Where to start?

[unfitwanabee]

Hello, I've just come across this site in the look for answers.
Right where to start?!
I'm very unfit and overweight, tried to go for a jog earlier got around 100 metres and felt like I was going to die, but I really want to get in the parachute regiment, and before anyone starts with the fat jokes, I've heard them all before.
Joining the paras is the only thing I can see myself doing, I've just left school, not going to sixthform as I hated school with passion, and I don't see me doing anything else, I hate the indoors and I hate working the same routine everyday(one reason why I hated school).
I want to get fit enough to join the paras, I know it's going to be down to my hard work but I don't know where to start regarding training.
Could some of you tell me what I should do because I don't know anything about fitness and need a hand working out what to do so I can put the effort in to achieve my goals.
I'll be thankful of any help.

[fodd]

mate when i left school i weighed 18 stone and was a 44 inch waist and lost it all and ended up in the marines good effort mate and work hard you will do it ignore what people say when your in the reg they will shut up trust me from experiance

[Steve14]

to start running use this plan

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I used it, starting out I could not run for more than 60 seconds, now I run 3 miles 3 times a week.

try cycling too and swimming, regularly 3 times a week

[Mr_Kiwi]

where to start? well from the sounds of things your cardio fitness isnt the best, so start with eating right so you can lose excess calorie intake, theres loads of eating plans/ideas on this site just use the search facility.
Secondly get yourself to a gym, or if you have some cardio equipment at home us that, if your running ability is cr*p start with some cycling and crosstrainer. those things are great for cardio and fat loss.

Obviously you want to try and work in some strengthening exercises in there. so throw in some weights to tone up and situps/pressups to starting building your core muscles. No one here can go into an indepth plan that will suit you, only you or your personal instructor can do that.

swimming is another good work out, just depends on if theres a pool near by.

This site is full of great people will more advice than you can shake a stick at so ask around, but if you think someone else might have asked the same question before use the search button first

Cheers and good luck

EDIT: Also if you let people know where you live on your location part next to your name you might get offers for gym buddies and so on. worth a shot

[unfitwanabee]

Thank you very much, I think I might just use that Couch to 5K routine, we have a cross trainer in the house. Would I just it on the same days as the running or on seperate days?
How many rest days a week?

[Steve14]

I run on mondays, weds and fridays if i miss a day i leave a day rest in between or my knees hurt

dont know about the cross trainer

[unfitwanabee]

mate when i left school i weighed 18 stone and was a 44 inch waist and lost it all and ended up in the marines good effort mate and work hard you will do it ignore what people say when your in the reg they will shut up trust me from experiance

After going through the forums and reading your story I find you an inspiration, good luck with the marines.

[Mr_Kiwi]

it all depends, i would say start off very very slowly on running, firstly go buy a top pair of shoes, get a running assesment done to find out early on if you have any strange patterns or running needs. Take that seriously, a lot of blokes on here including myself would have loved to have known that when we started (fcking shinsplints).

Start running on something soft, grass is always best.
I would say use the crosstrainer almost daily, maybe 30min a day. They dont have any impact on joints so you wont feel sore from them the next day and its just pure cardio, cant beat it. at the moment I would say rest whenever you feel like it, at least 1 day a week, probably more seems your starting out. The last thing you want to do (and it will be said many times) is do yourself an injury from taking on to much at once.

One good and easy work out on the crosstrainer is a short 10minute one i came up with in the gym months ago. Your first minute warm up on 60rpm then for the second minute push at 90rpm then for the 3rd 60, 4th 90 and so on. just something to vary the work out

So do a couple of runs a week, use the crosstrainer, and throw in some situps/pushups before bed and first thing in the morning.
Cut down (if you eat it) on McDonalds and all that cr*p, get yourself a good breakfast food and just be healthy. Its quite easy to do all of this, just need a bit of self motivation. anyway, welcome to the site, have a browse around and learn what you can from everyone.


