Ok, I tried this once before and got way to eager. I started moving quicker than designed. This time I will follow the guidelines.

If you are not familiar with a Couch to 5K, it is a plan to go from not running at all to running 5k (3.2 miles) in only 2 months. It is very doable and such a great feeling of accomplishment. I ran/walked a 5k in May and it was one of the most rewarding things I have done in many years.

Here is the link to the info.. If anyone is interested in training together just join in.

Cool Running :: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan

We will start on Monday, June 29.

Let's get ready to MOVE!!!!!!:tt2:

OK my two legged runners. I am out of the cast and in a walking boot. When the took the cast off I was amazed at the degree of muscle atophy. My right leg looks like my left legs little sister. The hair on my leg was about a half inch long. The skin was flaking. All in all - Gross.

I have been actually been walking today with a cane. The walkin boot isnt any smaller, but at least I can walk.

3 weeks for the walking boot.

Guess what????? I lost weight. 155 pounds. That is my all time lap band lowest!

Renewedhope. I havent exercised since March r/t ankle surgery. I am glad you are back in it, I look forward to runnin.

Renewed & Lyn... I'm so glad you are both back posting! I missed you both. I haven't had a lot of time lately to post, but am always reading every day or so, and I always look forward to activity here. Its my lifeline to remaining focused.

Renewed... I don't want to find a new nickname for you, just maybe a tapered down one - LOL, you and my DH are so alike!!! Your plan sounds good, just don't get too competitive with everything and you should be able to keep it sane!!!

Lyn... ohhh gross! I imagin your leg will rebound quickly once you're able to use it again. Your fitness level has been so amazing that it should bounce back fast. Congrats on the weight loss!

I have pretty much stalled out on my weight loss. I think this is as far as I'm going to get with my current exercise routine. I really don't want to change my eating at this point. I like the band where it is, loose enough to eat a wide variety of foods without too much difficulty, tight enough to save me when I binge eat. This seems to be my sweet spot. I also don't want to be ridiculously tight.

So I think if I want to get to the "normal" body fat/BMI level, I'm going to have to change things up a bit. I have to be able to do this at home, as I can't afford the time or $$ for a gym membership. I wanted to get a used universal gym, but turns out I don't have the space for one. The only place it will fit is in my basement, and the ceiling is too low for any of them I've seen. So I'll have to do it with free weights.

Anyone have a DVD that does strength training or something that I can do without a lot of equipment purchases? Send me the name of it, or a link for downloading if possible. I think this is what's going to get me the rest of the way.

I really want to hit that "Goal" weight/size/BMI/Body Fat% measurement this summer, 2 years post banding.

It's amazing... 2 years! Best decision I ever made, and a steady, healthy, amazing process!

Lyn, So sorry about your injury. you will bounce back quickly. I'm glad you are able to walk again.

Kathy, I started the P90x. Google it. It is very difficult and I really think it sent me into my nithingness. However, it is put out by beachbody and they have lts of different workouts. The one I have incorporates bands instead of weights. Actually you can use either, but the bands take up less speace and are more comfortable for me. The guy actualloy recommends doing the P90 workout first, but you know me. I jumped right to the P90x. I think they have one that is more geared to women as well. Anyway, google beachbody and they have lots of good workouts. Space is an issue for me too since we moved to the little trailer, and there is no gym within driving distance.

I had planned to go to the aerobics class, but we had an unexpected visitor who left the house at the time I was supposed to be there. It was a neighbor coming to welcome us and introduce herself. How sweet of her. I ran instead. Did 5K on 35.30. It was really hard tonight. I thinkl my legs are just fatigued. I am looking forward to my 2 day break, but it feels really good to be going again!!

Yall have a great evening!

I typed the previous post right after coming in from running and you can tell it. Look at all the typos! LOL!

Ok, is it just my computer or does this site look really weird?? I hope this is not permanent... it looks horrible.

Renewed... enjoying your days off? Thanks for the suggestion of the DVD... sounds hard! Ahhhh!

Carol... how's week 8 going?

Suzanne... where are you?

Lyn... how's walking?

Georgia... where are you?

It's beautiful here today, sunny, cool, and not humid. We're going to the park later and I'm going to get my run while DH walks with the kids.

