Welcome to the run addiction!!!

You want to have the best running experience you can have. The first thing you want to do is set a goal. Weather it be a race or just a certain distance. (i.e "I want to make it around my block with out stopping") <--that was my 1st goal .

2nd. And many, many people will agree. Get fitted for proper shoes. This is a common oversight in new runners. For a 290lb runner, look into the Brooks Beast or Pearl Izumi Syncro Guide 2. Pearl's will be more $$$ but will last twice as long. My last pair had around 600+ miles.

3rd, Diet will come with more running. I went from eating 2 bags of M&M's to 1 bag. Seriously, recovery nutrition is key,  its what lets you go again the next day.

Good Luck!!! Keep Runnin'!!!!

Spice,  Not gonna jump you.  Infact I have to agree.  To loosing weight the first thing one has to control is diet.  Even as experienced runners, we can't eat whatever we want.  2 1/2 years ago I lost just over 80 lbs.  It took a year but it has stayed off.

Changing diet is hard.  I have to say changing slowly will make it more of a life style change than a "diet".  Cut 1 unhealthy thing a week.  If you need another week to adjust before adding something else than take the week.  Once you've adjusted than add something else.

Exercise is necessary.  Running is great and I love it.  However I have to agree with spice that you'll need something else as well.  First off  PLEASE make sure you are running in good shoes.  Lifting weights is extreamly important for weight loss.  In fact it keeps on burning calories even when you've stopped lifting.  In addition the elliptical is great because its easy on the knees and bike riding is a great change of pace.

This might sound really stupid, but taking pictures really helped me a lot.  I took a picture of my beginning weight in a swimming suit, and continued every two months untill I reached my goal.  When I was feeling frusterated pulling out these pictures and seeing the physical change, not just the number change, was a huge motivation to keep me going.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Firsttimerunner- If you are just starting out running, then I recommend the C25K training program as a way to transition from walking to running 30 mins.  This plan helps you build up your endurance in running and starts to work on that basic fitness.  I suggest you join a thread on this forum that starts the C25K the same time that you do.  You will develop camarderie with these people & you can moan & groan with them as you work your way thru the program.

Having said that, I agree with the others that if you have weight loss as your goal, you need to add other cardio & strength training to your exercise program. I hope you have a gym available to use during the bad weather. Try to build your average to 40-60 mins per day, and then more later if you have time.  A reasonable goal is 2 lbs/wk: 500 cals/d less food than your basic needs, and an average of 500 cals/day of exercise. I have built up to 90 mins per day (but I'm retired so I've got the time), so sometimes I lose 3#/wk, but my goal is to average 10#/mo.

My diet advice: Eat 3 meals & 2 snacks throughout the day.  Eat whole grain & protein for breakfast (like oatmeal w nuts), have healthy snacks in modest portions (100-180 cals), reduce your portion sizes for lunch & dinner, make sure they are balanced & lean, with lots of fruit & veg, and less processed food.  Find lower calorie, healthy food options at fast food places, if you have to eat on the road.  Keep a journal: record you daily food intake & calories and all of your workouts. Set your goals and limits, but don't beat yourself up if you slip once in a while. Get a Calorie Counter book - the Biggest Loser book even has restaurants in the back.  Don't overeat, just because you did a workout.

Good luck... and see you on the road!

JZTAGRL - Although not necesasarily WW friendly (I think a tablespoon is like 2 - 3 points) peanut butter is a great source of protein and helps deal with the hunger, in my opinion.  A good post run breakfast I have (and you could eat it whatever time of day) is a lowfat waffle with a spread of peanut butter on it (not even a tablespoon).  The carbs and the protein together satisfy me.  I also eat a 1/2 a Zone Perfect bar prior to a run but only if the run is 6 miles or more...anything less than that, I don't eat before hand.  Are you following core or points?  Have you spoken to your leader?  When I did WW I didn't find that the leader knew very much about exercise other than to say you shoudl do it.  Maybe call the corp office if you don't get good advice from your leader.

How about hard boiled eggs.... low in points and huge in protein.  I find that protein is the way to go for me post run (that's why the peanut butter).  Or maybe a small block of cheese.  I personally use a whey protein shake (30 grams of protein) which I find helps with recovery and the famished feeling.  1 scoop of powder is 111 calories and I mix with water so that's 1 point. Or maybe a WW yogurt...1 point also, has protein and fiber, and they're not to bad tasting.  Vita Muffin also makes a muffin that is pretty tasty but expensive...loaded with fiber, don't recall the protein...in the frozen foods section.  They have real staying power, they keep you feeling less hungry and I also think its like 1 or 2 points.  Just a few suggestions that might help.  Try not to eat the points...or at least not all of them.  2 miles isn't really giving you that many additional points anyway.  Good luck....there was a thread somewhere for WW runners...maybe they'll have additional support.

JZTAGRL, I like Gold Standard whey protein shake for after a run to get my post run protein. Before I run, I do a small carb snack for energy, but emphasis on the small. I don't want to get sick from eating before a run.

Thanks for all the good snacking ideas.  I'm going to try all of them and see which works best!  This morning I tried the hard boiled egg with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese.  That seemed to work.....so far