You’ve wanted to start a regimen of running or training for marathons for a while. If you’re hesitating because you think you need some special knowledge, US Marine’s discipline, or tons of free time – think again. It’s easy to come up with a plan for running as exercise. The key is to take baby steps once you’ve decided to “get off the couch.”
1. First steps
Just put on your running sneakers and get out there! Start wherever you are. The #1 mistake of all new runners is to get excited and take on too much, too fast. Running too far or too hard during the beginning of your training can leave you feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. If you are starting off extremely out-of-shape or overweight, you might want to contemplate starting with a walking program. Develop a plan of four weeks of walking 30 to 45 minutes 3X a week, and build from that. You could alternatively start with a run/walk program.
Envision each 30-minute workout as a sandwich with 20 minutes of running in the middle and a warm-up and cool-down as the bread. Run until you are breathing heavily and then walk until it calms down. Repeat. This will keep you exercising at your own personal limit for that day, and help you avoid over-exhaustion afterwards. Remember: the best kind of workout is one that you enjoyed!
2. Adjusted nutrition
As with the running itself, focused nutrition, as part of a running for weight loss regimen, should be approached with baby steps, otherwise you could crash and burn. The more slow and steady a nutrition transition, the more you’ll be able to adapt and stick with new changes.
You could start by tracking what you eat for a couple of weeks. (apps: FitDay, MyFitnessPal and FitBit.) It’s helpful for many runners to see exactly how many calories, fat, proteins and carbohydrates they’re consuming and from which foods. This kind of awareness helps you pass on that extra piece of chocolate, late at night.