Some of you may remember that I had decided to do the C25k program. Haven't heard about that in awhile, huh? Yeah, I haven't been working at it as much as I should have been.
I stopped because the weather was crappy. First it was too cold, then rainy, then too hot. But I guess there were some nice, sunny days in there too... Seriously tho, I will find any excuse not to go run because... um.. I dunno... because it's hard and I hate it.
Today I did Week 3, Day 1, which at one point has you running for 3 minutes. Longest 3 minutes of my life! It is so sad that I can't run for the 3 minutes without huffing and puffing like crazy. It really makes me feel like the elliptical is a vacation.
I got a heart rate monitor finally (I'll tell you about it tomorrow), and I have come to find that the running/ walking outside burns about the same amount of calories as the elliptical. However, it gets my heart rate WAY higher than the elliptical. Anyone have any insight into this? Does having an elevated heart rate make it so you burn more calories during the rest of the day?
It's hard to get the motivation up to do a workout that burns about the same amount of calories as something easier (elliptical) yet is significantly harder.
Attitude of Gratitude: My puppy learned to high five today.
13 comments:
That's so adorable that your puppy learned to high five today!
I've never used a heart rate monitor and I'm interested to read more about it :)
The couch 2 5k will get easier, (even though it is more minutes) I'm up to week 6 day 2. I find that I get more into a rhythm. I listen to my music very loudly and sing along (silently). That way I'm not focused on my breathing!
Jodie
Biggerthanababyelephant.blogspot.com
Oh yeah, it will get so much easier! You won't even notice it until you're done working out! Keep it up!!
Your puppy learned to high five! Adorable. And running is painful...so it builds character? Is that worth the extra heart rate? Maybe? Good luck!
For me, running is all mental. It is the only thing that makes me sweat now. All other workouts are a breeze. I felt very similar in the 3 minute runs. I thought "Next week they want me to run for 5 minutes? It takes me 5 minutes to catch my breath!"
I don't know if it's better or not but sometimes your body just needs something different!
I am doing c25k and am at the same point in the programme. I am seriously doubting my ability to move up at the rate it says so am planning to stick at each 'week' until it feels a little easier. I know I have made progress because when I started out I couldn't make it through 1 minute without feeling like I was about to die! I look forward to reading how it goes for you.
http://gettingtherethistime.blogspot.com/
I doubt that doing the elliptical actually burns the same amount of calories... but if you feel bad about not being able to run comfortably for a few minutes, all you have got to do is hang in there. That's the good thing, it gets easier over time.
I did the C25K and it's a great starter plan. Stick with it and it does get easier. :)
I LOVE my HR monitor- best thing I have purchased for exercise!
I hated running. I still hate it, sometimes. But truth be told, I want to be a runner. And so doing the work (even though it totally sucks!) will pay off in the end. Just think about your goals, and go for it! Get through it! You can bitch and moan and complain the ENTIRE time, if you want. But you just need to keep doing it. You got this!
I find that the first 5 minutes of running are the hardest mentally and physically. If you can talk yourself thru those first 5 minutes you can complete alot more.
I've just started running again today (after an 8 week recovery from a running injury). I've gone all the way back to the beginning: Week One, Day One of C25K...
I recall the first time I did C25K - I've often said that the toughest part was getting through 3 min of running (I fiddled with the program a little, so it was run 3 min walk 2 min). I thought I'd die that week.
Even when I kept going (it does get easier) until I finished C25K and beyond into doing a half-marathon, that 3 min running week in C25K stuck in my head as being really tough!
I agree with anonymous, too. I can't tell you how many times the first 5 minutes felt AWFUL...you just have to push through and then it's ok.
Keep at it - you definitely can do this...and now I'm doing it with you!
Just found your blog from plump non-fiction and am reading through some of your recent posts!
Re calories burned on elliptical and running - I wondered the same thing, and don't have an answer as to why, but from my (very limited) experience, burning the same calories running is worth more than the same apparent calories burnt on the elliptical (even though that doesn't logically make sense). It was only when I started running and incorporated that into my exercise regime that I saw real changes in my fitness/body/weight-loss so its definitely worth sticking with!
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