Its so true... a lot of people at my job are critical of my progress... you know how it is.. people who can't lose weight themselves have lots of time to talk negative about your own program... they say "oh you arent going to make any progress doing some silly interval running thing that you are bound to fail at" but in my head all I think is well, 3 months ago I did zero exercise and spent all of my free time on the couch... so

...My friend talked me into this. I am trying desperately to come into this with a good attitude, but running the mile in gym bring back sweaty, out-of-breath, painful memories.

I start W1W1 tomorrow. Wish me luck.

ETA: I just looked outside and there's snow everywhere. If the roads aren't covered, or complete slush, I'll do W1W1 tomorrow.

@essbee I have the same problem. I start jogging, then I start wheezing, and my chest tightens up, my back starts to ache, I get nausiated, then I get panicked because my body is doing something I'm not used to and that's uncomfortable. It really sucks.

I still haven't started this, yet I keep coming back... Question for those of you that have completed this: When does it get easy? Or easier? While I didn't start this, I did push myself to do a little jogging today and I just start panicking when my body revolts and my chest gets tight, I get nauseous, etc., etc. Needless to say, I'm having trouble working up the motivation and courage to truly work at this.

Another question: Do you run alone or with a friend? Which do you find easier? I have a friend willing to do it with me, but I kind of want to do it solo because of the podcast I downloaded to help with the cues and because I'm afraid of failing even though I know my friend is likely in as bad of shape as I am. What happens if one of us keeps going while the other lags behind, etc. You don't want to hold someone back and you don't want them to hold you back. So...I'm just curious how this worked for all of you guys. Also, do you carry a water bottle and sip on it while you walk or just wait until you're finished? I mean it's only a 30 minute walk/run.

essbee-

When does it get easy? Or easier? To my way of thinking, no work out should ever be easy because you are always pushing for more. While it doesn't get easy I can do more everyday. It's about being able to be better. I am also doing turbofire on my days off from the running and it took about two weeks for me to be able to do the modified version without wanting to cry.

While I didn't start this, I did push myself to do a little jogging today and I just start panicking The beauty of this program is that everyone can walk, right? and you only have to jog for a minute. IF you can't jog for a minute don't stress, just walk faster for a minute and work up to jogging in week two or three. You can modify whatever you want however you need to. As for my week one, I walked the whole time and week two I'm starting to jog for a minute at a time.

Do you run alone or with a friend? Which do you find easier? I prefer to do it alone, since I am a self motivator. Having a friend along can be tricky, especially if they quit.. It might make you feel like quitting too. That said, my roommate does come with me sometimes. It's great having someone to talk to as it makes time go by faster, but when she says she's going to go and then backs out it is SO much harder to talk myself into still going. Group mentality and all that.

Also, do you carry a water bottle and sip on it while you walk or just wait until you're finished? Somehow in my head water = oxygen. So when I'm super out of breath I drink water. I carry it with me.. I know it's all in my head but for some reason it helps.

Bottom line- Try it out! you have nothing to lose.. Other than weight of course

I prefer to run alone. Like Kay7jay said, group thinking... if the other person backs out, its easier to say oh gosh I'm not gonna go either then I'll just go tomorrow... and if the other person is going at a different pace than you are it can be hard as well. Also, it can be distracting, if the other person is in better shape maybe they aren't puffing and wheezing as much as you are and then they wanna get chatty while your running... I think some people just don't understand how hard it is.... this is my conversation while I'm doing this...

oh... my... god... oh... my... god....one.. more... minute.... al..most... there.... i .. think.. i'm... going.... to... puke.... ohhh my god... ten... more... seconds... my... legs... are... .killing... me.....

lol... sometimes my husband will ride his bike while I'm doing it and he will do laps around the block and every time he passes me will yell out something silly... and sometimes when I'm almost done he brings out a bottle of water and comes to meet me and pretends I'm crossing the finish line of a huge race lol...

This is NOT easy. It's not meant to be easy. If it were easy, it wouldn't do you any good. Its easy to sit on the sofa and chill out. It's NOT easy to press yourself to workout when you are out of shape. Thats the point.

This program doesn't really get easier because every week it gets harder. The first week when I ran 1 minute 8x, I really didn't run, I kind of lurched lol... it was more than a fast walk but I wouldn't really consider it a jog either.. and at the end, I was doubled over just waiting to puke and then I didn't and then after a little while I started to cool down and I was fine.. more than fine... I felt like I lost 20 lbs in that one run.. obviously I didn't but I felt like I could do ANYTHING. If I went back and did week 1 now, I would be able to do it much better, longer, faster than I did 4 weeks ago.

