Couch Potato to 5k

[ELVIS]

Hell yeah!! Not.

I was trying to remember back and it was a little over a month and I thought I typed 20 pounds in. 40 in a month would be not a good idea if even possible. I had hit 270 or so and got back to 250. I did nothing but swim every other night. My pool was 40 ft long so it was a decent swim at 120 to 200 laps.

i was about to be real upset with myself and my work ethic!

god bless.

[AnthonyS]

Swimming is one of the best exercises period. You use almost every muscle in your body to swim and if done correctly you can maintain a high heart rate. It is also the way better on your joints. I was ballooning up again one time and injured my knee so I started swimming again. I dropped 40 lbs in no time flat over the course of a month. I will say though that I was on the swim team 4 years in high school so you are right about technique making a difference. If I still had a pool I would incorperate swimming as my main way to work out and it would knock cycling to second followed by running.

That's pretty much what I was saying. Swimming is great exercise, but it's not something you can just do and lose weight. You have to have a skill first. You clearly have it. I'm still trying to learn it.

Biking and running are far more natural and easier to pick up.

Swimming just looks easy.

Biking is easy, but getting super fast is hard. Running is in the middle. Poor form will lead to injuries, but it's a whole lot easier to learn than swimming form.

If you want to swim with me sometime you can cone as a guest. I swim 2 or 3 times a week in an indoor 25m pool. There is always at least one extra lane open. I've only seen every lane in use once. I'd enjoy getting some feedback and ideas from a good swimmer.

[Sean88gt]

How close are you to Philly? I have some ideas that might help you 'run for your life'.

[kingjason]

That's pretty much what I was saying. Swimming is great exercise, but it's not something you can just do and lose weight. You have to have a skill first. You clearly have it. I'm still trying to learn it.

Biking and running are far more natural and easier to pick up.

Swimming just looks easy.

Biking is easy, but getting super fast is hard. Running is in the middle. Poor form will lead to injuries, but it's a whole lot easier to learn than swimming form.

If you want to swim with me sometime you can cone as a guest. I swim 2 or 3 times a week in an indoor 25m pool. There is always at least one extra lane open. I've only seen every lane in use once. I'd enjoy getting some feedback and ideas from a good swimmer.

Where do you go? I am pissed my 24 has decided to come up with some lame story about why they are not getting a wet area now. I swim at my moms when it warms up but her pool is only like 26 foot so its alot of push off, four to five strokes, wall,and start over. LOL The main thing is timing when you are breathing and keeping your head flat in the water for freestyle. I was a big guy in high school too so my specialty was back stroke. I won a couple of medals to the shock of my coach, then promptly got my ass handed to me at regionals. My parents had a pool almost my entire life and I thought I was gonna be a shoe in for the swim team. Well I think my coach just thought I made a good effort and felt pitty on me during try outs. What I thought I knew about swimming and what I learned where worlds a part. Running is my weakness, I got out and ran 2.6 miles the other day and I was messed up for days.

[ELVIS]

yale, i just downloaded the c25k on my phone. i plan on starting this eve.

god bless.

[YALE]

How close are you to Philly? I have some ideas that might help you 'run for your life'.

Not that close, and I have more guns than those people, and the actual skills and inclination to use them.

yale, i just downloaded the c25k on my phone. i plan on starting this eve.

god bless.

Bitchin'! I'll start sometime this week. It's been pouring where I planned to go this week.

[KBScobravert]

I have been running (okay running/walking) 5 miles every other day in between weight days. Since I go to the gym 7 days a week right now that is anywhere from 15-20 miles in a 7 day period.

Mind you that I am at 5,550 above sea level.

I start the treadmill at a 3.0 walk for 1 minute than bring it up to a 6.0 run for as long as I can take it; usualy 8-9 minutes. From there I will walk 1 or 2 minutes at 3.5 then run 1-2 minutes at a 6.0 or better, and repeat. Every run cycle I try to go a little faster and a little longer by setting goals. If I am 1:30 into my run cycle on 6.0 I will ramp up to a 7.5 for the next 30 seconds and then back down to a 6.5 for another 30 seconds....if I can.

