Quote:
Originally Posted by Thighs Be Gone
I began by walking too. About -20 down, (Sept '08) I started running as far as I could, catching my breath and running again. I hated it at first. I now LOVE it. It is such a freedom to run. I can't explain it. I began with running about 1/10 a mile in the beginning--that's as far as I could go. I now run 5 miles plus without a problem. I highly suggest it. Be sure to stretch well before hand and have some comfortable shoes and a good sports bra. Everything else is just gravy.
By the way, without knowing it--by stopping and starting again I was in essence, running HIIT--High Intensity Interval Training. It is the most effective way to burn fat I found out later.
Last time I lost weight I did it the same way, I would go around the block where the university football stadium is in the evening (because I was self conscious and less people were around then) and I would run the length of the field, then walk and catch my breath, and before I knew it, I was able to run a lot more without stopping. I was on the cross country team in high school, and running is a great feeling, yes,I need to get back into it too. I usually walked at least a mile before even starting to run, and this was a few years ago and I was in great shape and lost 60 pounds despite the fact that I ate like a horse still.
And stretching, yeah, don't forget that. Ending up with shin splints sucks. Also once I ended up with tendinitis in both ankles because I overdid it and didn't stretch at all, and that was terrible. Good shoes, stretching, bottled water are all important things that I don't forget anymore.