Help! Started running and im always in pain!! (BMI, overweight, doctor)

[SophieLL]

Hi! Looking for advice. I started running 5 days ago (and i went everyday). Wanted to be more fit, since i went to the doctor, weight, and realized i gained about 15 pounds in the last 3 years (havent wieght in a long time). I was thin, so its not that i am overweight (im 5´8, 150 pounds) and BMI says im on the "normal" range. I used to watch what i eat last year, but this year i move with my boyfriend and he eats all kinds of junk food, and i cook for both of us (he cant cook), and everytime i do something with anything "green" on it, he says he doesnt like it. He loves pizzas, hotdogs and hamburguers, this is his diet . The strange part, is that he is thin and fit as a male model, although i bet his blood levels of everything are not good. We are both young, 27 and 28, but im not as lucky as him with the super fast metabolism (and i eat much much less than him) and this food i ve been eating this past 2 months (its been 2 month since we move together), made me gain weight and feel like crap. So, 5 days ago i said "hell, cook your own food, make yourself your hot dogs and i will eat healthy". And i did.

I also started running to stay fit (used to go to the gym all the time last year, but i havent excerised since november!) and im loving every minute of it. Run for about an hour and a half at night by the river, now that winter is about to start and the weather is beautiful! I feel better when im running and right after im doing it, and motivated, even when im tired of work i go cause it feels so good. The bad part is that a few hours after i got home, when im about going to sleep, im ALL in pain. My arms, my legs, my waist, everything HURTS a lot. And i do stretch, i learned how to in my gim years. But it seems that no matter how bad i strectch i go to sleep and wake up feeling the most miserable pain. Will this go away??

I ve never run by myself before (always went to the gym or did supervised sports like hockey, basquet) so maybe there is something im doing wrong here, or something i dont know. Is there a way to make this horrible pains to stop?? Its a shame im having them, cause otherwise this excersise will be perfect, but now it feels so bad (specially in the cold mornings, having to get up to work in such pain).

any advices??

Thanks in advance.

Sophie.

[AnonChick]

You started with too much at once.

Running for 1.5 hours on your very first day, then 1.5 hours every day, 5 days in a row after that, is just too much for a body that isn't used to running at all.

You should start slow: 1/2 hour first couple of days. 45 minutes next couple of days. Back to 1/2 hour the third day. 45 minutes the next couple of days. An hour the next couple of days. Back to 45 minutes the next day. An hour again, the next couple of days. And so on..

Every couple of days, you should be giving your body a break.

You should also make sure your shoes are sturdy and flexible and have the proper arch supports necessary for long-distance running, and drink a little water before you go, and plenty of water when you're done.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by SophieLL

My arms, my legs, my waist, everything HURTS a lot. And i do stretch, i learned how to in my gim years. But it seems that no matter how bad i strectch i go to sleep and wake up feeling the most miserable pain. Will this go away??

You're taxing muscles you haven't used in awhile. Yes, the pain will go away, but please slow down a little bit! There's no need to be off to the races, so to speak. Work up to that 90 minutes gradually; alternate your duration from day to day until you're well conditioned.

And don't forget to take a rest day -- no running at all -- at least once a week.

Also, check your shoes and make sure they're still supportive and supple, and that your heels don't slide around inside. When my legs hurt, my shoes are the first thing I take a look at.

[CAVA1990]

You probably should have started with a walking program and then worked your way up to running with a run-walk-run in between You might want to consider doing that still.

[SophieLL]

Thanks for all the great advice!
You are right that i might be doing all to sudden and my body must be punishing me for that, lol. Im gonna take it slower, today im not gonna run, just walk in the afternoon. Maybe just bike on saturday and rest on sunday. On Monday im gonna try running less than an hour.
Thanks again guys for the advice!

[Authentic Bird]

My advice to u is :
-to stop running and do walking every day in regular times.
-Don't stress yourself too much.
-If you want to lose weight, Care to be GRADUAL and not all at once.
-Keep eating enough amounts of healthy food.

Best wishes

[rd2007]

One word will answer almost any question and apply to almost every situation in here.. moderation