Hi everyone,

this is our fifth week in the Couch to 5K program. This is designed to be a 9 week program, but you can repeat weeks (as I will be doing) until you are comfortable moving on. However, you are not supposed to skip weeks.

It has been strongly suggested by trainers and runners alike to NOT run on consecutive days.

More information can be found here: Cool Running :: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan

Attached are the first thru fifth weeks in detail

Anyone is free to join, no matter where we are!!

This is the place to check in and support with each other and see how it is going.

What week are you doing?

How is it going for you? Is it too difficult / too easy?

Any comments??

Good luck everyone!

Feeling a little glum because despite running and spinning I haven't lost any weight in over 2 weeks. I know patience, muscle tone etc. but it is getting me down anyway. I have an appointment for another fill on Friday and I am hoping it will get my portions in control. This will be my third fill - have had one basically every 4 weeks since 6 weeks after surgery.

Karen,

dont feel down on yourself. reevaluate everything. what are you eating (ahem - i know someone *not me of course * who has eaten garbage and works their tail off so I ... i mean she ... wont gain)... if your eating is good, check measurements ...

please dont be hard on yourself no matter what the situation cause that just leads to destructive behavior ... you can do this ... !!!!

my doc checks me every 4 weeks too to see how im doing and see if i need a fill. i too had one 6 weeks after surgery and then every 4 weeks 2 so far.

I try and remember this is all about long term. As an overeater im soo used to instant gratifaction and exercise and eating right are not always instant gratifaction.

thanks guys! I will try to keep positive. I guess I got spoiled for the first couple of months out. It just seems odd that the wl slows down when I totally upped the exercise/cardio. NOT very motivating. I just keep hoping that I will get a big loss soon and it will all make sense!

Yeah my loss has REALLY slowed to and im eating right and exercising like a mad man.

But its all good for you!! i got my 4 week doc weigh in tomorrow.

I forgot to add also, my doc and I agree that working out and not losing weight is much less shocking to the body that not working out and losing weight very fast. Trust me, I lost most of my weight in the very beginning (30 or so lbs), right after the surgery, and she's not at all displeased with what I'm doing now. She's actually quite happy. We both agree that it is so much more normal than my lifestyle prior to the band!

yeah shes right! i was watching the biggest loser the other night (i dont really like it, too much crying)

And this one guy was sooooooooooo dissapointed with ONLY losing 6 pounds in a week....thats insane!

Feeling a little glum because despite running and spinning I haven't lost any weight in over 2 weeks. I know patience, muscle tone etc. but it is getting me down anyway. I have an appointment for another fill on Friday and I am hoping it will get my portions in control. This will be my third fill - have had one basically every 4 weeks since 6 weeks after surgery.

Yikes- hang in there- I went through a period where my weight was stable for 2-3 weeks then I lost in big bursts; I still do that now- 1-2 lbs a week (no lbs around TOM) and then all of a sudden a week of 4-5 lbs.

I try and remember this is all about long term. As an overeater im soo used to instant gratifaction and exercise and eating right are not always instant gratifaction.

instant gratification is great if you can get it! (I'm that way too) - it is frustrating cause I'm ready to be thin NOW!

thanks guys! I will try to keep positive. I guess I got spoiled for the first couple of months out. It just seems odd that the wl slows down when I totally upped the exercise/cardio. NOT very motivating. I just keep hoping that I will get a big loss soon and it will all make sense!

You can do it!

did week 1 day 2 today- thanks for yall's speed tips - I went up on my walk to 3.8 and run to 4.1-4.3 and didn't die so all seems good! I definitely am going to have to repeat week 1; possibly 1 or 2 times before moving on- my heart rate is going sky high on the last 2 runs

what is your heart rate hitting? i know for me a young foxy 32 year old...120-150 is good.. I should not be hitting my than 160.

My walks are now hitting about 120 and my runs about 145 or so. It keeps getting lower all the time though:)

Now when my wife shows me her latest weight loss area it hits 180!

Your wife would be happy to know she can send your heart racing. I'm getting into the 160's. It's ok my maximum is 181 and its never gotten that high; that's why I'm going to do this at least one more time before going to week 2. Same thing happened with me when I started the eliptical. Ce la vie

o yeah. she still sends my heart racing all the time after 10 yrs.

Karen, I feel for you! I haven't been losing for a bit now, I think 4 pounds total last month, but I'll take it. Like you said, it's just frustrating when you add in the exercise, and are eating appropriately, and the scale does not want to BUDGE. I'm just hoping that it will surprise me one day and drop big time. If not, we just need to remember to focus, that we are doing a good thing and getting healthy, right?

By the way, Did week 4 workout 1 last night. I SURVIVED. It felt good (once I was done!) I sneaked a peak ahead to Week 9, big mistake. I'm wicked scared. One long 20 minute, 2 mile run. Ouch. We'll be ready! Oops, sorry for rambling.

Cindy

Hi did week 5 run one. Each run this week is different. Its moving a little too fast this way. I am going to repeat this run at least one more time. It is 3 five min runs with 3 min walks in between. The last 5 minutes was tough! I went away this weekend and ate crap and drank too much wine. So today I am on a liquid only diet to break the crap cycle. So far so good. I have horrible belly pains-I think my body is less able to tolerate crap!!!! Have a happy run!!!!

completed week 4 workout 1. was a bit scared, but I slowed it down like ljm said. I ran 4.5 until the last 5min run and I ran that at 6.0 and it felt so good! Ofcourse, I was purple and out of breath. Running at 4.5 is pretty easy, I felt like i could go and go and go. so I think I'll stick with 4.5 this week with a zero incline to let me shins get more rest. They are still hurting!

Good job everyone. I peeked at week 5, and OH MY GOODNESS, I don't know if I will be able to do it, but i didn't think i could run 5 minutes either. so we shall see.

Hi did week 5 run one. Each run this week is different. Its moving a little too fast this way. I am going to repeat this run at least one more time. It is 3 five min runs with 3 min walks in between. The last 5 minutes was tough! I went away this weekend and ate crap and drank too much wine. So today I am on a liquid only diet to break the crap cycle. So far so good. I have horrible belly pains-I think my body is less able to tolerate crap!!!! Have a happy run!!!!

Way to go go with week 5!

Dont worry about the weekend we all do that stupid stuff. the important thing is you are not giving up!!!! Keep going. Cant change what happened at the weekend. I need the insperation!

THanks again guys. I emailed my food log to the nutritionist last week, and then had a phone appt with her. SHe said I am making good choices probably just need a fill.

Losin - I am totally retarded with the measuring tape so I am never able to get consistent measures of myself. I do know that I have lost a lot of inches in the past 3 months since I barely have anything left that I can wear.

I can't decide if I should try week 5 or stay with week 4 for another week. I guess I will see how I am feeling tomorrow!