It's hard. I started running for the first time in my life, last summer. I'm 29 and I have lupus so I understand your pain/exhaustion issue. Running actually helps me, even when I push it. It took me a long time to work up to longer spurts. I can go 1.5 miles without stopping now... but it took me almost a year to get here!

I started out running the straight parts of the track and walking the curves. Then I ran for half a lap, and walked for 1/4 lap... then a whole lap, and so on. It's not easy, any way you cut it!! But, it does get easier!

I honestly hate running. It's boring. But, I haven't found anything else (in conjunction with my HEAVY lifting) that gets me the results I want... so I trudge on.

Yep... I only started running or thinking about running when my walking pace got to be about 14:45 minute miles (and that is with a couple steep hills). After a certain point it feels better to break into a run than it does to walk so fast. And I got to a point where I couldn't walk fast enough to get my heart rate into an aerobic zone.

But, if you can walk to get your heart rate up there - then stick with walking. I'm a firm believer that we should do as little as we need to do to get the job done. 22 minute miles walking is really slow, so stick with walking and just keep pushing yourself that way - it will prevent injuries too.

I can run but it hurts my knees (family history of knee problems). Anyways, I figure if my weight gets down running won't hurt my knees as much.

I think the brisk walking sounds good as well as the light jogging. Once you do it for awhile your stamina will build up. A couple summers ago I tried running and I went from a couple minutes of running to about 15 minutes of running within a month but then my knees got too bad. So you'll get there!

Also, everyone's talking about proper shoes. I've looked up stuff about running and knees and I found some research that says running barefoot or with those special bare foot type shoes can help since then you can actually tell if you're running in a harmful way. Also running barefoot develops the muscles and support in your foot and ankles. The downside is most people run on concrete, so if you try the barefoot running thing do it on a softer surface like grass or those soft tracks.

Ah, it's probably easier to just buy good running shoes and find places to run without worrying about the barefoot thing...

I also have fibro (great improvement going gluten free), it really really helps the symptoms if you keep active, but you really have to start slowly with exercise. I would keep walking briskly, increasing your pace slowly. If later you find walking not challenging enough and you still want to run, start very slowly. I started with 30 seconds of running followed by 4.5 minutes of walking, I do this interval 4 times. Every couple of weeks, I add 15-30 more seconds of running, but only when the previous workout feels relatively easy. I'm currently at 3 minutes running followed by 2 minutes walking, but it took me months to get here. Also, it takes time to find your pace. I find if I jog at 4.5, it is too slow and hard to maintain, 4.8 is too fast, but 4.7 is perfect. I plan on getting to where I can maintain 4.7 for 30 minutes and then work on increasing my pace. Make sure you warm up and cool down properly. And do not run every day starting out, your body will need to recover.

And also, I agree with others, get good shoes. It is so worth it, even for walking. If your feet are not happy it affects your whole body.

I am one of those who couldn't run....I can barely run now....but each day I have been doing a fast walk thing....and I have noticed I can run a little more each week! I think it just takes time and little baby steps! (unless of course you have medical issues)

I walk at 3.0-3.2 mph, I feel at this speed I am barely keeping up with the belt..lol. I could do 3.5, I don't know if having short legs is the culprit..haha probably not.
Seashell 84, my fibro symptoms are getting better. When I first started walking I did have a few flares, but now I feel better. I don't have alot of "active" pain, just keep the muscle soreness.
I will keep on walking, working my way up in speed. My legs really get to hurting, it may be the fibro.
Thanks so much for everyone's advice and help!
I can't wait to post pictures of my weight loss progress!

It took me a LONG time to get to 5k of running with couch to 5k...something like 6 months. I think I started with 30 seconds running and 4.5 mins walking too. Heck, start with 15 seconds and keep moving up slowly when you're comfortable with that. If it's just that you're huffing and puffing, do what you can do until you're comfortable and move up gradually. It's your run. Nobody can say where you should start except you. The important thing will be moving up gradually and being happy for yourself getting out there.

I believe there are bodies who are "made to run" and bodies not made to do other stuff (not depending on weight but body composition). For example it is not fun to run if you have big breasts or calfs.

a person's ability to run has to do with their aerobic capacity/endurance/ability to work at 70 - 85% heart rate for long periods of time and their strength/flexibility (help with power and injury prevention).

personally, it took me just under a year and a half to train my aerobic capacity and strength to run a half marathon last october and to get my 10k down to less than 55 minutes. i should mention that i was a HEAVY smoker for 12 years and morbidly obese, binge drinker when i started my 'cardio' journey....i don't know what got in me- i never had previous aspirations to run. it just kinda happened and now i love it. nothing says bad*ss like busting out a 10 or 15k before the crack of dawn...listen to good tunes and just one foot a head of the other.

....you have to work for it. ...hard. there are many ladies (and gents) that are balls to the wall with their training and that's what it takes to run that marathon or personal best 5k.

that said anyone can run, they just have to build their cardiac endurance and overall body strength to be able to maintain good form and avoid/prevent injuries.

to get good at anything or to progress we need to train, practice, challenge, be patient, and learn