Crosspost; for those who have taken up running, some Q's...

I've always wanted to run, but have not been able for one reason or another, most recently because my knees.... are on vacation.  So, i've noticed many here are running towards or at goal.  Can you share whether you ran before this journey, whether you had pain/joint issues before the weight loss, and how the legs/ankles are fairing now with the new level of activity?  I would love to set a goal of a 5k, but i'm not sure if this is realistic for me, but for reasons I expect most here are also suseptable to .

Thanks so much for you feedback!!
Deb

Yes, knees, hips, ankles, and lower back hurt to the point I could barely move without pain before open RNY. I started walking the morning after surgery.  The time out walking and consequently the distance kept increasing.  My brother invited me to do a local 10K with him 3 months before the event and I accepted.  We were going to walk it but loving brotherly competition pushed us both to want to be a littler faster than the other.  I tried jogging some when I was about 280 and the shins disapproved.  But when I got to 266, it was only a matter of my breathing and endurance.  It takes some wisdom, some progression, some technique,...you cannot become olympian in a day or a week.  I was even amazed at the difference walking made.  Jogging was incredible to me.  I hate starting but I love the zin feeling once I get the stiffness and krinks out during that first mile. I love even more the feelng of accomplishment when I get back from a good run/jog.  And of couse the rewards are the way clothes fit and the compliments form others wishing they looked as good or could do what I do (and most could if they did what I did.)  SO, yes. those joint pains, for me went away with the loss of weight.  Thats not rtrue for all of us if there is cartirlidge damage or arithritis, etc.  I have had some joint and muscle issues since reaching my 10 mile distance training level but keep falling back and regrouping and starting over.  2-4 is my current range (again, 3rd time around).  Age is working on me but I just remind myself I'm not doing to win races, I am doing it for personal health and weight control and to wring as much mileage out of this mortal frame as I can while I'm here.

Hope that helps, I think you have much positive to look forward to.  Start walking and just try improve each time out.  And if running doesn't work for you, there are active alternatives.  Just keep moving in your daily agenda and you new active lifestyle of thin people.

:O) Joe

I have found in my journey, that the daily abuse my body took walking from my car to the office at 400 pounds prior to surgery was FAR more painful than running a marathon. I mean that sincerely. I hurt everyday all day from my weight. Now, when I run far, I am only sore because I chose to be, not because of my health! Best of luck to you...

Hi Deb,

I have just recently taken up running...or trotting, as it very slow right now.   I have not reached my goal, I have stopped losing and was told by my doctors that I needed to increase my exercises to lose anymore.  So I started out walking briskly and after a couple of weeks it kinds morphed into my slow trot.  The first time I did it was great.  So I got out there the next day and pushed it a little more for longer times and the next day,  I hurt so bad I could hardly walk.  I didnt walk for 4 days.  Once the pain subsided I decided perhaps running was not for me.  I went back to briskly walking and it inevitably would morph into a slow trot...but I took it very slowly.  That was a couple of weeks ago.  Yesterday I ran my full 2 miles without stopping.  It was fantastic. 

I came home expecting to be in pain all night, took a Goody's powder and slept like a baby all night.  I am GREAT today.  The point of this LONG story is (besides that fact that I am an AW) it can be done, it just takes time and work on is slowly.

Good luck and keep it up.

Theresa

2 miles is AWESOME!  GREAT JOB!

In no time it will be 2.5 miles!

Thanks Sue, I think its great.  Who knows where I will go next.  I am just enjoying it...

Theresa

I was always athletic but always hated to run. Before my surgery I got to the point that it was a struggle to walk much less run. I started slowly and have gotten a little better each time I run. I started on the track where I could only run 1/9 of a mile at a time , and a few weeks ago made a 9 mile run without stopping or walking any of it. I have learned how far to push myself each day and when to take a break. There will be pain put it's pain well worth it.

I cannot imagine being able to run 9 miles and still be able to move. LOL!  Someday....Someday.

Theresa

At my highest weight I was a walker.  I trained for and completed the Breast Cancer 3-day event, twice.  I was an endurance athlete at that point.  At my most fit (ok, in high school, i'm now 35) I was a swimmer and dancer, I tried running, but just couldn't go a block.  Between high school and the 3 Day (lots of years) I did little of anything.  I had some knee issues as a teenager, but none very serious.

Pre-surgery I had back pain, but not weight related.  I was exhausted all the time, definitely weight related.  My enfurance sucked, but I wasn't in pain from walking.

I started running Last year when I thought I was done losing weight.  I was closing in on goal and very happy with where I landed.  I started with the couch to 5K program and found that I could do it.  Orf course now I seem to have overdone it a bit and am doing physical therapy, but I ran a 10 mile race 2 weeks ago and could have gone longer if I had to! (the pain would have sucked, but I had the endurance for more!)

The best thing you can do is start any walking/running slowly and combine it with a strengthening program.  Actually, the VERY best thing you can do is work with a trainer that knows what the hell they are talking about, as opposed to me!  

In any case, take things slow but do what you can! 

I want to run so badly.  I have a really bad lumbar back.  I recently incorporated intermittant running with walking.  I walk on a rubberized high school track.  I tried to run 1/4 way around the track and walk 1/2 way.  After several days my back hurt so bad I could barely walk, let alone go to work each day.  Any tips that you could offer on how to get running started without my back hurting so bad?  I do warm up stretches before beginning and everything.  This is the 3rd time I've tried with the same results.  It is so discouraging!!!

Thank you in advance for any advice.