It's never too late to start! Or start again, in my case.

I'm not new to this forum, but long absent. Getting up nice and early for W8R1 tomorrow. I think I did my first 5k race in 2007, burned out on running after my second half-marathon in 2009. But I'm back! A little older and much heavier, but back at it anyway. Haven't lost more than a pound or two (literally) since I started back up, but that's life. I'm sure if I returned to strict calorie counting and cardio + resistance 6 days a week the weight would start to come off again, but I learned the hard way that is not sustainable and rebound is a b****! I'm running an 8k with my sister in late April, I've done the race a few times before and it's always a great day of fun. My goal is to finish and have a good time.

Has anyone ever had to take a week off from the program? And if so how was it when you went back? Did you have to go back a "level"?

I've been sick for the last week and was suppose to start W2 this week, (luckily I'm not too far into it yet) but just wondering if taking a week off for various reasons really effected your progress when you returned.

I don't know if I've ever taken a full week off while doing the program, but I've definitely had to "reschedule" runs because of sickness or whatever. I just try to pick up where I left off, and back off a little if I need to. Listen to your body, as long as you're moving and getting back on track that's what matters!

I've taken a week off before (two years ago, not this time) and I went ahead and tried the next day I was scheduled for and figured I could walk a little more if needed but I really didn't notice the break once I got out there.

On an unrelated subject, my run tonight SUCKED! I felt like I was dragging lead weights around instead of legs. I have no idea what the problem was but I ended up walking almost half of the time. Apparently I'll be repeating a day on Friday.

W7D1 done yesterday!

Hi everyone! I'm on my second attempt at c25k. I started it this summer and finished w7d3. Then, work started again and I got my back-to-school cold. After that, I just had a hard time balancing life and work and stopped running. The bummer is I was rocking my weight loss. I had lost about 40 pounds since June of last year. When I stopped running, that stopped, too and I've been stuck in the 150s for months. I restarted c25k in January, from the beginning. I got sick again after week 5, and ended up taking two weeks off. I was worried I'd have to start over again, but I gave week 5 another go. It was hard, so I did it again before moving on. Tonight, I finished w6d3. I'm almost to where I stopped before! I haven't seen the scale start moving again, but I haven't been as careful with my calories either (darn girl scout cookies!). I got a crazy idea to combine c25k with the 30 day shred (another program I have done before..ouch!!). I'm trying to alternate running with shredding with one day of rest a week. Anything to get out of this plateau. Sorry for the long intro--glad to have others along for the ride with me!

Hi TXteacher2008! I'm doing c25k and 30day shred too. I do c25k on monday-wednesday-friday and 30day shred 5 days a week (Mon -> Fri) It's a bit hard to do all but I love it both
W7D2 done today

W1R1 2/1/12 1.75 mi, 16:15 min/mi, 28:30 mins incl. 8 mins running
W1R2 2/4/12 1.69 mi, 17:47 min/mi, 29:42 mins incl. 8 mins running
W1R3 2/6/12 1.98 mi, 18:22 min/mi, 36:07 mins incl. 8 mins running
W2R1 2/9/12 1.85 mi, 17:43 min/mi, 32:39 mins incl. 9 mins running
W2R2 2/11/12 1.87 mi, 18:07 min/mi, 33:51 mins incl. 9 mins running
W2R3 2/15/12 1.74 mi, 18:43 min/mi, 32:35 mins inc. 9 mins running
W3R1 2/18/12 2.20 mi, 18:20 min/mi, 40:07 mins incl. 9 mins running
W3R2 2/22/12 1.41 mi, 19:38 min/mi, 27:18 mins inc. 9 mins running
W3R3 2/26/12 1.59 mi, 17.37 min/mi, 27:52 mins incl. 9 mins running
2/27/12 - 4.67 mi bike ride (incl 1.19 mi of casual ride around the block with dogs)
W4R1 2/29/12 1.68 mi, 18.32 min/mi, 31:01 mins incl. 16 mins running
W4R2 3/3/12 1.73 mi, 18.32 min/mi, 31:40 mins incl. 16 mins running
3/3/12 - 8.99 mi bike ride
W4R3 3/5/12 1.49 mi, 18.36 min/mi, 27:44 mins incl. 16 mins running
3/5/12 1.14 mi bike ride (casual ride around the block with dogs)
W5R1 3/7/12 1.87 mi, 17:59 min/mi, 33:28 mins incl. 15 mins running
3/11/12 6.47 mi bike ride (inc. .76 casual ride around the block with dogs)
W5R2 3/12/12 1.66 mi, 19:21 min/mi, 32:01 mins incl. 16 mins running
W5R3 3/17/12 1.61 mi, 19:32 min/mi, 30:80 mins incl. 20 mins running *

