good for you renee! welcome to the group! it is hard for those first 2 weeks then it seems to get easier.

well i did day 1 of week 4 today and i made it! phew! i sweat a heck of a lot more than i have on any other day and i was definately breathing harder - those 5 minute sections were lon but do-able. it just amazes me each week that i can finish the workouts, so i am greatful my body's still on track with my mind!

i have been slacking on my off days though, so i am going to up my gym time to 5 days a week and do weights on tues/thurs to get some more muscle. i also have to quit eating junk or else i am never going to lose the weight.

I have a question about this program. I've been working out pretty intensely for the past 3 months or so doing TurboJam and weight training, but now I'm interested in changing it up with running. Is this still the program I should start with? I'm just worried about duration and intensity of my workouts. I've worked up to an hour a day, so I want to stay at that level.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Lola- I'd say you can do this program and still get the benefits and intensity you're used to. You'll just need to add additional walking after the prescribed 20 minutes (in the beginning,) of alternating walking and jogging. Your heart rate will be much more elevated than if you were just walking, and if you feel like it's getting to easy you'll just need to throw in a short jog to jump your heart rate up again or walk faster.

Alas, I think I'm derailing from the program. My knees are shot, and were hurting throughout an easy-paced walk today despite giving them two days off. I think it's the relaxin in my system post-birth of my second son. I'll stick with walking for a little while and give it another go. I'm rooting you all on!

Leeza

Morning all - last day of Week 7 yesterday... so on to week 8 tomorrow!

How's everyone doing?
Heather

I did day 3 of week 1 and it was definitly easier this time. I did have to stop about 20 seconds early in the last interval of running because the path I was on started slanting to the right and made it really hard for me to push the stroller. I want to do one more day of week one's workout on Friday and then start week 2 on Monday.

Lola, I've been working out at home and lifting weights, similar to you and I found this challenging but doable. I don't think I would've been able to do it though if I had not been working out prior.

I am home early. Two weeks was too much for our wee ones, so we came back early. I did 1.4 miles in the hills of the Adirondacks with another guest at the lodge. It was so great to have the encouragement! I walked about one minute in the middle, which is close to where I was when I left. I am back to the treadmill tomorrow morning. Shooting (again, darn it) for 20 minutes in a row.

Other good news is that in 10 days, I did not gain more than .5 pounds. I was sweating getting on the scale this morning, even though I had been vigilant while we were away. It was hard to have to estimate calories so much. Hopefully after a few days of detox and whole grains, I will be back to my starting point.

Keep on moving those feet!

You are a rock star!!

today was my 2nd run of week 4 and it went pretty well. i am definately struggling a bit on the 5 minute sections but it seemed a teensy bit easier today than it did on monday. i am nervous that the days are going by so fast because next week looks impossible but i know i will be able to do it.

heather, are you dieting as well as running? what plan are you on? i see your results and we're the same height so i am wondering what works for you?

Hey all - managed Day one of week 8 tonight, and feeling GREAT! 2.75 miles in 32 minutes. I still can't believe I'm close to 3 miles - I can remember so well gasping and swearing at 60 seconds - I swear it is true!!


This is one of the best things I have ever done Another was joining this site!!

Have a great evening, all!

Heather

PS - Cakses - I count calories - that's how I started; then I started walking, then I found out (on here) about the C25K... I eat about 1500-1600 calories a day right now - I started at 2300 and came down from there!

thanks girl. i need to do something more thought out with eating and when i exercise i get my old athlete's appetite back, so the weight loss has stalled since i started this even though the inches are coming off my legs. i want them to come off other choice areas too though!

today is my last run of week 4. i am sort of excited to get to the gym!

Heather, you give me hope for the future, since I am about to leave week 1 and still get pretty winded. I have a question I've been wonderin about. During the walking interval, do I need to keep a certain pace? Sometimes, especially towards the end, I find myself slowing down considerable when walking. Does this matter?

LeedaRenee - I'd say no - don't even worry about speed - either walking OR running!! I was so slow when I started, I loped, I swear! Honestly, I promise you - I gasped and swore through the first four weeks of this - now I'm still amazed how great it feels to run - and then stretch! I never DREAMED I'd be 'a runner'!!

Cakses - I have to admit that I added strength training as well, about six weeks ago or so, and it has made SUCH a difference to my shape - I'm hoping not to have TOO much hanging skin when I get wherever I am going! As for counting calories, it was a good start, but then I knew I had to add exercise... I don't think it makes one bit of difference which you add in which order!

Not running tomorrow - but Sunday is a day for sure! I started watching 'Sixteen Candles' yesterday as I ran on the treadmill, so I'm looking forward to laughing through the rest on my next run!

Heather

Well I have had two kids plus weight gain so I am sure there will be hanging skin of some sort. I still have youth on my side though, so I am praying that takes effect over floppy tummy skin later on

Today was the last run of week 4 and it was a tough one. I missed the gym yesterday and it showed. So know I know - I can't give myself days off. They can be off of running but I have to at least do my 30 minutes of walking or something cardio and stretch or else the run days are killer. Lesson learned!

Congrats to Tricia, who has finished the programme!

I'm, on Day 2 of week 8... better get to it!

Have a great day all!

Heather

go heather and congrats tricia! i can't wait to be a graduate too!