week. :)

Couch to 5K , I have no info because I hate running. I choose other ways to get my activity in. I dream of doing 5k's on the weekends , as a family, as a hobby, though. As far as shoes... Yes, invest in good running shoes! Good Luck!