C25k

codyc1ark

Anyone using this or have used this method?

http://www.c25k.com/

Would like to hear about your experience or thoughts. TIA.

tonyb

Didn't read the whole thing, but enough to know what they offer is common general knowledge......for a price.

Bad fats, good fats, whole grains, good oils, bad oils, metabolizing foods, cutting sugar and processed foods out, etc. All common knowledge stuff really. Couple of truths that really need to be addressed if weight loss is the goal and that's eating habits, and some exercise.

Exercise doesn't mean you have to hit the gym 4 times a week, but also doesn't mean you can sit on the couch all day and lose weight either. Exercise can be as simple as gardening, washing the car, walking the dog, etc.

Eating habits, lots of truth here. Sugar is the main culprit followed by whole grains. You'd be surprised how much sugar is in supposedly healthy foods. This is a conundrum to me because I don't get how food makers are allowed to sell or label stuff as healthy then add sugar and other processed foods into it. We as a society keep pushing healthy eating, yet allow sugar to be added to everything, even milk. Just goes to show the power of big food lobbyists.

Inflammation, is another. This is the basic cause of many other health problems.....and weight gain too which both in and of itself can foster many other side ill effects. I would say the video under the 5 foods to never eat pretty much nailed it. Plus the suggestions for metabolizing foods was also good. Again though, common general knowledge available for free, so what exactly are you paying for?

codyc1ark

I'm confused on what I'm buying? I guess what I was wondering was that if anyone had tried this program. I'm midway through week three and I'm eating it up. It feels great to be running again. I have a goal 5k time and an eye on an event near me mid-October, should be a blast. I'm actually exceeding my goals thus far, which I'm surprised by! I thought it would be harder to find the motivation and time to fit this in, but I get home from work chomping at the bit to get out.

All in all, it's going very well. As far as buying anything, new running shoes, check, Ultrafit 3000a's, check. C25k free app, check. Being able to run three miles? Not yet, but I'm working on that!

tonyb

Maybe I'm confused too. :biggrin: I saw a price for the program but wasn't exactly sure what it is they are selling. Running, eating healthy, didn't see any new concepts there worthy of spending a dollar. Unless you want someone to structure everything for you I guess but in the end it's your own will power that will determine success or failure.

codyc1ark

I see! I've been changing eating habits over the last year or so. I couldn't tell you the last time I had fast food. The program is designed to train you to run a 5k in nine weeks. In hoping to run this one, assuming I keep it up. http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/carolina_hot_air_balloon_fest_statesville_nc_usa.html

Anyway, that's my goal right now.

codyc1ark

Week three complete! Total distance running = 13.46 miles. Total with warmup/cool down = 19.18mi. Today went very well, improving every workout. Next week looks tough, 1/4mi run; 1/8mi walk; 1/2mi run; 1/4mi walk, repeat. :eek:

codyc1ark

Week four done! I haven't looked at what I'll be doing for week five, but lookout, here I come! :twisted:

cnh

This idea that carbohydrates are the culprit is a little misplaced. It's just portions. I spent a year in China eating Chinese. And that meant rice as a staple every day. I lost 35 lbs in that year and I never stopped to consider how much RICE I was eating? And the Chinese who were bulking up were those who were adopting American eating practices!

On my first trip to China in my early 30s, I ate about a pound of rice a day and still lost almost 15-20 pounds during that year? I was actually underweight and had to bulk up a little on my return to the U.S.

But I would agree, SUGAR. Get rid of as much of that as possible, and drink WATER (no cals there). Portion control and some exercise and you'll be fine. Now I should take my own advice because I'm up 25lbs+

As far as running? Once you get into your 50s or so. That's a pretty BAD idea because it is not good for your joints, will wreck your knees if you still have fully working ones and tear up your back. Low impact, cycling, fast walking, and various ski-motion machines are your best bet.

The PROBLEM here is metabolic. As you age you become more and more sedentary, the metabolism becomes an expert at SLOWING itself down so that even if you DIET the body will make you SUFFER for it and cause weight loss to SLOWWWW DOWWWNNNN! What you lost in a week as a 20 or 30 year old takes a MONTH! What can you do? Thirty minutes of brisk aerobic EVERY DAY-or more, at least six days, if not seven a week. DON'T let that AGING body REST or it will NOT BURN any fat! The aging body is your "enemy". Well, at least it is not a friend because it will CHEAT with every chance it gets and cling to that FAT like a miser to his gold! lol

Without revving the "body", making it WORK. Diet alone will frustrate the hell out of you and send you running for the nearest cheese cake once you get to your "sticking point". Which will be every two weeks or so! How depressing!

