Okay, I need to preface this by explaining that I am very unfit and although I have these fantasies where I become a lean, fit, exercise junkie, in reality I don't enjoy exercising that much and I've never stuck at it long enough to get that endorphin hit that those scary exercise fanatics talk about all the time. In fact I've always thought that those scary exercise fanatics are secretly disgusted by people like me, so you can imagine how completely self-conscious and uncomfortable I was dragging my pale flabby body around the gym, surrounded by the aforementioned fanatics.
However, I have reached the unenviable point where my need for exercise is greater than my desire to avoid it. I am overweight and unfit, and that's not great, but I also need to exercise for my mental health to keep anxiety under control and depression at bay. Sigh. When both my mind AND my body need it, what can I do?
Some time ago a friend told me about C25K, the 'couch to 5k run in 9 weeks' program and I think I've mentioned it on here before too (but I can't be bothered looking for it right now). The friend who first mentioned it is one of the last people I would have ever picked as a runner... and then another friend told me she'd been doing it and I would have bet every cent I have that SHE would never, ever run anywhere. So I thought, if they can do it then surely I can at least give it a go, right? There is no way I have enough self confidence to try exercising outside, in public, where people might see me - but as we know I have that nice shiny treadmill that hasn't seen all that much use.
So... today I did C25K W1D1 (Week 1, Day 1) which is 5 minutes of brisk walking, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. I took that to mean 20 minutes in addition to the first 5 minutes of walking, so 25 minutes in total. You fit and healthy people are probably thinking this sounds like less than you do for a warm up, but let me tell you this is a big deal for me. It's a very big deal. I have never jogged in my entire life. Admittedly, I was jogging at a speed I could have walked if I'd wanted (albeit quite briskly) but still... jogging. That means there were moments there when this fat and wobbly body was airborne! That usually only happens when I fall over...
I am NOT fit - have I mentioned that? - so by the end of the 25 minutes I was pretty puffed and I think my face was a shade of deep purple often seen as a feature wall in classy homes, but still... I DID IT! I have to do the same thing twice more this coming week and then the following week I get to go to the next step. They recommend doing a pace that you can manage so if it means doing each week twice and making it an 18 week program that's okay too. I'll see how I go.
Anyway, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet... wow, I am so proud of myself.
.
However, I have reached the unenviable point where my need for exercise is greater than my desire to avoid it. I am overweight and unfit, and that's not great, but I also need to exercise for my mental health to keep anxiety under control and depression at bay. Sigh. When both my mind AND my body need it, what can I do?
Some time ago a friend told me about C25K, the 'couch to 5k run in 9 weeks' program and I think I've mentioned it on here before too (but I can't be bothered looking for it right now). The friend who first mentioned it is one of the last people I would have ever picked as a runner... and then another friend told me she'd been doing it and I would have bet every cent I have that SHE would never, ever run anywhere. So I thought, if they can do it then surely I can at least give it a go, right? There is no way I have enough self confidence to try exercising outside, in public, where people might see me - but as we know I have that nice shiny treadmill that hasn't seen all that much use.
So... today I did C25K W1D1 (Week 1, Day 1) which is 5 minutes of brisk walking, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. I took that to mean 20 minutes in addition to the first 5 minutes of walking, so 25 minutes in total. You fit and healthy people are probably thinking this sounds like less than you do for a warm up, but let me tell you this is a big deal for me. It's a very big deal. I have never jogged in my entire life. Admittedly, I was jogging at a speed I could have walked if I'd wanted (albeit quite briskly) but still... jogging. That means there were moments there when this fat and wobbly body was airborne! That usually only happens when I fall over...
I am NOT fit - have I mentioned that? - so by the end of the 25 minutes I was pretty puffed and I think my face was a shade of deep purple often seen as a feature wall in classy homes, but still... I DID IT! I have to do the same thing twice more this coming week and then the following week I get to go to the next step. They recommend doing a pace that you can manage so if it means doing each week twice and making it an 18 week program that's okay too. I'll see how I go.
Anyway, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet... wow, I am so proud of myself.
.
16 comments:
Oh wow! I want to do C25K too, ever since I heard about it on some blog or other! However I would need a GOOD bra - a REALLY REALLY GOOD bra before Is tarted. And I don't have that. I will be pushing a double stroller to and from school next year whenever possible instead.
And I know - if I did Week 1 Day 1 it would be a BIG DEAL for me to! Baby steps.
Well done!
"Is tarted" = "I started"
I need a good bra too... D-cups are not conducive to jogging. A tummy-bra wouldn't hurt either at this point. However, I realised if I waited for all the conditions to be perfect I would never start. Ever. I am the queen of excuse making.
Pushing a regular stroller is great; pushing a double stroller is fantastic. The year I joined Weight Watchers the Slimmer of the Year lost about 60kg by following the diet and pushing her child in a stroller. That was her only form of exercise and at first she could only manage to go three houses down the road and then come back. She said that pushing a stroller was a great workout for the whole body... so go for it!
I'm proud of you, too. I think my start would need to be that 5 min of walking (I THINK I could do 5 min of brisk walking). Love the concept of doing it inside where no-one is watching. You might just about get me back rowing with all this valuable example, but not today when I'm crampy. I'm going to try the "lie down and eat Jaffas" approach to cramp reduction. Sadly, if I row regularly cramps don't end up this bad. Yet another reason to follow in your footsteps.
You go, girl.
And yes, the really good bra would be very useful. When I used to ride, I used to wear a really good Berlei underwire sports bra with one of those exercise tops that was 2 sizes too small over the top. This provided both support and flattening that reduced bounce spectacularly. I used to describe it as "trussed up like a chicken" and anyone with an above C cup size who has attempted the sitting trot would understand where I'm coming from. I've never jogged, but I'm guessing there would be some parallels.
And I so get the need for a tummy-bra! Let me know if you find a supplier.
... and you deserve to be feeling smug!
And just as a reward, i'm considering exploding your comment count.
But that's only because really I'm avoiding all the stuff I should be doing.
Because I have four services to deliver between the 20th and the 28th.
So that's worthy of some really serious procrastination techniques.
And I finished my book, so really, what else can I do to avoid stuff?
Hey, you've reached 10 comments! That's really exciting.
I always get excited when I break into double figure comments.
Unless, of course, it's all spam. That's a bit of a killer in the joy department.
I'm impressed that you've even started - I was wondering if the C25K would get another mention. Being an old runner, I at first thought that meant 25 km! But if you can run 5km at any speed, you can certainly run 10 km if you train for it (that being the catch), and so one day up to 25km. Yes, we are crazy, aren't we?
Keep going - journey of a thousand miles and all that.
Argh, I've been spammed by one of those scary exercise fanatics! Oh wait, it's okay, he's a friend. :)
Doing c25k on a treadmill is, I'm told, very different from doing it outside and many people who've tried to go from treadmill to outside running have found they had to go back and repeat a few of the earlier c25k weeks at first. However, as my entire 'running' career to date is 25 minutes of walking/extremely slow jogging I don't think I need to be worrying about that kind of thing just yet. Maybe next week.
I want a tummy bra too ROFL!!!
Good on you Femina!!! You are an inspiration :)
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