And you know what, I feel that way after every single run. Each week it gets harder and harder and each week I feel even more amazed and a huge sense of accomplishment that I am able to do them... and every single run I wheeze, I turn bright red in the face, I feel like I am going to throw up...

I don't take any water with me, I drink it all when I am finished...

Wow, you both have very good tips. Thanks a bunch! I guess I didn't necessarily mean "easy," but more when it's not going to be such a shock to the body. I'm not looking to do this to lose weight-that's where my diet and normal workouts come into play-but rather I'm looking to build up my stamina and hopefully make it to actually running even just a single mile flat out. I think it just kind of scares me because of the sick feeling I get afterwards and sometimes even while I'm doing it. Guess I'm just a big chicken. :/ I attended a boarding school for two years in high school and we were made to run a mile in 12 minutes. Well...I never could make that 12 minute mile even between jogging and running, but I did try and I felt so sick during and after that I think I kind of lapse back into that. I really, really want this though. I just have to build up the courage to do it I think. Part of me does want a buddy to do it with if only for the moral support, but at the same time as you've both pointed out, doing it with someone makes it difficult for numerous reasons. Going to have to figure out something that will work in getting me motivated for this.

Thank you both again and best of luck to you as you continue!

I was just more concerned with possibly gaining... I guess I better wait.

I just did W1W1 and I'm so surprised I finished it! I had a question though, did anyone do the workouts more than three times a week or did they stick to the set plan? Would it be too much to do it 4 times a week? I do weight training three times a week and I'm not sure if I should use one day as a rest day or a running day :/

Running does not make a person gain weight. Exercise in general does not make a person gain weight. Eating more calories than the body needs or can burn makes a person gain weight. I started the C25K January 23, 2012. I eat 1200 calories on non running days and 1300 on running days. Since January 23, I've lost 17lbs. There are days when the day after my running days there is maybe a half pound gain on the scale, but when your muscles are pushed they often retain some water for a day or two. The small increase I see is always gone, often with some addition weight the following day. In 6 weeks I have not seen any type of actual gain.

As a side note, running is also not going to cause you to bulk up.

Monday was my first day of 2 10-minute runs. It was 5 min warm up, 10 minute run, 5 min walk, 10 min run, 5 minute cool down. It went awesome! I planned to run slower because the 10 min runs were a little intimidating but I ended up covering more ground that I did last week so apparently I didn't slow down like I thought I had.

Tonight is almost the same run, just a 3 min walk in between the 2 10-min runs so it doesn't make me as nervous. I felt like I recovered fairly quickly Monday from the first run. The biggest change tonight is I wit have to wear 10 layers of clothes to keep from freezing. I'm actually hoping for cropped pants and a shirt sleeved tee-shirt!

new to C25k and jumping in on this conversation!! Just started this program after just following a pre-set program on my treadmil for the last month or so. I finished W1D2 today and have enjoyed it so far, I know it will get harder next week. I was curious for those who are doing this program, do you do any other type of cardio on your "off/break" days?

Started today !!! Using the C25k smart phone app! As seditary as I'v been the past 4 years I was pleasantly surprised I made it through !

I tried this a few yrs ago and didn't make it past day 6ish. It got hard for me. This time I've decided if it gets to hard I'll just stick with the last day that wasn't so hard until I can move on.

Also I have custom made orthotics for my feet but running and lots of walking cause lots of pain especially in my left foot. Anyone lse have this issue?
What do you do for it ?

Oh and how often should you take a break day during the program ?

As the weeks go on, it does get hard...but if you go at a pace you can manage, the weeks will fly by.

I don't have any tips for the foot pain. I would definitely make sure you are stretching really well and if it becomes an issue, maybe hold of on the running for a few extra days. I run every other day, the last two weeks, I've taken two days off before I do the longest run of the week which seems to help give me an extra boost for the longer runs. But really it's an individual thing, although definitely put one day of non-running in between. You may feel great the next day and be itching to get back out there, but your muscles and joints need the day break while you are building up your strength and endurance.

Generally the only thing I do on my non-running days is walk my dog...and that is definitely not a cardio workout I usually have other busy work to do, cleaning, errands, etc. so I'm not inactive those days, but no set exercise (I'm still a work in progress)

Thanks amanda ! I'm already feeling the muscle aches from day 1 I think I will need tomorrow off lol... I'll work out with BOB on kinect lol