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insegnante
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| Posted: Oct 13 2009 at 4:19pm | IP Logged
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I'm asking about your personal experiences with running (for exercise,) while having preexisting occasional joint soreness/stiffness and/or excess weight. From what I have read, running is not necessarily a cause of joint problems, but since some of my joints already bother me fairly frequently, I need to do more research. I'm also overweight, about 25-35 pounds (and I'm not talking by fashion model standards,) which I guess adds to preexisting strain on my joints.
I'm enjoying exercise walking again lately after a long break... surprised by how quickly I rebuild stamina, and the walking, even in wearing-out shoes that were not really designed for exercise, doesn't seem to be causing problems. I'm also enjoying seeing my weight finally start to creep downward again after a long plateau, and finding myself looking to fit walks into any spare time, so wondering whether I'd get more benefit from running if I can find any time at all for it (can't really bring the kids.) And if I wouldn't be too embarrassed to be seen attempting it 
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Theresa
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Oct 13 2009 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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I'm about your age, with three kids as well, and about the same amount overweight. Are you sure of the cause of your joint pain? I have joint pain and stiffness pretty often as well, especially in the morning, and it is all because of sugar. I have moderate off and on success getting sugar completely out of my diet and I don't understand why I can't keep at it when I feel so great when I'm doing it. But I digress. So if you aren't sure what is causing your joint pain don't assume it is degeneration that would be exacerbated by running.
As for how bad running itself would be, I wish I could say. I haven't been a regular runner in several years though I, too, would like to get back into it.
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Oct 13 2009 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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I think it would be perfectly fine to try running a bit and see if your joint pain gets any worse from it. It may actually get better! Like Susan said, the joint pain could be from any number of factors and may not be affected by running at all.
I have been a runner (on and off--right now I'm "on"  ) since high school, and running (along with the stretching I do after a good run) has actually seemed to help the joint stiffness I used to have.
And though I'm at a normal weight range now, at my heaviest, I was running while about 20 pounds overweight--no noticeable effects from that.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Oct 13 2009 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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I think it would depend on the reason for the pain.. I know that I have to be very careful and so running is out for me.. but my knees are just not stable enough and any injury results in tendonitis for me. And if you had problems with the cartiledge or such, then it could make it worse I would think.. so finding out exactly why would help.
Have you considered something like t-tapp that you can do in the house? it has benefits of both aerobic and strengthening exercise which can really help get the weight off.
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Oct 13 2009 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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I had tried to run before losing some weight and my knee had a tough time. Even walking was hard. I lost a few pounds with South Beach and I can walk again!!! I think losing a few pounds first, somehow, would help. So, you might try losing even a few pounds to see if decreasing stress on your joints helps. I just always increased my activity to lose weight. Guess I am getting old 
Anne
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 5:24am | IP Logged
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mom2mpr wrote:
Guess I am getting old
Anne |
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I know I am! And I'm overweight, more like 40 pounds.  I've been starting and stopping the Couch to 5K plan found on the internet. Usually around week 3 my knees hurt so badly I can't continue. So, I just walk. I'm sure it's a combination of age and weight. The best thing is to keep moving and watch what you eat!
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 Paula
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 7:33am | IP Logged
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Paula in MN wrote:
mom2mpr wrote:
Guess I am getting old
Anne |
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I know I am! And I'm overweight, more like 40 pounds. I've been starting and stopping the Couch to 5K plan found on the internet. Usually around week 3 my knees hurt so badly I can't continue. So, I just walk. I'm sure it's a combination of age and weight. The best thing is to keep moving and watch what you eat! |
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YES!!!
I did the same thing, the Couch to 5K and, knowing I was older (ha ha) did each week's training for 2 weeks and also could not continue past week 3. My knee was a mess.
I found a great, really gentle, pathetically gentle (realize I did triathlons in my 20's), walking program on Sparkpeople and I have enjoyed it and have had no joint issues. I feel so, so old...but am glad to be moving again.
Anne
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 8:52am | IP Logged
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What about walking strongly? I have been walking for 2 years now and it was a lifesaver for me when getting started and was able to walk all through my pregnancy and labor! I know I now need to do more to get more of this poundage off me, but I feel very strong.
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violingirl
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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I don't have chronic joint pain in my legs, but I do have torn cartilidge in one knee that prevents me from running. I found that I can use an eliptical machine without stressing my knee too much and wanted to offer that suggestion.
I was supposed to have my knee repaired 5 years ago- but I became pregnant with my first, then was nursing, then pregnant, then nursing . . . Maybe I need to re-schedule the surgery for a third time so that I will get pregnant again. :)
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lilac hill
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| Posted: Oct 15 2009 at 7:56am | IP Logged
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DH and I find that if we limit running to 3 times a week, bike the other days, out joints are not bad, just occasionally stiff.Running some just gets the whole thing over quicker.
DH is coming back from an Achilles strain (at the end of May and is starting to run again.
We also do the walk/run regime. I started with 3 min walk/2 min run, eventually got to 2 walk /3 run and now I do 8min run/2 walk. The recovery walking really helps with my overall stiffness. We follow some of the Jeff Galloway stuff but DH cannot do the hill work since he has Achilles trouble.
Tylenol helps too.
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Taffy
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| Posted: Oct 15 2009 at 10:26am | IP Logged
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I received this in my email this morning. Thought it might apply here...
