I have a genetic anomaly that I share with my siblings - our knees are all a bit messed up - even my super skinny sister. Both my older and younger sister jog and I'd like to be able to do that some day.

What do you think a reasonable weight is to start jogging? If you've been in the 300's (or even if you haven't) did you have a weight where you felt like you couldn't jog and when did that change?

I'd like to do the couch to 5k project and just looking forward to when I might start it. I tried jogging a few steps yesterday but it feels awkward and I got the distinct impression my knees would not benefit. I'm going to ask my doctor about it next week when I go in for my routine blood draws (for monitoring my T3/T4 levels) but I'd really like to hear others experiences.

I'd say you should consult an orthopedist or sports doctor about this. It may be that you should not jog at all if you have knee problems. I wouldn't try it without consulting a medical professional, and it should be one who knows about sports.

Jay

Normally I'd say go for it, but if you have knee issues already you want to be really slow and careful so that you can become a jogger (runner) without injury and be able to keep going.

What do you do for exercise now? How far are you able to walk at one time? I didn't start the Couch to 5K program until I could walk an hour a day, just in case.

Definitely get your doctor's opinion.

I would definitely get a doc's okay before starting jogging. I run 3 miles 3x per week. For me, heavier was harder, a lot harder.
I found it more hard with the fat flopping around than my knees, though (sorry if that's TMI).
If the doc clears you, get a good pair of compression shorts - or bike shorts in a pinch, and a superior high impact sports bra. Those things made all the difference in running comfort for me (plus shoes, of course).

Oh yeah I will definitely ask the doctor before I actually do anything - I'm suppoised to do everything in my power to avoid stairs until further notice so jogging any time soon is out of the quesition without a doctor's ok. The couple steps I "jogged" the other day were just to see what it felt like because I was curious. I literally jogged like 5 steps.

I guess what I was trying to ask was more "what's normal" for jogging weight-wise? Is it just us knee gimps that have trouble jogging at a certain weight? Like I imagine someone at 400lbs is probably not jogging, but maybe I'm wrong.

I can walk an hour now - it was just over the last two weeks that my back and knees seem fine with a lot of walking. I have a great pair of Brooks shoes that I use just for my walks - they are my first pair of exercise shoes and they make me want to run, they are that comfortable. I think that's what brought all this on, heh.

I'm shorter than you are, and my knee problems are pretty minor. I try to jog for a minute or so two or three times during brisk walks. I strongly echo the talk to your doctor.

What I found is that at about 225 my knees pretty much stopped hurting when I went up and down stairs. I didnt start jogging until that happened. (although I have minimal aspirations to be a regular jogger...I'd like to extend my jogging episodes to about two minutes.)

Thanks Pandora - I was guessing that by Onederland jogging might be a possibility (if Doc oks it) but its nice to know you saw a change at 225.

I don't know if I want to be a jogger either, but i want to be able to try it out someday.

This is just me, but I thought I'd chime in.

I have always been a little knock-kneed and when I was a teen I was bitten by a brown recluse behind and just below my right knee and it destroyed a lot of the muscle in that calf. So I tend to favor that leg just a bit, which throws off my stride and makes my knee & hip sore if I push too hard. I worry a lot about injuring my knees because of that.

So once I was under 220 I started adding 4-5 minutes of a pretty gentle jog to my 35-40 minute treadmill workout. I only do it after I've completely warmed up and I build up to it. After a week I increased it to 8-10 minutes during a 45-50 minute workout. I'm probably going to keep it there until I get down to about 205 or so.

I will keep at it in small increments. I really really do not want to injure my knees. My father had a knee replacement and it was very hard on him.

So I say ditto on the doc & take it slow.

~Strong

Agree!

I still have a hard time jogging at 210 lbs. I can't jog ( if you can even call it that. I go about 4.0 on a treadmill ) for more than 6 minutes.

I started to jog at around 225lbs too...I've been working my way up to longer times and when I get where I want to be on time then I'll start upping my speed.

I can not bring myself to jog in front of people so I do it on my treadmill...I have too many things flapping lol

I think everyone is different when it comes to jogging. I'm just starting to jog. I do 4mph on the treadmill and when I walk outside I walk fast and jog slowly intermittently. It's a really sad slow jog that my son laughs at. I'm trying to get better at it. I read somewhere that your body needs to almost learn how to do it again. After being heavy for so long and not using those muscles it feels very awkward. I worry about my knees too, so I'm taking it slow. Definitely go with your Dr.'s advice.

Have you considered race walking?

You can burn just as many calories as jogging but without the damage to your knees.
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/racewalking/index.html

I tend to hyper extend at the knee & this was a problem when I tried race walking some years ago (weighing much less than I do now). But I think if impact is the concern then it is a terrific alternative.

Of course talk to the doc...

But I just started C25K about 3 weeks ago at 260. I struggle a little but because I am out of shape not because my weight is too much. But, everyone id different!