Weight training? They say muscle burns more than fat! But I can tell you that unless you're a world class power lifter or body builder who is in the gym for hours upon hours every week. A few hours a week in the gym with free weights will only slow down your ability to gain weight, not take the weight you already have around your waist off. Anaerobic exercise is not enough to jump start that lazy A$$ of a body you have! But it may keep you from going from overweight to obese!

cnh

tonyb

codyc1ark wrote: »

I see! I've been changing eating habits over the last year or so. I couldn't tell you the last time I had fast food. The program is designed to train you to run a 5k in nine weeks. In hoping to run this one, assuming I keep it up. http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/carolina_hot_air_balloon_fest_statesville_nc_usa.html

Anyway, that's my goal right now.

Ok, gotcha man. Training to run 5k is another animal than just trying to drop some added pounds. I'll go along with CNH but also add that all carbs are not created equal in how your body handles them. Cutting out the fast food, excellent choice there. In my mind, I have 3 basics for cutting the pounds. Portion control, wholesome foods....not processed junk, and a bit of exercise. Not a mind blowing concept, been around for ages, but it works for most who don't have medical conditions to deal with. I probably should add a fourth.......get as much sugar out of your diet as possible. If you can cut your sugar intake in half even, you'd notice a difference in just a couple days.

codyc1ark

Week five was a breeze, although I was a bit dissipointed with my day three run pace, but it was the first time in over ten years that I had ran two miles without stopping. I really kicked it up today for week six day one, I'm coming around turn three and I can see that checkered down the stretch!

On a side note... What should I reward myself when I complete my first 5k, and DONT say a Porsche!

cfrizz

Excellent post and right on the money. Aging sucks as far as losing weight goes. Your body fights you every step of the way and unless you can live in the gym it's hard to keep your metabolism up to not get stuck after losing a few pounds. But you just keep trying since any exercise you do is good for you.

cnh wrote: »

This idea that carbohydrates are the culprit is a little misplaced. It's just portions. I spent a year in China eating Chinese. And that meant rice as a staple every day. I lost 35 lbs in that year and I never stopped to consider how much RICE I was eating? And the Chinese who were bulking up were those who were adopting American eating practices!

On my first trip to China in my early 30s, I ate about a pound of rice a day and still lost almost 15-20 pounds during that year? I was actually underweight and had to bulk up a little on my return to the U.S.

But I would agree, SUGAR. Get rid of as much of that as possible, and drink WATER (no cals there). Portion control and some exercise and you'll be fine. Now I should take my own advice because I'm up 25lbs+

As far as running? Once you get into your 50s or so. That's a pretty BAD idea because it is not good for your joints, will wreck your knees if you still have fully working ones and tear up your back. Low impact, cycling, fast walking, and various ski-motion machines are your best bet.

The PROBLEM here is metabolic. As you age you become more and more sedentary, the metabolism becomes an expert at SLOWING itself down so that even if you DIET the body will make you SUFFER for it and cause weight loss to SLOWWWW DOWWWNNNN! What you lost in a week as a 20 or 30 year old takes a MONTH! What can you do? Thirty minutes of brisk aerobic EVERY DAY-or more, at least six days, if not seven a week. DON'T let that AGING body REST or it will NOT BURN any fat! The aging body is your "enemy". Well, at least it is not a friend because it will CHEAT with every chance it gets and cling to that FAT like a miser to his gold! lol

Without revving the "body", making it WORK. Diet alone will frustrate the hell out of you and send you running for the nearest cheese cake once you get to your "sticking point". Which will be every two weeks or so! How depressing!

Weight training? They say muscle burns more than fat! But I can tell you that unless you're a world class power lifter or body builder who is in the gym for hours upon hours every week. A few hours a week in the gym with free weights will only slow down your ability to gain weight, not take the weight you already have around your waist off. Anaerobic exercise is not enough to jump start that lazy A$$ of a body you have! But it may keep you from going from overweight to obese!

cnh

codyc1ark

Whoa, what a putz I was a few weeks ago, afraid of a 1/4mi run! Starting week eight today, last week was three runs of 2.5 miles each no stopping! I did great, and this weeks three runs will consist of 2.75mi each, next and last week will be three miles. October 20th will be the 5k, and I'm going to own it!

TNHNDYMAN

Congrats Cody. Sounds like you are getting in shape and enjoying it.

codyc1ark

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Congrats Cody. Sounds like you are getting in shape and enjoying it.

Thanks Travis! as I understand you have a looooong driveway and I'll need to make a quick, quiet getaway when running away with your new speakers! Congrats!

Anyway, today was semi-d-day for me, day one of week nine. It was supposed to be a three mile run but I ran some extra at the end, making it a 5k. My pace isn't where I want it, so starting next week I'm going to be doing speed training on Thursdays. I'd like to settle into the 7:30/mi pace for 5k's and I'll have another go at one Thanksgiving day. I've lost 12/14lbs depending on what day I weigh myself so that has taken care of itself!

Paging Dan, if it takes me two years to convince you to get on this like it did a sub, I'm going to get frustrated with you!

EndersShadow

codyc1ark wrote: »

Paging Dan, if it takes me two years to convince you to get on this like it did a sub, I'm going to get frustrated with you!

Yeah, looking into it tonight punk..... I wanna have my waist and length measurements on my pants MUCH closer than they are now ....