I started jogging because I stopped loosing wieght. I was able to loose approx 25-30lbs simply through changing my eating habits. But then I hit a dead end. I simply could not get lower than that. So I wanted to start excersising to jump my body back into gear. When I started jogging I couldn't go 5 minutes withought feeling like I my body was about to fall into a hundred pieces. I layed on my bed for a hour feeling like total crap. But I saw that thread by lace and feet on jogging and kept it up and was slowly able to work myself up jogging every other day for 7, then 10, then 11 then 12 minutes straight, with a minute and a half walk, with another five minute jog after. And usually after I felt great. Energized and healthy. But the last time I went, suddenly, it was harder! I managed to do my goal of putting on another minute so I rean 13 straight, walked for a minute and a half, but could only get another 3 minutes after. Today I went... I got to 8 and a half minutes and I had to stop. walked for a minute and a half, and only got another maybe minute and a half in again. What happened?!? I was doing so well... and suddenly its like my body just pooped out. My eating habits didn't change all that much, though I find now I'm craving fatty and sweet foods a whole lot more. That happens everytime I start to work out. My body wants to make up for all the fat I'm burning and I start to crave sweets and mc donalds like crazy. Thats my ultimate bane. I submit to cravings. I'm going downhill and I'm worried. I wan't to keep up jogging as a hobby, but hobbies just arn't the same if they're not fun! And how can it be fun if I feel like I"m failing?? It sucks. Just to give you a visual, I'm 5'7 at 160-165 lbs (I was up to 190 before I lost the weight) I would LOVE to be in the 130's, but I'll be happy with 140's.
You might need to switch it up a bit. Sometimes, your body gets so used to a certain exercise that it no longer responds to it, or you burn out from it. Try bike riding, rollerblading, something different for a little while. If you truly enjoy jogging, you'll find that a nice break will do you good.
the exact same thing happened to me (with jogging). i was going about 3-4 times a week, getting better & better every time, and then suddenly one day my body just couldn't do it. i know what you mean about not wanting to jog when it feels like you're "failing". i felt the exact same way. i got kind of grumpy and didn't jog for a week. instead of counting the minutes, i decided to just go out and try to enjoy myself without the pressure. it seems to have helped. i just got back from a great jog. i think that alternating with biking or swimming is a good suggestion though.
Hi All: Sorry I've been away for a while, I just moved this past weekend and we don't even have internet yet! Sucks! Anyway, first things first: There is no such thing as failing in this. You just take it one day at a time and do your best. If you know you are doing what you absolutely can do, then who cares what records you break. So one day you have more energy than another, that happens. Hell, I don't wake up wanting to run a marathon every day. As a matter of fact, there are days when I don't even want to go near a gym. It's all good though. I know the benefits of exercise. On days where I feel like that, I just find something else to do, like move furniture or go swimming or hiking in the woods. You don't always have to do that same thing. One thing I will tell you though is you will not get anywhere, if you don't believe you can. Here are some quotes for all of you: All that we are is the result of what we have thought. — Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind. — Darwin P. Kingsley Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon. — Denis Waitley Now, on to the running thing. Like I said, some days your body wants to do certain things, other days it just isn't in the mood. Now you can force yourself to do things that you might not want to do, that is entirely up to you. There are many people who believe that this is good for you and makes you more disciplined. I would rather see someone in the beginning stages of exercise form better health habits that they are going to stick with. Therefore, it is my opinion, that if you dig running so much, maybe find a partner to do it with, that really does help. Because on days when you feel like poop, someone might pull you up and say "lets go you can do it". People need that encouragement. Or find a club in your area, I have one here for mountain biking. Maybe if you can afford it (check online you will get some good deals) look for running clothes or shoes. Look for a dirt or clay track in your area (I cringe when I see people running on the sidewalk, god my knees!!!) Also, you never mentioned what time of day you are running. It does make a big difference. You should never run in the middle of the day, especially not in the summer months. Run when the sun is not very hot, such as in the early morning or at dusk. You might be surprised at how much the heat zaps your energy. Also, consider what you eat before you run. If you just had a huge lunch, then you try to run, it ain't gonna work out how you planned. Trust me. And make sure you are getting enough water, again especially in the summer. You said you started jogging because you wanted to lose more weight, that you had hit a plateau. Maybe try lifting weights. This should jump start your body to learn to raise your resting metabolic rate (meaning how many calories you are burning, when you are doing nothing). Also, change up your routine, as someone else pointed out. When you are running you are constantly putting stress on your joints and you are using the same exact muscles over and over. Eventually those muscles are just going to get used to what you are doing, and it won't work anymore. Maybe take 2 days a week and do something else like swimming since it is summer, or volleyball (my favorite sport) or rowing or tennis. If you want things to do by yourself, maybe do an aerobics video at home or just crank up the radio and boogie around! As far as your cravings for icky foods... I get them all of the time! It is completely understandable. And controlable. If you crave McDonald's for instance, and you know that it is a food craving and not a "security" craving, then go to McDonald's march up to the counter and order one hamburger happy meal w/ diet coke (or milk if you prefer). Easy as that. Should take care of your craving, and you get a cool toy. If you are craving chocolate, try choco milk with skim milk. Or jello pudding, in a single serving size, they have sugar free which is great. Ice cream there are tons and tons of different alternatives out there. I personally love the Healthy Choice ice cream bars. All of them are great. They have ice cream sandwiches that are caramel and vanilla. Boy I'm getting hungry! There are so many other substitutes, it would take up a whole thread! I'll get started on that as soon as we get internet up. Also, you might want to look up some of the junk that is actually in those fast foods. I would much rather go home and make a hamburger than get one from McDonalds any day! Gross! Once your body gets used to not having those things, you won't crave them after a while. I went 3 years without eating fast food, now I only have it once every 3 months or so, if that. Just not worth it to me. I have to get back to work, I hope this helps for now. I'll be here more often when I get internet up at home. Take care of yourself and be good to your body.
i think that your body just burnt out. your muscles need to recooperate. so i think you just over worked them. but like other people said, changing things up a bit can help a lot. swimming and bicycling are great alternatives. and the cravings can be beat. i didn't eat any fast food for a 2 semesters and now i can't even look at a fast food place without shuddering. i just can't stomach that anymore. when i did go for runs/jogs, i just went out and did it, i never kept track of time. i sung songs in my head and different other things and within no time, i had done the 5 mile loop. i had to work up to doing that without stopping, but once i got to do it, it was easy. at school, we'd go for 40-60 minute runs around campus and it felt like 10 minutes. its all about whats in your head. and doing all the exercise at school, i lost 40 pounds. but now i'm back to being as heavy as i was before last school year, but i haven't lost any substantial muscle mass. but i had knee surgery which put me down and i'm still down. so i'm gonna have to do it all over again and lose the weight again...but i know i can do it. soooo.....if you believe you can do it, you will do it.
Thanks guys for all the advice. I love swimming and I want to do more of that. I've got to find low budget ways of doing it. With summer here it's nice because I can go to the beach occasionally and that doesnt cost me anything. I want to join a sports team or something. I think that would be soooo much fun. But I have no idea where to start! plus all the expense is too much right now. I just started a new job and I have to move out in a month. It's all so jumbly right now! Thats why I was excited about jogging. Cheap, no travel time, and I can do it anywhere. I think I'll have another go at it, and research into alternative activities.
