Jenn's Battle with the Gene Pool. Advice, encouragement, and buddies needed!

[plgrn]

First let me introduce myself and then I'll proceed to introduce my arch-nemesis!

I'm Jennifer a 24 year old, 118 pound, 5'2" Southern gal who is trying for the first time in her life to take up running! My opponent in this battle (besides my own laziness of course) would be my genetic heritage. Anybody seen the movie "Twins" with Arnold Schwartzeneggar and Danny Devito? I feel like Danny when he discovers that he received all the genetic "crap that was left-over"

Here are my goals
1. To run a 5K (I can jog about 90 seconds right now)
2. To become flexible enough to do Yoga and Pilates correctly (at the moment, I look like a 90 year old trying to do the moves, and we are not talking about Jack LaLane!)
3. Be strong enough to open the pickle jar, etc. without begging DH for help!
4. Prevent the enourmous weight gain that haunts EVERY member of my family beginning at middle age

In no particular order, here are the demons I must face.

1. Family history and personal past history of inflexibility. My father cannot ride a horse without being in pain. As for myself....not much better. Sitting Indian style like many of you do just to watch TV hurts me!

2. My father, now 47, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the hips and knees at age 45 and had suffered for a while before being diagnosed. He will need hip replacements in a few years, and guess what? I share his inflexibility and "duck walk."

3. Family History of obesity. We're talking EVERYONE....Ok...I exaggerated. There are two exceptions. #1 My cousin who had gastric bypass and now puts nothing in her mouth except for hot tea that she carrys around in a thermos all day. She looks like a corpse and her hair is falling out. #2 Her daughter who is anorexic and in not much better shape. Everyone else is a minimum of 20 pounds overweight at best. Most of them are in the 50-100 pound overweight range.

4. Family history and personal past history of NO ATHLETIC ABILITY. I played the bench in high school volleyball, and my parents never got into organized sports. We are readers, creative writers, crossword puzzle do-ers, heavy drinkers, and public speakers. Exercise? What is that


Thanks in advance for your support! I'm looking forward to journaling on here frequently even if nobody reads it but me. I've got to kick that DNA in the butt!

 

[plgrn]

Today (Saturday) was my fourth day on this quest for fitness. I am doing the "From the Couch to 5K program" and instead of doing three days of training in each week, I am doing six. This will change next week when FIL gives us his weight set at which point DH and I will be doing weight training together three days each week. My exercise partner is our 2 year-old American Bulldog, Casey who is impossible to wear out and keeps me motivated!

Since I am on the first week of training, I walked for 90 seconds then jogged for 60 seconds for an entire two miles. Today is the first day I've been able to do that so I'm pretty psyched. Before, I had to take longer "walk breaks" between spurts of jogging.

Yesterday, I went to the local running shoe store to get fitted for a good pair of running shoes. The shin splints and thigh pain were getting old to say the least! Interestingly enough, now that I'm equipped with proper shoes, the pain is gone. Anyway, they make you walk on a treadmill and do a video analysis of your feet while running. The good news is that I have a mid-foot stike which I'm told is coveted by all runners and only posessed by 20% of the population. Could it be that I've found my niche? The bad news is that I pronate so badly I run like which is fitting in light of my love for the duck, but undesirable nonetheless. Like father like daughter I guess.

 

[kimwim8]

Hi Jenn! Welcome to WISH journals! I commend you for wanting to get healthy now, since you know your family history.

The couch to 5K program is a wonderful way to get into running. I did the very same thing last January and fell in love with running. I definitely struggled in the beginning with even running the minute or minute and a half. But the plan is beautifully designed and you will succeed when you stick to it. Running 6 days a week concerns me for a beginner, so just be careful and listen to your body! Your muslces need the rest days in order for them to work properly.

I look forward to hearing how you proceed (and succeed ).

I haven't run since Christmas myself, due to illness and some other underlying issues. But I am dying to get back out there, and I'll be using the couch to 5K program again to get back to where I was at that point.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions (I'm no expert, but I've been there) or want to chat about anything.

Good luck and keep posting!

 

[plgrn]

Running 6 days a week concerns me for a beginner

But I'm addicted already! I'll be down to 3 days a week next week mixed with weight training on the off days.

Thanks for the encouragement! I hope you can get back our there soon. I'm sure it won't be exactly like starting from scratch for you since you've worked up to a 5k before. Good luck!

 

[kmp1191]

Hey Jen!
I didn't do the "Couch to 5K" program, but I did do the Women & Running program....it's basically the same. I would like to get back into running as well, and one of my New Years resolutions is to run another 5K.
Good luck to you, and don't overdo it starting out!

marie

 

[hmbbears]

Hey Jen,
Sounds like you are off to a good start. I am just starting my journal and plan and I am very excited. Running does not seem possible to me but maybe it will be if I loose some more weight and get my joints in better shape.

I do believe that you can fight anything even genetics if you put your mind to it and it sounds like you are! Keep it up!

