Hello,
I am new to these forums, but after reading a variety of topics the last day or two I registered and decided I would see if you guys could give me some advice. I am 24 years old and attempting after several years of almost complete inactivity to regain the decent shape I used to be in when I was in high school. My senior year of high school (6 years ago) I wrestled 103 pounds and boasted a mere 1.5% body fat percentage (but I was more like 120 pounds in the off season). Over the course of college with limited exercise (and LOTS of drinking) and only working out infrequently my weight went up to around 180. In the year and half since college working as a computer Engineer I find myself up to a 6 foot tall and ~215 pound waste of space and am overall fairly disapointed in letting myself slip so far when I was once in such good shape.
Sorry for the long intro, I realize this is the running forum, so I will get to my running questions as quickly as possible. First, I'd like to mention that I am working to get my diet back under control (using the advice of several posts I read and getting a fitday.com account to track my progress, I will make it public after a few weeks and ask for critiques of my progress) and I am shooting for a 1500-2000 daily calorie diet consisting of 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fat. I am also enforcing a goal upon myself, based on my weight, to drink at least 144 oz of water daily.
Now, on to the running: I have started jogging in the morning and am attempting to do this 3 days a week (Mon, Wed, and Fri) and I am also following an HIIT running schedule 3 other days of the week (Tue, Thur, Sat) to really push myself, and I will either rest on Sunday or throw in another light jog (Once my weight gets back under control I will begin lifting again). My biggest obstacle so far has been the almost instant return of shin splints that plagued me earlier in life. I am going to go out and attempt to buy better running shoes today, but after only my first 3 jogging sessions (from which I found myself to be pathetically worn out just a short time into them) my shins are throbbing with pain. My lower back is feeling the stress of pushing around the excess weight as well, and although I'm trying my best to retain as good of form as possible, I'm afraid the long period of inactivity has gotten the best of me.
I'm really looking to find out if my planned running schedule is too difficult to attempt after such a long period of inactivity, and whether or not I should let the pain in my shins and ankles force me to stop my schedule and plan on doing a week or two of walking to strengthen up the muscles before I begin jogging again. Also, I am curious as to how long I should expect my out of shape body to be able to jog, and if it is better to jog as long as I can, walk, jog more, walk, etc. or if it is better to just keep pushing myself to jog as long as possible, walk to cooldown, and then stop instead of trying to jog more.
Any advice in any area you guys can provide would be great. Thanks for the help.
I am new to these forums, but after reading a variety of topics the last day or two I registered and decided I would see if you guys could give me some advice. I am 24 years old and attempting after several years of almost complete inactivity to regain the decent shape I used to be in when I was in high school. My senior year of high school (6 years ago) I wrestled 103 pounds and boasted a mere 1.5% body fat percentage (but I was more like 120 pounds in the off season). Over the course of college with limited exercise (and LOTS of drinking) and only working out infrequently my weight went up to around 180. In the year and half since college working as a computer Engineer I find myself up to a 6 foot tall and ~215 pound waste of space and am overall fairly disapointed in letting myself slip so far when I was once in such good shape.
Sorry for the long intro, I realize this is the running forum, so I will get to my running questions as quickly as possible. First, I'd like to mention that I am working to get my diet back under control (using the advice of several posts I read and getting a fitday.com account to track my progress, I will make it public after a few weeks and ask for critiques of my progress) and I am shooting for a 1500-2000 daily calorie diet consisting of 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fat. I am also enforcing a goal upon myself, based on my weight, to drink at least 144 oz of water daily.
Now, on to the running: I have started jogging in the morning and am attempting to do this 3 days a week (Mon, Wed, and Fri) and I am also following an HIIT running schedule 3 other days of the week (Tue, Thur, Sat) to really push myself, and I will either rest on Sunday or throw in another light jog (Once my weight gets back under control I will begin lifting again). My biggest obstacle so far has been the almost instant return of shin splints that plagued me earlier in life. I am going to go out and attempt to buy better running shoes today, but after only my first 3 jogging sessions (from which I found myself to be pathetically worn out just a short time into them) my shins are throbbing with pain. My lower back is feeling the stress of pushing around the excess weight as well, and although I'm trying my best to retain as good of form as possible, I'm afraid the long period of inactivity has gotten the best of me.
I'm really looking to find out if my planned running schedule is too difficult to attempt after such a long period of inactivity, and whether or not I should let the pain in my shins and ankles force me to stop my schedule and plan on doing a week or two of walking to strengthen up the muscles before I begin jogging again. Also, I am curious as to how long I should expect my out of shape body to be able to jog, and if it is better to jog as long as I can, walk, jog more, walk, etc. or if it is better to just keep pushing myself to jog as long as possible, walk to cooldown, and then stop instead of trying to jog more.
Any advice in any area you guys can provide would be great. Thanks for the help.