Please tell me it is worth it...

[Purple Sage]

and that it will get better!

I am not an exerciser, well, I never have been. But I decided to learn to run. I started couch to 5K June 16 and have made good progress cardiovascularly. I am training at around 6500 feet elevation, and I can do the 5 minute jog now without getting winded.

However, My knees hurt, my calves hurt, my hips hurt, my ankles hurt. I am retaining so much water that I look like I have congestive heart failure. I am HUNGRY all the time.

And I have not lost a pound in 4 weeks of eating low carb, and exercising.

I am sleeping better..that is one plus, but I just need encouragement to keep going because I hate the way I am looking right now. I have always had very nice lower legs, very fragile looking ankles and narrow skinny feet, now I just look like an old lady who is retaining fluid! And my largish but round butt now has these wierd lumps of muscle developing and are making it look decidedly odd.

How long does it take to start seeing POSITIVE changes from exercise? I want to keep doing this for health, but I don't want this swelling and pain all the time.

I am just really discouraged today. I went to the doctor and I have tendonitis in my knees, that is why they hurt, but they don't want me to quit exercising, I am supposed to ice them, use NSAIDs and wear a supportive brace when I run.

Encourage me please....

[Houston Heather]

Well, I saw really good results after about 6 weeks.

If you are truly hating running in another month or so I would switch off to something else. Maybe a dance type class? Tapping or bellydancing? Maybe Cathe Freidrich DVD's? Circuit training? Racewalking?

See, I love to run. However, I am LOUSY at any time of "class" program, doing DVD's or things on TV (except Sit and Be Fit LOL), dance type things, water things, anything that requires good balance, catching things, throwing things, etc.

But set me up with some weights and a pair of running shoes and I'm a happy camper.

You have an awesome cardio program out there - maybe you just haven't found it yet. Hang in there!

[onaisland]

I think any exercise program has to help not only physically but emotionally. I could not keep doing something that would pain me. Why not just start out walking, add weights, and then something you enjoy...dance, yoga, callanetics. There are many programs easier on the joints.

[westside]

First off, there was a post just recently of knee problems from someone else who just started running. I would have your shoes checked out and be sure they are the approrpriate RUNNING shoes for your stride/gait. I'd suggest finiding a specialty running store in your area and go in wearing your current running shoes and find out if their right for your gait. The personel should be able to analyze your gait.

Second, running is a tough sport to stick with, I know. Racing is tough. I've been doing this off and on since a teenager but steady for the last 5 years. What I don't find are runners who have been running for as long as I have and run just to lose weight. Sure they know they can maintain fiteness but they run because they like to run. Runing to lose weight and looking at the scale seems rather miserable. You should run because you like running and also cross train with weights or something else so you're not running all the time.

[Purple Sage]

Actually, I did get a gait analysis and bought running shoes according to that. I also bought the orthotics that were recommended.

I used to run, I loved that feeling of freedom, just the above the world feeling that I had when I was running, that was in college. Then I moved to Colorado, much higher elevation than I was used to, and I never could get to the "floating place" with my lungs. Then I had 2 kids, got busy with life and quit running. Now I want to do back to it because I did love it. I want to love it again.

Thing is, when I ran before I was 18 not 32, I never remember it hurting to get into it.

[ab1ht]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

...My knees hurt, my calves hurt, my hips hurt, my ankles hurt...

Christa,

This is information that you didn't mention in your PM to me.

To me (not a physical therapist), this is an obvious sign that your joints are not yet used to the impact of running yet. You are trying to do too much at once.

First thing you need to do is stop running for a while and let your body heal.

Then give it another go on a more forgiving surface or make the walk breaks a little longer than the plan suggests.

-Paul

[GME]

I am by no means an expert, but I did read on a running board that a very common mistake people is running too much for their joints early on. They say people develop lung and and cardiovascular capacity much more quickly than their joints strengthen up, so you feel like you can go farther, faster, more but wind up hurting themselves. Made sense to me.

I've been running for about 12 weeks and its been probably the last 3 or so that I have seen a positive change in the physical appearance of my lower body.

[wifezilla]

I know that if I forget to take my fish oil, my joints hurt. I started taking the fish oil because people in my family have this nasty habit of dropping dead in their 40's from heart failure. I was hoping the fish oil would help avoid that. I keep taking it because when I forget, my knees hurt like CRAZY!

[inatic]

Originally Posted by ab1ht

Christa,

This is information that you didn't mention in your PM to me.

To me (not a physical therapist), this is an obvious sign that your joints are not yet used to the impact of running yet. You are trying to do too much at once.

First thing you need to do is stop running for a while and let your body heal.

Then give it another go on a more forgiving surface or make the walk breaks a little longer than the plan suggests.

-Paul

running isnt for everyone and there are ways to get cardio in that doesnt involve running that is just as effective.

many find(and dont shoot me) that running doesnt provide the fat loss and body recomposition that wt training and interval cardio does..

and mostly if you are hurting and not enjoying it, please dont force yourself. your body is trying to tell you something once the inital shock wore off. I'd listen

[inatic]

i wanted to also post this article my coach shared: Mike Boyle (author) is very well respected.