Quote:
Denial Is A River In Egypt
I saw that on a sign about 6 months ago when I went to a rehab facility to see a patient. I was curious as to what the significance was, so I asked one of the therapists. He said it's a favorite saying in group therapy when one group member is in denial and starts making excuses for his or her drug or alcohol issues -- justifying behaviors. The group will shout "Denial is a river in Egypt". No denial allowed!
For some reason through out the week following that visit the sign kept haunting me. "Why was it bugging me?" I asked my very wise 27 year old daughter. I'm certainly not in denial about anything! She rolled her eyes." Oh mother, you are so in denial about a lot of things"! "Like what"?? I asked her indignantly. "Well for starters, how about the 15 pounds you put on last year after finally reaching your goal weight"?
I wasn't in denial, I protested. I was embracing reality. I launched into the role that menopause and hormone replacement therapy plays in metabolism and cruised into the effect that the steroid inhaler that I use for my asthma has on my weight. "Oh", she wondered, "so the French fries and cheesecake you ate last Friday had nothing to do with it"? Still indignant, I told her all about our "set point" weight. You know - the weight you can comfortably maintain without starving yourself?
What else am I denying? "That you can't run", she told me. "I've tried", I told her defensively. Many times. My knee hurts. I get short of breath - probably from the asthma. And it's not like I don't do other cardio exercise. I do! She reminded me that I had said on more than one occasion that I wished I could run like her. Give me a break I'm 26 years older! Maybe I did say that but I've since discovered that some people - like 52 year olds - just aren't meant to run. "BS", she replied. "If you don't want to run and are happy doing other cardio just say so, but quit making excuses"! She challenged me -- "Run with me", she said.
We started out from our warm up walk and the first thing she told me was to slow down. I wasn't in a race. I slowed a little. No! Slow way down. I felt like I was shuffling. Now slow your breathing, she told me. Keep going. But people are going to look at me for running so funny I feared out loud. Nonsense she said. People who don't run aren't critiquing your form. People who do run are saying "Newbie..." and "Way to go"! Every time I wanted to just stop, she gently said come on you can do it. She kept my pace and shuffled right along with me. I saw the school coming up. OH MY GOSH! That's 1/4 of a mile!!I've never ran 1/4 of a mile in my entire life!! I remember in grade school having to stay after school because I couldn't run it during PE class and the sadistic gym teacher made me stay until I did it. Right before I threw up. Maybe that's why unconsciously I wanted to be a runner...
My daughter smiled at me and said now I could walk. She told me to do the same thing again the next day. Now I am up to 1 1/2 consecutive miles on the treadmill with another 1 1/2 run/walking. My pace has improved considerably. I love to run! The first half mile often starts out with thoughts of why on God's earth is a 52 year old trying to run? But, after that I'm on cruise control. I feel like a runner now and am looking forward to a 5K and maybe even a 10K someday!
Anytime I'm faced with unhealthy food choices that look just too appealing, I think of the scale. No, not the one that weighs you. The 1 - 10 scale of happiness. And I put good health and longevity so I can enjoy my family and grandkids waaay above a cheeseburger or movie theater popcorn.
So those 15 pounds are gone again along with my denial. Hopefully never to return again! |
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The original source of this quote is from here.
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Karen T
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| Posted: Oct 17 2009 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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I used to run a lot in my 20's and 30's, including after ds#1 was born (3-6 miles a day) but after the last two pregnancies, I'd gained so much weight and had other problems as well (thyroid, incontinence, hypertension, asthma etc) that made running impossible. My knees hurt just going up steps so I assumed running was over for me. I did a lot of walking, off and on, over the years but I've found that I just don't get my heart rate up enough to really do much. Earlier this year i was walking 45 min to an hour, 6 days a week, and watching my calories, and still not losing any weight.
Last spring I had surgery for the incontinence (a lifesaver - if anyone has any questions about it, pm me, it was not an ordeal) and decided to try running again. I began using the Couch to 5K schedule (along with some great indie Christian podcasts that tell you when to walk and run). I now do that 3-4 days a week, and either walk or ride an exercise bike on the other days. I am currently about 60 lbs overweight and do have (documented) arthritis in my feet, and suspect some in my knees, but as long as I wear good shoes (very important - don't try using non-running shoes or old ones!) and never try to run 2 days in a row, my knees don't bother me, even at this weight.
I usually do a half mile walk before I start, b/c my two dogs insist on a daily walk, and I cannot run or even walk fast enough, with two leashes and a plastic bag, not to mention my Lab's penchant for marking every stop sign . Then I do the c25K schedule, usually adding in some extra intervals b/c I like to do a full 30-35 min after my warm-up walk.
However, some of you mentioned getting stuck at week 3 - I'm still on week 3 also! I don't worry about it, though - I spent 3 weeks on week one, at least a month on week 2, and have been on week 3 now for 2 months. I think my knees could handle the increases needed to go on, but I'm a bit worried about my blood pressure. I have hypertension controlled my medication, but my HR gets up to the maximum for my age, just in the 3 min run intervals of week 3, so I am afraid to move on. This last week, I have changed from their schedule, to just trying to run/walk as needed to keep my HR up, but not too high (I use a HR monitor) Usually that translates to about 3 min run/1 min walk.
I have still not lost a LOT of weight, although it is going down very slowly. I have not been really watching my calorie level since I started running (it always seems like I can either diet or exercise but never do both well together!) However, I've lost about 6 inches from waist, hips and thighs!
Sorry so long!
Karen T
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: running/joints/overweight