Kathy - the site doew look really weird, looks like theyre doing some work on it maybe... I havent started week 8 yet between friends coming in from out of town and the evening rain, ive been a real slacker this week. thanks for checking on me though it helps to motivate me to run tonite if the weather holds so i can impress my friends. hope i can do the full 28 mins.

do any of you use a stopwatch? im thinki8ng of looking for an inexpensive one since the nike+ is not in the budget. im thinking that id like to use my own tunes for the longer runs... any suggestions to monitor my time/distance?

tc

Carol

Carol, at about week 7 I switched to my own music. I couldn't stand the podrunner stuff any longer. I also didn't have a Nike+ at the time. So I just created a running list of songs that were the same length as what I wanted to run. So, if I needed to run 28 min, I made sure my music would last that long, and not much longer. So when I hit the end, I stopped. Then as I began adding time, I would just remember which song I ended on to know how long I ran. Hope it helps. It won't give you speed, but will give you time. I could have used a watch, but I can't wear a watch... I drain batteries!

Carol~

I got a watch that you can track lap times and also set a time to run to. I bet you could find something that is reasonably priced.

The Nike+ is only $30 though. I haven't seen anything else that does the same/similar thing for cheaper.

Hey Guys!

Kathy - Thanks for asking about me. I am back to work after having surgery on my left foot. I'm in a surgical shoe for 2 more weeks, then hopefully tennis shoes. Doc said I can bike in 2 weeks, then run after 6. I hope I'll be up to it. Right now it hurts pretty bad, not sure how long it will take, but I'll get there.

Lyn - Glad to hear you've graduated to a walking cast. I was complaining after just 2 weeks in the surgical shoe.

Carol - way to go on your run!

Lacy - Wow, great run! Sounds like you are off to a great start.

Katie - hope you're feeling better.

I can't wait to start running again, I'm signed up for a 5k in October, so that should work out just about right if I have to do C25K all over again.

Note to self: Carol - do not run when stuck. The other day i learned this very valuable lesson. so with the friends visiting and the aborted attempt at running when i was stuck, i didnt run for a week. well 6 days, but close enough.

i did run tonite but the day started out rough with a tummy ache. got better enough to run... but mannnnn...was i slow. I managed to do the whole 28 mins, but got only a little and i mean a little farther than when i did the 25. gonna keep plugging away at it.

not sure if i'll be ready for that 5k mid july, but im gonna try.

tc all,

Carol

Hi!

I'm a newbie couch to 5k.

Actually, I'm a newbie to any excercise (prior to my lapband).

I want to run. I always have...but I felt too big to do so. Another thread got me motivated and tried for the first time last night. I did it! (Not a long way....but some! LOL)

And guess what I just registered for....a 5k in July.

Reality: I'll be walking most of it....but I WILL run some of it!

Wish me luck in my training.

-Malissa

Malissa - Welcome and congrats on signing up for the 5k. Sounds like you are on the right track!

Carol - Don't worry, you will be ready for the 5k. I was sure I wouldn't be ready for mine and I ended up running it in 35:33 (I finally saw my official time). Then less than a week later, I ran one in 32 mins!

I can't wait to start running again. I already feel like a marshmallow.

Carol, no self doubt allowed... you will do it!!!

Malissa... welcome! Congrats on making the choice and doing your first run. If you haven't downloaded the podcast and outline, go ahead. Even if you don't use the music offered, the outline really helped me keep progressing. It tells you exactly how long to run and walk each week to progress. Here's the link. The first is to download the podcasts. The second is to download the outline.

Podrunner: Intervals - Free Workout Music for 5K Training

First Day 2 5K - Printable Outline

Suzanne... hope the pain goes away soon. Don't worry about the marshmellow matter... once you're back on your feet, it will "burn" away pretty quick!

I'm looking forward to a nice run tonight after work. Looks like the rain's going to clear up soon!

Malissa, wow i planned to come here and offer my support too. Congrats on making the decision to get healthy and using running to do it. Im right there with you. The ppl on this site are wonderful as you can see from the support youve been given already! I use several of them for guidance and support all the time.

But....then i saw that you registered for a 5k in July and that you live in FL... Im in FL too. I wonder if we're doing the same 5k. and if you live near me? Im in south FL (boynton bch to be exact). Let me know if you live near me. Im only a few weeks ahead of you if you decide to do the C25K program that Kathy posted. I took extra time on several of the weeks for the extra conditioning. let me know if you want to chat. you can contact me here or if you feel comfortable i can give you other ways to contact me as well.

Kathy and Suzanne, thanks for the support! I'm definitely using your examples for inspiration as i get closer to this race!

tc,

Carol