My W5R3 is approximate. 5 minutes into the run I got a call that a family member needed to be picked up due to car trouble. I paused the program, went and picked them up, then came right back (about 15 minutes) and unpaused it and immediately started running. During the first 5 minutes of running I didn't stop at all. During the second 15 minutes of running, I stopped once for about 35 seconds and walked once for about 45 seconds. All in all i considered it a huge success!!

Sorry for my running tally, I was trying to get everything organized so I can keep a log from now on.

I also ordered the 30 Day Shred dvd which is being delivered in the morning. I am determined to lose some weight before my vacation on April 6.

I look forward to doing W6D1 tonight and we are going bike riding on a 15 mile trail tomorrow and I will start 30 day shred as well... this IS going to happen!!!

I am new to the forum. Not to trying to lose weight; I've been battling that my whole life! I hate exercise. I'm bad at it, and I always feel tight in my chest and neck... I just had an epiphany after reading on this forum that it's panic/anxiety!

In any event, I lost 40 lbs a few years ago but have gained 12 back. I eat 1200-1300 calories a day, so I realize I have to add exercise. I have always had this fantasy of running, even though I feel like I will die when I do it. It is so hard! I was pretty proud I actually made it through all of week 1 day 1. In fact, I walked another quarter mile when I finished!

I really did think I would die at about 20 minutes. I slowed down my walk to 2.4-2.6 mph, and slowed down my jog to 3.7 from 4.0. Jog, ha. More like a bouncy non-rhythmic walk! I cannot IMAGINE jogging more than 60 seconds. I might be on week 1 for a month!

I'm using the treadmill, btw. No way I'm doing this in public! I stopped smoking 1/1, and I do think this is easier than the *1* time I tried week 1 day 1 before. I'll probably check back a lot for support because I honestly can't imagine a time this won't feel awful!

At least 1 started it!

pgm2012, congratulation on getting started!!!!! You can do it!!! Yes, I'm sure, you can do this program and you will be amazed at your progress
Follow the program, do rest days, stretch, have a good pair of shoes and go!
hugs

Pgm2012, I'm doing it on the treadmill too. I was also like you--running was always impossible for me. I began trying to get out of it in gym when I was in middle school, and I never could do it. I remember getting left in the dust on our "20 minute run" in gym. I actually threw up the one time I really pushed myself, and it happened again when I joined a gym with a friend a few years ago. The trainer was giving us our free initial consult, and he had us do a few warm up laps with him, and I threw up. In front of the whole gym. After two laps on a short track. I'm telling you these horrible stories to let you know that coming from that, I actually kind of enjoy my runs with c25k. They're hard, but they increase gradually, and it has been a major confidence boost. Running used to cause me physical and psychological pain. Now, I look forward to it. Congrats on quitting smoking, too!

Berry--I am alternating 30ds and c25k. I'm jello after 30ds. I can't imagine running, too. I really love what 30ds does for me, but I HATE doing it:-). Tonight is 30ds...trying to get the motivation to go get it over with. Curse you, Jillian.

I'm doing 30DS in the early morning, before my kids wake up, and run in the afternoon. An hour or two after 30DS I no longer feel the tiredness of the 30DS so in the afternoon I'm fresh again.

I'm doing W2W3 and after I do that I'm a little nervous to start week 3 :/ I understand now why its such a mental game. Good luck everyone with your runs!

Berry, that's a good idea. I may do that once school gets out for summer. Right now, I only have workout time in the evenings. I will keep alternating for now.