I started doing the Couch to 5K (C25K) program last fall. I stuck with it pretty faithfully. For awhile. Then life and the holidays got the better of me. In mid-November, we went to DisneyWorld for a week. The following week was Thanksgiving, with my sister and her family visiting us. Then there was Toys for Tots. Then the kids were off for their winter break and Stretch had two 96's (4-day weekends). All of this threw my routine completely out the window.
But the kids have now gone back to school and there are no more excuses. Stretch and I have a done a workout DVD in the evening a few times now. And I've tried to get back into running, this time outside (I'd always run on a treadmill in the fall due to the heat where we are). The runs did not go well. I walked at least half the time and wasn't going as far.
Today, I decided I needed to go back to the C25K program. I thought I'd go back to Week 4 but couldn't find it on my iPod. So I went with Day 1 of Week 5: 5 minutes of warm-up walking, 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of brisk walking, 5 minutes running, 3 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, and 5 minutes of cool-down walking. It kicked my behind! And that was only the first 5 minute run!
By the time I was on the last 5 minutes of running, Negative Nellie wasn't just whispering in my ear, she was shouting. Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a runner. Maybe those extra pounds around my middle aren't really that bad. Maybe I'm not a runner. Maybe I just don't want to lose the weight/ get in shape badly enough. What made me think I would ever be a runner?!
But I did it. I didn't cheat. I ran when I was supposed to and didn't stop to walk until I was meant to. And maybe I'm not a "runner." Yet. But Negative Nellie needs to go away and Motivated Molly needs to come back!
So I want to know: How do you keep yourself motivated and those negative thoughts at bay?
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My wife and I just started couch to 5k too.
I think one way to keep motivated is to do it in spite of the feelings. In other words, "I am going to do my run today while I think about how much it sucks."
Or you can do it to 'get even' with those feelings "I am so pissed at not being motivated, I am going to go running to punish those feelings."
Yes these are tricks, but they usually can get me back on track when I'm tempted to fall off.
I keep telling myself the pain, discomfort, anxiety will all be worth it when I weigh less, feel better and wear a smaller size. And I make sure I have positive music playing on the IPod the whole workout.
I go to a class and the instructors know me (that always happens, I can't figure it out)by now. So if I DON'T go, they ask where I was.
That's the only way I will keep from cheating – being accountable to someone.
Also, they aren't shy about telling me when I'm half-a**ing the workout and they ignore it when I whine. Which happens a lot. Because I'm a TOTAL whiner.
I'm so impressed that you are on week five. I've been doing this since July or August and I'm still on week four. You are amazing!
I find it so easy to get sidetracked. I have seriously given up running for the cold season because I just can't breath, but I haven't yet replaced it with anything else. And I've only got 3 1/2 weeks until my husband gets home! Must do something productive!
Please feel free to add your fit club stories any time :)
I started doing the couch to 5K in September also and found an awesome plan to follow. This girl does the podcasts for free so while you're rocking out and listening to music, she's encouraging you and telling you how much you have left to run then to walk etc .. I was able to do most of it in time to do a 5K in October but I injured my knee around the time so I couldn't run the whole thing.
I am currently following her 10K training since I'm going to do a 10K in April followed by more training to do the Disneyland Half Marathon in September. If you had told me a year ago I would have the desire to run and was actually out there doing it, I would have laughed. I'm currently running 2.5 miles (non stop!) and slowing making my way up to the six miles.
How do I keep away the negative thoughts at bay? I got lucky and found an incredible group of friends who are very supportive of what I am doing. I also put up a blank cork board up in front of the treadmill and asked them for funny/inspirational quotes or photos to send my way so for the days I need that extra movtivation, all I have to do is keep my eyes forward and it's right in front of me. :)
Oh, here is the link to the podcast archive podcasts: http://chubbyjones.libsyn.com/index.php?post_cate…