A first time poster.

Hi,

I want to jog, but as of right now I am so out of shape and so overweight (somewhere between 260-280 on a 5'3"frame ) My heart and lungs may give up if I try to jog. My question to you all is how did you gradually go from walking to jogging?

I was wondering if i could walk my way to a stronger heart and stronger lungs?

Any advice is welcomed. I'll try to reply to them.

286/286/200

Missdonna- Welcome
Yes, walking will aid you in trying to make you heart and lungs stronger. Walking is one of the best aerobic exercises you can do. You can do it anywhere at any fitness level and it can only make the weight loss process easier. I didn't start out by walking, but I now am running in my usual routine and it is wonderful. I never though I would be able to do it but now I can thanks to lots of hard work and patience. Just remember to walk at your own pace, not to fast that you can't carry on a conversation, and in a couple months down the road you may be comfortably jogging your way around. Good luck to you, I am sure you will succeed in your goals.

I walk 4.5 miles 6 days a week on most weeks. About a month ago I started to put little jogs in my walking. I was only able to get in a couple at first, and they are short, usually not even 1/10 of a mile-each day I would do 1 more. I was able to get up to 22 jogs, but now, since it's so hot, I have cut that back to almost half-don't feel like dying out there!

I don't like jogging, only did it so it would put a small boost in my routine that my body seemed to have gotten so use to doing. It's not good for my knees either. I love walking! I have my walkman with some great hip-hop music, a fanny pack with my water bottle and a device I use called the Powerbelt that has weights on it for my arms.

I'd say stick to walking, at least for now. You can try jogging in the future.

And yes, you will have stronger lungs and a stronger heart by losing the weight AND walking.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Debbie
194/129/129
SB since 3/22/00
Reached Goal 6/10/01

When I was in high school around 160lbs at 5'4 I was on the track team and ran all the time.

As I got heavier, it got harder. At 216 I was getting out of breath walking up stairs...now at 200 I'm getting to where I can jog again.

I've seen people larger than me jogging, so you definitely can do it, it would just take a little more work on your breathing, etc but as you lose weight it will just get easier.

i think the best way is intervals...like get on a treadmill for 30 mins and walk 5 minutes, jog 5 minutes (or walk 5, jog 2, etc). Then, as you get used to doing this, you can up the total number of minutes, and extend jogging time, etc. That's what I'm working on right now.

I also like the elliptical machine because it gives me the feeling of jogging because I don't hold on to the bars, and I can work on my breathing.