 

[npullen]

Jenn- you are doing great! I can totally relate to alot of the things you are fighting! No flexibility, could barely touch my toes even in highschool! No athletic ability, and a family history of obesity and heart problems. My dad had a heart attack at 49, and he is still about 45-50 lbs overweight. But just hang in there, and you can beat all of it! Keep up the good work!
Nicole

 

[goldcupmom]

Welcome to WISH, Jenn! I'm trying to beat the gene pool, too! All of my 5 siblings became diabetic at EXACTLY age 48, and I'll be 47 this July. YIKES!!!

I walked my 1st 1/2 marathon in October, and I hope to do a 10K or the Minnie in May. I can't run due to a rebuilt ankle, but I wish I could.

Good luck w/ Couch to 5K. I thought about using it, but never did.

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Jenn! How's it goin so far this week?

 

[plgrn]

Jenn- you are doing great! I can totally relate to alot of the things you are fighting! No flexibility, could barely touch my toes even in highschool!

last week, I touched my toes without bending my knees for the first time since I was a kid!!! Have you started a journal, Nicole?

 

[plgrn]

Hey Jenn! How's it goin so far this week?

Hi Kim! Thanks for checking in on me. Things are going pretty well all things considered. We just returned from the trip from He!! to get my in-laws moved, but I was still able to do my running. That's another thing I love about it! All you need is a pair of good shoes.

Week two of Couch to 5K begins today, and I think I'm ready for it.

 

[plgrn]

Welcome to WISH, Jenn! I'm trying to beat the gene pool, too! All of my 5 siblings became diabetic at EXACTLY age 48, and I'll be 47 this July. YIKES!!!

I walked my 1st 1/2 marathon in October, and I hope to do a 10K or the Minnie in May. I can't run due to a rebuilt ankle, but I wish I could.

Good luck w/ Couch to 5K. I thought about using it, but never did.

Good for you and your battle against diabetes! Break the cycle!
I'll let you know how the Couch to 5K plan goes for me. If it works for this unathletic, inflexible girl I will become their new spokeswoman!

 

[npullen]

Glad your doing so well! It is great that you could still get your running in, it is a great way to reduce stress! Much better than eating, which is what I usually do!
I do have a journal, titled "Nicole's Journey-Marathon Dreams" I try to post daily, after my workouts. It has really helped me to stick with it, even when things are tough. I need the accountability!

Keep up the good work!

 

[plgrn]

Just finished up my first run of week #2 and boy am I feeling discouraged! I completed 5 minutes of walking followed by 90 seconds of jogging/2 minutes of walking intervals for 20 minutes. BARELY completed it.

The program indicates you should do 3 workouts a week, but being as athletically challenged as I am, I do 6 workouts. I cannot imagine skipping two days in a row, as I would be back to square one I think.

Right now I'm experiencing my exercise high so it was all worth it, but I'm going to dread going tomorrow!

 

[plgrn]

Well, God is putting a stop to my running today with thunderstorms and tornadoes so I will be taking a day off and doing 30 minutes of Pilates instead. Hopefully I won't pay for the missed day with exhaustion tomorrow!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Jenn, I think you're doing GREAT!

I won't say it anymore because I don't wanna be a pest, but I really think running 6 days/week is gonng end up hurting you instead of helping. You might think you'll "lose ground" if you don't keep up with it every day, but the opposite is true. You'll wear out your muscles faster if you don't rest up. Pilates on your off days or ab/arm work is a way to still move around and yet give your legs a break and time to recover.

Don't get discouraged that you barely made it through the first run of week 2. I have been there! Every week seemed to be a struggle. But let me tell you - you stick with it, you'll be out there running 3 miles straight and amazed that you can! I know I was shocked when I could do it. (and when I say I could do it, I was still out of breath and wiped out when I was done, but I wasn't injured and I actually wanted to do it again )

Have a great day!

 

[plgrn]

I won't say it anymore because I don't wanna be a pest, but I really think running 6 days/week is gonng end up hurting you instead of helping.

You're not being a pest at all, and I'm beginning to see the light. My right knee is hurting this evening. I did my Pilates instead of running today and am going to start doing weight training on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday instead of running.

 

[plgrn]

Went for my run today and NO MORE TAKING CASEY WITH ME. At least until I'm comfortably running the 3.2 miles. He's constantly pulling which is great to make you keep up the pace if you are walking, but while jogging the exhaustion of having your right arm in mid arm the whole way is too much.

I was so discouraged at not doing as well as I did the day before yesterday until I realized what the problem was!

 

[kimwim8]

I don't have any dogs to run with, but I can totally understand how that could be an issue.

You're really doing great. You've inspired me to get out there tomorrow, no matter what! So thank you!!!

 

[npullen]

I am really glad you figured out the problem! I can understand that feeling, only because I have tried to run holding my jacket when I couldn't get it to stay tied, threw off my whole stride, made me have a terrible run, and I felt awful the next day! So I can only imagine what having a pulling dog would do!
It sounds like you are doing great, keep up the good work!