I did my first 5 miles 2 weeks ago after a few days of 3 miles and my 5 mile time was 70 minutes (pathetic but remember my altitude also....I have small lungs apparently). Tonight I did 5 miles in 60 minutes after last nights killer leg routine.

My problem is that I have something wrong with the left side of my body. My left foot is not getting enough blood and goes numb and my calf tightens up rock solid. If I pause the treadmill and shake it loose for 20 seconds I am good to go again for another 10 minutes. I am stuck with the shoes that I have hear and they SUCK. This trip home on R&R I am picking up a few new pairs before our cruise. Hopefully they will help.

My goal is to get my 5 mile down to 50 minutes at this altitude. I can't wait to get on the cruise ship in 2 weeks and see what my 5 mile run time is at sea level.

I was 5' 9" and 200 and hating life over a month ago. I am down into the 180's but I have gained lots of muscle, stamina and flexibility back. I have lost a lot of fat in my face, hands, arms, legs and it is starting to come off the midsection. Last I measured I am down 3 inches at my belly button. I figure I am 2-3 weeks away from being shirtless comfortable by the pool on the cruise ship.

YALE I got faith in you, the hardest part is getting out there the first few nights and just doing it.

[AnthonyS]

Jason,

I swim at the Hilton Anatole. My wife works there for now so we are members of the club there. It's mostly hotel visitors and a few regulars.

It's on 35 by market hall.

[kingjason]

Jason,

I swim at the Hilton Anatole. My wife works there for now so we are members of the club there. It's mostly hotel visitors and a few regulars.

It's on 35 by market hall.

Is your wife hot..........I kid I kid. LOL I really havent ever trained anyone to swim before hmmmm I think I could. Breast stroke, easy, back stroke, easier, freestyle hmm not to bad, butterfly, uhhh maybe another day. I actually had butterfly down to where I could kinda ease along at a good pace but it will beat the snot out of you. I remember swimming at meets and the coach having to help you out of the water, that shit is intense.

[AnthonyS]

I only need freestyle.

[ELVIS]

Bitchin'! I'll start sometime this week. It's been pouring where I planned to go this week.

well actually didnt start until last night. the app is pretty sweet. it shows a crapload of info. 5min warm up then 60 sec jogging, then 90secs walking for a total of 20 minutes,then 5 min cool down.

distance:2.3miles
walk pace 15.52/mile
run pace 8.49/mile

i think i have a lot better than that in me, but most of these runs will be completed pushing 40lb Jr in the running stroller.

god bless.

[Ruffdaddy]

Elvis, are you using this just as a trainer for weight loss, or are you actually signing up for a 5k? How long is the program?

Best of luck! Sounds like it's a great start.

[ELVIS]

Elvis, are you using this just as a trainer for weight loss, or are you actually signing up for a 5k? How long is the program?

Best of luck! Sounds like it's a great start.

all of the above. it looks to be a 9 week program. i have slipped into a sedentary lifestyle between coaching Jr's t-ball 2-3 times a week, running him to soccer 2 times a week. there is no time for boxing, bjj or anything i used to do to get some exercise. hopefully i can stick with it. thanks for the well wishes.

god bless.

[ceyko]

all of the above. it looks to be a 9 week program. i have slipped into a sedentary lifestyle between coaching Jr's t-ball 2-3 times a week, running him to soccer 2 times a week. there is no time for boxing, bjj or anything i used to do to get some exercise. hopefully i can stick with it. thanks for the well wishes.

god bless.

For what it is worth, we ran into the same problem having twins. Granted we did not get a lot of work outs prior due to drinking all the time. However, these days we get up extra early for an hour at the gym. After the kids go to bed we'll do 30-45 minutes of running...etc.

Sometimes it does not work out and we'll try to double up. Either way, if you try you'll be able to get stuff done. Sounds like your doing all the right things though.

I don't think many people with kids are going to be the buff people. No reason we can't be somewhat in shape though.

I wish ya the best on it and post up what you do. Personally, I'm interested. We found that we HAVE to leave the house to get the most out of it.

[AnthonyS]

My son is finally old enough to bike with me. That helps a lot. Include the kids if possible. He also ran his first 5k a few weeks ago.