First, WOW, you all seem to love short hair! I go in on Tuesday so we'll just have to wait and see what I end up doing, because I'm a chicken and I could flake out on cutting it!
Has anyone heard of the Couch to 5k program? Done it? I'm on SparkPeople, which is a free weight loss/workout site where you can keep track of goals, calculate your bmi, calorie intake and calories burned for the day etc. It has a TON of great information not only on losing weight but on exercising. If you have some sort of injury you can plug that in and it gives you workouts that you can still do while not injuring yourself further.
Anyway, I was reading an article on there about Couch to 5k so I looked it up here. Basically you follow their program 3 times a week for 9 weeks and at the end you should be able to jog/run a 5k (3 miles). I've been thinking about it for awhile because, well, I don't run. Period. Unless chased by someone who has a gun - and even then, if I don't think I could outrun them, I probably wouldn't try. Just sayin.
So today was the day. I thought it would be super simple - walk for 90 seconds, jog for 60 - and repeat for a total of 20 min's. I did a 5 min warmup walk and a 5 min cool down walk so it was a 30 min workout. Anyone can do that right? Well, barely. As in I barely did it. I felt so out of shape!
So if you're in the same boat as me, checkout SP. I'll link to one of their calorie counters below. And remember, it's totally free!
Want to know how many calories you ate today? Use this quick search!
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22 comments:
Hi, Jenna! I am currently doing the coach to 5k program. It was SOOOO hard at first. I am way out of shape (like needing to lose 40 lbs out of shape) and thought I wouldn't keep it up. Well, I did. And like I said, the first week was hard, but I have been amazed at how seriously easier it gets everyday that you do it. I would reccommend this to anyone. I feel so much better! I have another 6 weeks to go. I'll keep you posted! Good luck!! :)
My friend that I ate dinner with tonight just completed her first 5K doing to couch to 5 K program. She loved it! My husband and I went to the park to walk/jog today for an hr. I only jogged 3 times....1 minute each and I thought I was going to die...HA!
So many things have inspired me to start running that I decided God must be trying to tell me something, and I read the couch to 5k thing. I'm not really following it, but I AM running on my treadmill. And, yes, it remarkably does get easier. You can read my post about it here: http://woopigsuzy.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-like-forrest-gump.html Good luck with the running! I'm fine while I'm running, it's after I stop and get stiff that I question why I do it.
Mrs. H over at heritageschoolhouse.blogspot.com did the couch to 5k (or something like it) earlier this year. I bet she would love to talk to you about it if you have questions. Good luck.
Check this site out: http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/podcasts/podcasts.html The music is set to the intervals of that week's workout. Super easy! Or you can google to find other sites that have done this. I found one with Chrstian music but couldn't get it to work. I did a search for it b/c I do really bad using a stopwatch while exercising. Usually I trip. lol
I ran cross country in high school for one year and decided in April to train for a marathon in October with some girls from work. I had not run in 10 years. We used the Non Runners Marathon Trainer. It was such an awesome experience!
I have done the couch to 5K and it kicked my butt at first...well the first 2 weeks actually but then it got easier and I felt so much better! I ran 2 5K last summer and can not wait to run more! Good LUCK!
I did the couch to 5k program last summer...or I should say, I did it up until I reached 2 miles. Then my father in law passed away and I totally fell off the "running" (I call it running but really it's probably a jog haha) bandwagon. But I've been really wanting to start back up!
Hey girl.
I picked up running a couple years ago because I wanted to lose weight. You have to give yourself some time, but you'll be running in no time. At first I couldn't even get to the end of my street! Now I've run 10K's and I'm thinking about a 1/2 marathon (more than scared about it!) Anyway, just keep to it and you will do it! It's a great FREE way to lose lbs and get in shape!
Also, if you are running outdoors (which is way more interesting than on a treadmill) you should get a nike+ to connect to your ipod. It will tell you how far you've gone and how far you have left to your goal for the day. I couldn't run without it! (And you don't have to wear nike shoes to use it.) Then it puts it all online in a graph so you can see where you ran faster/slower during your run! LOVE it!
