Any runners? Could do with some reassurance!

[rachnbri]

I'm quite significantly overweight - working on it, but I need to lose about 4 stone more before I feel really healthy. Despite this I'm quite active. I cycle to and from work everyday - not a huge distance but all uphill on the way home, I play badminton weekly and I swim as often as I get chance.

I have decided I'd like to do race for life - maybe next year rather than this year - and have started an 8 week programme which promises to take you from couch potato to running 3k. The first 2 weeks consist of walking then in the third week you grduate to 1 minute running, 2 minutes walking and it increases gradually from there.

I'm only at the start of week 2, but felt like trying a run today so I did. Now I do consider myself fitter than your average couch potato, but am aware that I'm carrying a lot of extra weight, so bearing that in mind, do you think it's normal that I felt TOTALLY puffed out after about a minute running? My legs, back etc felt fine, I wasn't hurting etc but I was entirely out of breath.

[Bronnie]

I'm quite significantly overweight - working on it, but I need to lose about 4 stone more before I feel really healthy. Despite this I'm quite active. I cycle to and from work everyday - not a huge distance but all uphill on the way home, I play badminton weekly and I swim as often as I get chance.

I have decided I'd like to do race for life - maybe next year rather than this year - and have started an 8 week programme which promises to take you from couch potato to running 3k. The first 2 weeks consist of walking then in the third week you grduate to 1 minute running, 2 minutes walking and it increases gradually from there.

I'm only at the start of week 2, but felt like trying a run today so I did. Now I do consider myself fitter than your average couch potato, but am aware that I'm carrying a lot of extra weight, so bearing that in mind, do you think it's normal that I felt TOTALLY puffed out after about a minute running? My legs, back etc felt fine, I wasn't hurting etc but I was entirely out of breath.

I lost a similar amount of weight about 10 years ago. I started to exercise at the start of the diet, but did not do anything that put me under stress as you describe. I walked, swam, went to exercise class, used bikes and treadmill at the gym etc, but did not push myself to that level of breathlessness at that time.
To get your body into fat burning mode, you only need to raise your heart rate moderately, ie so you are slightly out of breath but can still carry on a normal conversation. To my mind, pushing yourself harder whilst carrying that excess weight is not beneficial. It is like someone of normal weight trying to exercise whilst carrying the equivalent of a full size sack of potatoes on their back!!!!!!!!!!!! You already sound quite active anyway. To me the sensible way is to continue with your exercise at a pace you feel comfortable with, without putting excess strain on your body. Your fitness and stamina will continue to improve as you exercise and as your weight drops.
When your weight is at a more average level, then you will find it so much easier to push yourself and to be honest you will feel so light, you will feel like you can fly!! I'm not a fitness expert, but my advice is borne of my own experience. The very best of luck anyway. Believe me it's worth it!

[rachnbri]

The thing is - I actually enjoyed running! It was a revelation to me as the last time I really ran was doing cross country at school and I hated it!! But having a bit of a run today felt great. I really enjoyed the feeling of pushing my body into something it wasn't familiar with and my body responding in the way I'd like it to. I felt great while I was running and still feel great now!! My only worry is the breathlesness. Also I'm very slightly asthmatic. It was bad when I was younger but now I only ever need an inhaler when I have a bad cold. Could this be contributing the the breathlessness? And will it get better as I lose weight and improve my fitness?

[Bronnie]

I wouldn't comment on that. Best you book an appointment at your GP's Asthma Clinic and have your situation reviewed. Keep up the good work!