Article by Mike Boyle:

Why (Most) Women Shouldn't Run

The answer is a word that starts with P and ends with S and is not "plastics."
By Michael Boyle

I really like Diane Lee's quote, "You can't run to get fit, you need to be fit to run." In fact, I've used it in numerous presentations and articles. It really resonates with me. Simple, to the point.

I'm going to take the idea one step further. I'm not sure most women should run. When I say this in seminars, it really pisses off the female runners.
Sorry, I'm not worried about you; I'm worried about all the other women. If you are a runner and healthy, read on, but realize that you are the exception, not the rule.

I'm going to go from bad to worse. Here's a riddle for you.

Q- What do most female runners look like?

A- Male runners.

Ever ask yourself why? I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
Women who run successfully for long periods of time were made to run.
They look just like men runners. Good female runners generally do not look like plus-size models.

It's not a question of cause and effect; it's a question of natural selection.
You can't run to get that cute little runner's body. It's actually reversed. You have to have that cute little runner's body to survive running.

Why do I say this? Two simple reasons. Anatomy and physics. My favorite two sciences. No matter how hard you try or how well you eat, you can't change your skeleton.

The problem with most women and running comes down to something they call Q angle in sports medicine. I won't bore you with the details, but it boils down to this. Wider hips make for narrow knees. This angle of hip to knee creates problems. Problems are magnified based on the number of steps.
The average person gets about 1500 foot strikes per mile. Do the math on your 5-mile run. Running produces forces in the area of two to five times bodyweight per foot contact. Do we need more math?

Let's go back to our elite female runner. Look at her body. You will generally see two things. She has narrow hips and she has small breasts. I know, there may be exceptions, but at the elite level, I doubt it.

One thought process would say, Great, my hips and breasts will decrease in size if I run. The other thought process is more logical.

Women with larger breasts and wider hips don't make good runners. It is the same logic as why there are no large gymnasts or figure skaters. Physics. Big people rotate slower. Natural selection rules it out.

So what happens when a "normal" woman begins to run? She becomes a statistic. She becomes a physical-therapy client as she tries to shovel you-know-what against the tide. Her wider hips cause her to develop foot problems or most likely knee problems. Her greater body weight causes greater ground reaction forces. Greater ground reaction forces stress muscle tissue and breast tissue. Get my drift yet? The end result is likely to be hurt and saggy instead of the cute and little.

The bottom line: Running is not good for most females. If you want higher-intensity exercise, ride a stationary bike. Take a spin class, use a stairclimber, and don't run.

PS- The best stuff is the hard stuff. Use the AirDyne Bike or the StepMill. Don't take the easy way out.

[wifezilla]

The bottom line: Running is not good for most females. If you want higher-intensity exercise, ride a stationary bike. Take a spin class, use a stairclimber, and don't run.

I do water aerobics and dance. WAY more fun than running anyway.

[wall]

Originally Posted by inatic

i wanted to also post this article my coach shared: Mike Boyle (author) is very well respected.

interesting
thanks for sharing

[GME]

The article is probably true for really serious runners, but I am not an "elite runner", never will be, and don't want to be. I enjoy running, it gets my heart rate up, is a good workout for my lower body and its easy. You can just step out your door and do it. No classes, no gyms, no trainers, no videos. I think the real reason I have stuck with running two or three times longer than any other exercise program I've ever started is because that other stuff is boring to me. I like to do other things too... hike, bike, kayak... but those aren't things I can easily do 3-4 times per week. Running fits my lifestyle and it works for me so far.

I see a lot of attractive women (that look like women, not male runners) when I go out.

[wifezilla]

I run like Phoebe from Friends....

YouTube - Phoebe running style

[Antonya]

"Starts with P and ends with S"...for a minute I thought he meant "PMS"!

[westside]

Trail Runner: One Dirty Magazine

Krissy Moehl, on the cover of trail running magazine is an elite trail runner and I've seen her in a dress. She's shaped well and classy looking.

[westside]

Originally Posted by GME

I am by no means an expert, but I did read on a running board that a very common mistake people is running too much for their joints early on. They say people develop lung and and cardiovascular capacity much more quickly than their joints strengthen up, so you feel like you can go farther, faster, more but wind up hurting themselves. Made sense to me.

I've been running for about 12 weeks and its been probably the last 3 or so that I have seen a positive change in the physical appearance of my lower body.

True and that's the reason why people should run steady for at least a year before taking on something like a marathon.

Lance Armstrong and his first marathon is a case in point.

He hardly trained. His longest run was 13 miles. He ran a sub-3 hour marathon at New York City based on his aerobic capacity but he suffered a minor stress fracture around his Tibia and the muscle pulled away from his shin.

[RunForYourLife]

Wow.

I have to say I'm about sick and tired of the runners vs. non-runners phenomenon. It's like the SAHM vs. working mom phenomenon. If you don't like to run, don't like cardio, yay for you. Glad you found something that works!!!

Those of us who like to run don't need articles about how we're not "supposed to" run. We are supposed to run. Human beings were built to run! Some choose to do so, some don't. It's personal, but it's not destructive.