Just stick to it! Once you do one race, you'll be hooked for life! Promise!
sounds like a neat program...i know i am out of shape! ha...but i am preggers with #2 now so losing will have to wait :)
I did the Couch to 5K starting in April 2009. I was not a runner AT ALL! I ran my first 5K in early June. Weeks 1-3 were terrible....my girlfriend and I thought we'd never make it and each week when we heard on the podcast that we'd have to run like 90 seconds, we would say to ourselves "Yeah, right!". But each week, we did it. By week 8, we had to run 20 minutes straight. We were so nervous starting out but we just kept pushing along and we finished. To be honest, we ran the 5k with only getting to week 8! I'm running another 5K in December. Trust me, if you stick to it, you can totally do it! The best moment was crossing the finish line and seeing my husband there taking pictures.....that proud moment made it so worth it. My one sugegstion is to use the podcasts up through like week 7. When you start running for longer periods, i.e. 10 minute streches, grab a stopwatch and regualr songs off your ipod. The couch to 5K songs are really lame and you get in a much better groove and stride when you run to music you like. Good Luck and feel free to ask me any questions.
Allie
I have never done the couch to 5k but I have run a half marathon, a relay marathon and a few 5ks. My best advice would be to stick with it and be consistent. It's probably going to be hard at first to push yourself but just run through the pain and it will be much easier before long! Also, you should go ahead a sign up for a 5k. That will motivate you to run since you have a goal. If you don't have a goal it will be really easy to just say you don't want to run on a certain day. good luck!
I've been a lurker for a little while now but wanted to come out of hiding and wish you luck! I'm doing the Couch to 5k program and love it. Just stick with it and you'll be running in no time.
Good luck and have fun!
I LOVE Spark People. I have been using it for about a month now and I totally love it. It's nice to be able to keep track of not just calories, but all the nutrients you want!
I haven't done the couch to 5K training. After running in the military it really screwed up my knees :) So, I do the elliptical.
Good luck!
I am currently using the Couch to 5K program and am loving it. It is hard at first, but I'm also using the podcast and it makes it so much easier. Rather than having to keep track of your own time to figure out when you get to walk again it does it all for you. It takes your mind off it and makes it much easier to just run. I'm on week 5 and am able to run in 10-12 min intervals. I also bought the Jillian Michaels workout for the Wii ( I remember you saying you bought the wii) and love it as well. The workouts are hard and you really feel it the next day. So between the two I feel like I'm getting more into shape. I'm doing a 10K in May and a half marathon on June. Good luck!
I have done the couch to 5k program (started jan 2009 for new year's resolution) - now granted I didn't get to where I could run the entire 3.1 miles when I completed the program, but I was plagued with some feet injuries. BUT I have run/walked 4 5k fun run/walk races now and love doing them - and have finished around 32 minutes, so pretty good.
I am going to continue and my next goal is to finish in under 30 minutes. My next race is in April!!! Good Luck!
I am on week 5 and I am loving the C25K program!
Wow! That sounds like something I'd be able to do. Getting started running is so hard! I had a baby in August and I need something to get me back into shape. I might try this!
Hey! I am coming out of lurker state to say congrats on the first day of couch to 5k. I know so many people who have done it and had so much success with it. :) You will rock it I know it! I can't wait to see your progress and Good luck with it! And maybe I was the minority but I liked the long hair :)
Hi Jenna! I have not done the couch to 5K program, but I did run my first 5K this summer. I am not a runner either, and I was so excited that I did it! Good luck to you! Running does not come easy to everyone, so be patient with yourself. Also, do you have an iPod? If you do consider getting the Nike thing that clips onto your shoe lace or drops into the sole of Nike shoes. It syncs up to your iPod, and is SOOO awesome. It totally revolutionized my runs!
Hi there! I'm de-lurking to give you motivation to do this program!!! I am SO NOT A RUNNER! However, I have a friend who lost 50 lbs this year and this program helped jump start her when she was quite out of shape. I'm in the same boat as her needing to lose about 30-40 lbs and while I don't know if I'll get there... I'm going to give this program a try. For me the hardest part is finding and sticking to a routine. I need to make the best choices in making healthy habits! So, I've started this week by doing my own sets of walk/jog that are even less than what is done in the C25K in order to gear myself up. I'm very out of shape and nervous to commit to something but I sure hope I can do it!!! Like others, I think I'll enjoy the podcasts especially to start with -- that way I don't have to worry about watching a stopwatch.
I think I'll be starting mine next week! Well, good luck to you!!!
I got the Couch to 5K program printed out months ago and have yet to start. After three kids I don't quite have the belly I use to and thought I need to do something about it. But...it is either too early, too late, too hot, too cold or too buggy for me to run. I do like to run but just haven't found the right time. I took a glimpse at SP and think maybe I'll try that route. Thanks!
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