{"id":34391,"date":"2019-10-07T00:01:32","date_gmt":"2019-10-06T16:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/?p=34391"},"modified":"2019-10-31T09:48:47","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T01:48:47","slug":"overweight-running-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/health-injuries\/overweight-running-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Step By Step: How to Start Your Running Journey When Overweight or Obese"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Feeling comfortable in your skin doesn\u2019t mean having the perfect weight or being able to pull off your high school pair of skinny jeans. First and foremost, it means being healthy and capable of performing your daily activities without exhaustion. <\/p>\n<p>If you feel that your health is deteriorating because of your weight or inactivity, it\u2019s time to think about taking on some sports.<\/p>\n<p>Running is usually advised for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/health-injuries\/9-scary-benefits-of-running-and-walking-you-never-knew\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">improving health, fitness, and figure<\/a>. However, people that are not in good shape often hesitate to even begin with running, because beginnings are always difficult. The road ahead is also full of obstacles. Many people make the mistake of going into this too hard and then burning up and giving up.<\/p>\n<p>So, if you\u2019re willing to give it a shot, here is a step by step guide that will make your running journey more successful.<\/p>\n<h2>Discuss this matter with your doctor<\/h2>\n<p>When you\u2019re overweight or obese, starting strenuous exercise could endanger your health, especially if you don\u2019t know your limits. Before taking up running, it\u2019s best to perform a full physical to check your blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital signs. You should also take a blood test to check cholesterol and sugar levels.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34413\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34413\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1.jpg\" alt=\"Step By Step: How to Start Your Running Journey When Overweight or Obese\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-1-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34413\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: unsplash.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Once you have the results, you can talk to your doctor about the process you\u2019ll need to undertake to get in shape. Also, make sure to tell your physician if you\u2019re experiencing any pain, such as joint or back pain.<\/p>\n<h2>Start by walking<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s understandable that you want to get into running as soon as possible, but if you jump into it too fast, you\u2019ll either get injured or lose your motivation. Instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/g00\/fitness-exercise\/features\/born-to-run-walk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">start by walking<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34414\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34414\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2.jpg\" alt=\"Step By Step: How to Start Your Running Journey When Overweight or Obese\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-2-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34414\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: freepik.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Walk long distances at your normal pace for a week or two. Move on to brisk walking for 20 minutes a day. Take breaks if you feel like you can\u2019t breathe. The best way to test if you can handle some more brisk walking is by trying to have a conversation while walking. If that\u2019s not possible, slow down or take a break.<\/p>\n<p>Try to add a few minutes to your routine every day. Also, try to add some speed every time you walk. Set a goal for five to eight weeks to build strength and endurance to prepare your body for what comes next.<\/p>\n<h2>Prevent common running-related problems<\/h2>\n<p>Even the fittest among the athletes face problems when running. For overweight and obese runners, the risks are even higher. Here are the most common problems you should pay attention to when running:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Muscle soreness induced by running. Those are actually micro-tears in the tissue. This is a problem that goes away gradually, but it does affect your next run, so make sure to maximize muscle recovery by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/training\/the-heel-to-glute-stretch-improves-your-balance-and-flexibility\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">stretching<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/food-nutrition\/done-with-your-run-grab-a-fork-to-speed-your-recovery\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">eating the right foods<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Chafing (superficial skin injuries caused by friction). Wearing sweat-soaked clothes definitely contributes to this. This is not a severe issue, but it is a very annoying one. Fortunately, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theadventurejunkies.com\/how-to-stop-chafing-while-hiking\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">you can avoid chafing<\/a> with fit clothes, adequate fabrics, drinking water, and using powders to keep your skin dry.<\/li>\n<li>Dizzy spells can happen because of dehydration or if you\u2019re running on an empty stomach. Make sure you check with a coach or a nutritionist about a healthy runner\u2019s diet to prevent that and always keep a bottle of water on you.<\/li>\n<li>Feet blisters happen from wearing uncomfortable or new shoes and socks. Find a fitting and supportive pair of shoes designed for running.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Ready, set, go!<\/h2>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve successfully mastered brisk walking and researched the potential problems that can occur during strenuous exercise, you\u2019re ready to include some running in your routine. Again, you\u2019ll need to take things slow. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34415\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34415\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4.jpg\" alt=\"Step By Step: How to Start Your Running Journey When Overweight or Obese\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-4-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34415\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: unsplash.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Warm up by walking for five to ten minutes.<\/li>\n<li>Move on to brisk walking for three minutes.<\/li>\n<li>Jog for a minute or for as long as you can take it without getting too exhausted.<\/li>\n<li>Walk again, then go back to running.<\/li>\n<li>Gradually increase the jogging until you reach the point when you\u2019re running without the need for walking.<\/li>\n<li>And, of course, don\u2019t forget to stretch before and after the run.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Use the additional get-healthy tools<\/h2>\n<p>Running is a great start, but if you really want to make positive changes to your health, you should complement this effort with a healthy and balanced diet. This is not only about losing weight. It\u2019s mostly about keeping your organs in shape and prolonging your life.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34417\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34417\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3.jpg\" alt=\"Step By Step: How to Start Your Running Journey When Overweight or Obese\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-3-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34417\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: unsplash.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re an avid carnivore, stick to lean meats packed with protein. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Include whole grains and seafood in your diet. Opt for low-fat dairy instead of the products that are high in fat.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Running is one of the best ways to get in shape and maintain optimal health because it comes to your body naturally \u2013 after all, humans have been running since the dawn of time. And this is exactly what makes it the easiest to master. <\/p>\n<p>Of course, the easiest doesn\u2019t have to mean easy, and it usually doesn\u2019t. It will take time. It will take effort.<\/p>\n<p><em>Don\u2019t let anyone tell you that you can\u2019t do it. Because you can do whatever you want.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feeling comfortable in your skin doesn\u2019t mean having the perfect weight or being able to pull off your high school pair of skinny jeans. First and foremost, it means being healthy and capable of performing your daily activities without exhaustion. If you feel that your health is deteriorating because of your weight or inactivity, it\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":159,"featured_media":34410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[1934,162],"class_list":{"0":"post-34391","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-injuries","8":"tag-running","9":"tag-running-tips"},"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/overweightrunningjourney-thumb1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb2Hix-8WH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}