Ileen, I take issue with your "anti-cardio" stance. I'm sorry to be so direct, but I've seen you show up in other cardio threads and poo poo cardio activity. You have a fantastic figure and I congratulate you on that. But some of us have moved beyond the "physique building" aspect of exercise and have learned to benefit from the mental soothing that comes from engaging our bodies in long-term, sustained physical (cardio) activity. It's more than just losing weight or trimming waists, it's about reducing stress and depression, it's about self-respect, conditioning, good health and the psychological boost that cardio (in my case, running) offers. I also weight train and get the benefits from weight training, but I do not get the mood-altering, psychological "high" that extended cardio training offers me. Ever.

I know many healthy, robust and - yes! - fast running women. They absolutely GLOW, even when they are not running. They do not look like males. They look like vibrant, healthy, strong women.

I am a "wide body" female who takes issue with Mike Boyd's opinion (opinion, mind you, not fact). There are many "Athenas" out there that can take on a narrow-hipped man any day. I don't appreciate the opinion that we bigger girls, we child-bearing-hips girls, are not built for running. That we're a PT patient waiting to happen. In 6 years of running (which includes more 5ks than I can count, several 10ks, 7 half-marathons and 3 marathons), I've been to PT ONCE, for plantar fasciitis. I was Rx'ed 18 visits. I was done - cured - in 9 (three weeks). I worked hard, did what I was told, and rallied back. I'm also the mother of 4 so you can only imagine how wide these hips - which have birthed 4 children (twins nearly 7 pounds each, an 11-pounder and a 9 pounder) - are.

So yes - I say it's worth it. It's like anything - in moderation, well consumed, used as directed --- running is very much worth it.

Kathryn

[RunForYourLife]

Good morning

Just got in from a run and re-reading my post, I have to apologize for the antagonistic tone of it. I do mean what I said, just not necessarily as feverent as I said it, LOL. I was in a bit of a mood last night.... fortunately a good night's rest and my time on the road this morning has helped tame it...

Kathryn

[ab1ht]

Originally Posted by RunForYourLife

...I have to apologize for the antagonistic tone of it. I do mean what I said, just not necessarily as feverent as I said it...

I don't think there's any need to apologize. You stated your opinion and did not make any personal attacks or say anything disrespectful.

I actually liked your post. You made excellent points and articulated them well.

-Paul

[cbabe]

so what if you have big hips and small breasts? I have a small frame. Baby birthing hips, not much of a chest. 5'4, currently at 146 pounds, my goal is 135.

I'm getting ready to start couch to 5k but I also have bad knees already(years of beating the concrete floors in retail and food service). I used to run in Jr. High but I was never a distance runner even then. No stamina. I was fast. Ran the 50 and 100 mostly. Back then even the 400 would kill me.

I'm a little nervous to start this but figure I ought to at least give it a try and see how it goes.

[Purple Sage]

Just an update.

I just completed week 5 day 2 and I am feeling great. The pain is all but gone, I love the running. I don't really see a pay of in appearance yet, but I am enjoying it much more. It is so exhillerating to get there!!!!

[inatic]

Originally Posted by ab1ht

I don't think there's any need to apologize. You stated your opinion and did not make any personal attacks or say anything disrespectful.

I actually liked your post. You made excellent points and articulated them well.

-Paul

and what a dicussion forum is all about. thank you.

[oobladee]

My body also was slow to respond to exercise. I have been faithful about walking/biking/jogging/weight lifting/yoga 5-6x weekly since 1985. To this day, my body will still gain weight regardless of how much exercise i do. But i am over it.

Exercise is only about 10-20% of the weight loss equation. Your intake is where that is bascially controlled.

Exercise will eventually give your body tone & strength. Your skin, immune system, blood vessels, bones, muscles will be stronger.

Most of all, regular exercise has helped me thru a divorce without meds, just manages my everyday stress, helps me pray for my day and make strategies. If I never dropped one pound over it, i'll do it till i cannot. Even if I am stuck in a bed, I will do eye-ups. LOL

Make sure to have fun more than choose what is most challenging all of the time. It all counts, the point is, get out and move. Do be cautious about running. All my run fanatic friends have damaged hips/knees/feet after dedicating all of their time to that one activity. Much better to do cross training. I loved running too! Really nothing like it. I can't get it off the ground now at my age....LOL

Get hooked...you will never feel better! You sound like you are doing great!

[healthy lady T]

Hi PurpleSage,

I know this is a week late. I think you initiated some very good diaglogue.
Anyway everyone gave you great suggestions. One other thing I wanted to add is Running is probably the least expensive exercise. The biggest cost is great shoes. You have to have those. I learned that the hard way. I had decent running shoes but they didn't offer the right support and I ended up getting heel spurs really bad. That cost me about a year of not running, cortisone shots you name it. So that is why I said the only expense is shoes. You can run outside, treadmill,run in place, but it is very liberating. You will feel free like a bird. Just pace yourself slowly moving up your mileage. Take the days off during your run so you can recover. Like the previous people mention if you keep staying in pain then you will know what to do.
Good Luck