#starting running

So my fitbit broke a while back and I haven’t gotten a replacement heart rate monitor.  So on my run today I was limited to the built in treadmill hand sensors.  There’s probably a lot of margin of error there.  Still at the relatively slow speed of 3.5 mph I was hitting somewhere around 150 bpm. So on the one hand, “woohoo getting aerobic exercise.”  On the other hand, “holy crap all my fitness is gone.  I used to have such a better heart rate.”  What it has pointed me to though is a mild need to take things slowly.  I’ve been comfortable jogging at 3.5 mph and was thinking about taking it up a notch.  I’m clearly not ready though.  So at least for the next week or so I’m going to keep to where I am and not push too hard.  Getting old means I need to actually pay attention to things like the pressure I’m putting on my heart.

Hey!  First of all, congrats on the weight loss!  Every bit helps, and I know it is a struggle when you get down to a close to healthy weight to get those extra pounds off.

For me, I've always been scared to run.  I've been told how high-impact it is on your knees, your feet/ankles can suffer greatly, and for females who have larger chests it is discomforting to run. That really scared me when I first started out so I took it easy.  I did bursts of running whenever I felt like it--about 10 to 15 seconds easily and would huff and puff for the remainder of the time I was out on the roads.

It's difficult but one way to build up to running is to do the C25K program.  Many of the people I follow first started following here on tumblr recommend it.  While I did not do it, I have started loosely following it after a year of running.  It comes highly recommended as a way to transition from walking to completely running a 5K (3.1 miles). 

My suggestion is to just get out there and do small bursts at a time of running.  You need to remember that you need to be comfortable enough to hold a conversation while running but not comfortable enough that you aren't exerting yourself.  And if you don't run with someone (I tend to not), being able to talk to yourself/sing along to your music can be a good indicator for starting off running as well.

Plenty of people will tell you different things, and even a doctor or trainer will tell you differently.  Heed the advice of a doctor as I don't know if you have medical conditions.  My advice is just from an average girl who went from being an overweight inactive graduate student to a girl losing weight, running, and bettering her lifestyle.