Cheers

[fodd]

mate when i left school i weighed 18 stone and was a 44 inch waist and lost it all and ended up in the marines good effort mate and work hard you will do it ignore what people say when your in the reg they will shut up trust me from experiance

After going through the forums and reading your story I find you an inspiration, good luck with the marines.

bloody hell mate thankyou for the words.

like i said mate been in that boat before and people laughed at me when i said wanted to join the marines i didn't really look after myself like i should of to bulllys lack of confidence etc

but once when i was on leave a lad from me school comes up and smacks me and says he wants a fight because i was in the marines i didn't need to hit him back as when i laughed at him and called him a faggot that sort of gave him that punch i wanted to give him.

what im saying is mate if you want to be a parra fuc@k what people say it's down to you and good luck mate!!

[unfitwanabee]

Thank you all for your help and advice.
Did my first day today, started with press-ups, sit-ups, squats etc. Then I went on the cross trainer for 30 minutes with two 1 minute breaks to have a drink, I was surprised by the amount you sweat. My thighs know ache along with my chest from the press-ups, aswell I did some last night before I went to bed.
I've still got to do the first part of that couch to 5k program, but I've not long had dinner and looking at the weather I may have to leave it too tomorrow, I'll have to wait and see, and I'm going to do the body weight exercises again before bed.
It's surprising how after you've done something, no matter how small, it feels an achievement.
Cheers.

[Stokey_14]

Did my first day today, started with press-ups, sit-ups, squats etc. Then I went on the cross trainer for 30 minutes with two 1 minute breaks to have a drink, I was surprised by the amount you sweat. My thighs know ache along with my chest from the press-ups, aswell I did some last night before I went to bed.

Great stuff keep that up and the weight will soon drop off! My only piece of advice for you would be don't go getting down hearted when the results you want don't come in the 1-2-3-4 or even more months, they will come eventually (just different for different people) so stick with it and best of luck.

Stokey

[BIgstan88]

Alright mate as you say you find it difficult to run for a long period of time why dont you try this.
6 months ago i couldnt run for jack and i mean that i was utter crap.
Try going out for a run for just 10 mins to start of (and run at a pace that feels comfortable until you get your breathing under control). Now do these short 10 min runs about 5 times a week.

Each week add 2 mins onto your run. once you get over 15 mins a run take down your runs in the week down to four. And when you get over 20 minutes cut it down to three.

By the way good luck mate and if someones giving you crap dont listen to it you know what your training for and keep visualising it.

[jay999]

The above advice is very good, if you find you cannot run for the said time then start off by jogging for 2minutes and walking for one. Continue this until you have walked and jogged for about 25minutes. Then in later sessions begin to decrease the amount you walk and increase the amount you jog and then from there I would take the advice written by bigstan as above.

[roger that]

mate when i left school i weighed 18 stone and was a 44 inch waist and lost it all and ended up in the marines good effort mate and work hard you will do it ignore what people say when your in the reg they will shut up trust me from experiance

you did not answer his question. you just wanted to remind people (again) that you were in the marines, which infact u were not.... u were were in recruit training,.

[tom163]

DAMN! A LOW BLOW 'roger that'. I dont see you doing anything or been in the Army etc. All it says in your profile under occupation is 'parasite', What the hell is that?

Anyway unfitwanabee a bit of advice that will hopefully help you out along the route to fitness:

1. Dont do much cycling/biking as it shortns your back hamstrings which is no good for running.

2. Change your diet- 5 fruit/veg a day, 3 good meals a day (breakfast, Dinner and Tea) and plenty of water a day.

3. Be sure to have rest days in each week and get at least 8-9 hours sleep a nite for muscles to repair.

4. Try doing morning runs if possible, as it will be harder to swap from afternoon/nite runs to morning runs that you will be doing in training.

Hope that helps you in some ways mate.

I also have a copy of the Infantry and Para training program that I got from my ACIO I can send you via email etc if you want and help you out in any other way Send me a PM if you're interested