I think you will find this site very beneficial, I know I certainly have.  I think that if you want to let go of the past, don't start with any expectations.  Don't go out to run 2 miles, just go out and run and see what happens.  Use your first few runs to see where you are at, and then decide where it is that you want to go.  Perhaps it is the distance that you have set for your run that is prohibiting you from getting out there.  Don't set yourself up for failure or to be discouraged, start slowly and enjoy the journey.  My story started last summer when my son was running cross country, and I asked him why he didn't sprint at the finish, and the short version is that he said that I wasn't a runner and wouldn't understand.  So I began my journey to become a runner, so I would understand.  I told him that I would enter a 5k, and figured I would have no problem, although not a runner, I was in decent shape and had done cardio runs on the treadmill.  That was the biggest mistake and the worse run I have ever had!  I struggled all the way through it, and forced my self to run the whole thing (if you can call it running).  I had an expectation and failed miserably, and it took some time before I got back out there.  About a month later, I started out running for a little ways, then walking, then running some more.  After several weeks, I could finally run 2 miles, then 3, 4, 5, 6, and that is where I am at now.  Now I use the races to celebrate my goals, and I make sure that I am comfortable at the distance before I enter them.  As far as walking on your off days, I do that all the time.  It helps me stay motivated plus the physical benefits of walking, and still gives my body a day to recover.  Just thought I would share my perspective from that of a new runner.

Congratulations on embracing a "Can Do" attitude, and you will get there!  All it takes is pumping one foot in foot of the other, and lots of patience.  Don't expect to be able to run a marathon in the first week - set realistic goals for yourself, and stick with a schedule.  This is the most important advice that I can give you.  If you have a schedule of when you are going to run, and when to increase your mileage, you set manageable expectations for yourself, and allow your body to ease naturally into a new sport.  Try sticking to a 5k running program, and find a local fun run to enter at the end of your training.  This will get you started on the right foot, and keep you motivated to get out there!

Good Luck and Happy Running!

Greenknight,

Good luck in your goal to reach around the 210lbs mark. I am aiming for about the same as you, I was over 250lbs seven weeks ago and now floating around the 240lbs mark. I agree with you about not being able or even wanting to do things, it is certainly a mental thing as well as a weight thing.

The biggest issue I found was when i started with my volunteer fire dept last year. At 37 I thought it would be a fun thing to don 65lbs of clothing, pull a 2inch hose full of water and run into a burning building. Mentally I was ready, physically not so much. So, I put myself through a gruelling weight lifting program and although didnt drop much weight, I certainly got stronger and was in fact much stronger than the 20 somethings that were in my class. But it didnt help too much, in fact it hindered me more than anything. It is great saying I can do a full squat of my body weight, but after about an hour of running in and out of burning buldings during training, I was cramping up and hurting bad, while the younger guys just kept going. Then I got way to cocky and pulled a muscle in my back, which stopped my weight training and led me to finding the C25K program. This program has certainly changed my attitude to running and my fitness level. Nothing leaves me out of breathe any more and doing things like putting my fire gear on is so much easier now. Plus the wife likes the more svelt me, rather than the big barrel chested version I was not so long ago.

So good luck in your quest and I hope you succeed.

Walking is a great exercise and the perfect way to start getting into running again, if that is your eventual goal. I haven't gotten a ton of feedback here yet but I'm new, I joined like two days ago. I'm training for my first race since 1993 and I definitely am not running the way I used to - back then I ran maybe 35-50 miles a week! Right now when I don't miss any days I'm guessing I'm doing around 20ish. What I always tell myself is that I should just schedule it and aim to do it, even if when I start it's just 20 minutes, every other day. It hasn't been too hard to run now, but when I first tried to start exercising again, my daughter (who is now 7) was two. I read a lot of magazine articles and articles about working out and how you have to make it a habit by writing it on your schedule or putting it in your phone like it's an appt that you need to keep. Carve out that time in your day every time it's scheduled, and if you can't do 20 min at once, then do 10 min twice. The point more than anything is to do it... even if you are walking instead of running, even if you feel uninspired, because the more you do it and the more time passes, the better you feel and it becomes part of your daily or weekly routine! I love my tunes so having good music helps me start - and continue, even when I'm tired, have other things to do, etc lol.

Just remember, the start of a journey begins with a single step - and just keep stepping

Jen (ALatteCrazy)