running problems. help please

cantdecide

I'm not sure if I'm in the right board here or if there's one specifically for runningetc. etc. But in the middle of May I started running to lose weight after noticing I had piled it on.

I've always had a weight problem but I was after passing my old record of 18st and was heading briskly for 20st. I'm not really a blimp though, I am 6'4" with a stocky build and I'm 25yrs old.

I've never played sports except sailing and I've never been fit and add the fact that I'm inclined to be heavy anyway, I was finding myself increasingly lathargic and generally worried about my health.

I started lapping a pitch in my local rugby club and found in the beginning, I could barely stretch out one lap without practically collapsing. As time has passed, I've worked harder and harder and I'm now able to run 4 laps around the 5 paralell pitches, in about 35 mins, every day.

The problems I'm having are related to the fact that I'm running more and more;

Generally I run first thing in the morning and I run on an empty stomach which I'm sure aids my weight loss but mainly because I'd feel queasy if I ate before my run I'm now running so much that I'm starting to feel queasy whether I've eaten or not.

Even if I drink water during the run I'll end up having to walk off a stomach ache for a couple of minutes. Not drinking water during my run messes me up and I'm able to do less and less recently. I suspect my timetable is the problem here and I hope there is an adjustment I can make.

(this is the embarrassing one) I am still a couple of stone over weight but lately I'm really starting to suffer with my man boobs! My nipples are really painful and I'm losing out on laps as I just have to give up when this happens

I'd have rugby player's thighs even if I wasn't running but chafing is becoming a bigger problem the more laps I require. I'm thinking there might a garment or accessory of some kind to help with this

I'm also concerned about the fact that after a pretty eventful (for me) lifestyle change and significant weight loss, my low energy levels are pretty much unchanged, really. Should i be worried?

Sudden killer stitches in my side, right at my lowest rib. I thought they would have started easing by now

I'd really like to overcome these things as they're really inhibiting my progress so any help would be good...

hunnymonster

Congrats on taking up running and the improvements so far.

For the chaffing and man boobs. Soemthing like vaseline will help. Other people suggest sudocreme but it's messy. I've also seen men stick plasters over their nipples to help.


For the lethargy, what is your diet like? You can run forever and a day but if your diet doesn't fuel you properly then you're not getting the maximum benefit.

I don't think a stomach stick is going to be water related in the way say a leg cramp might be. I know some people who say a couple of really deep (think yoga) breaths helps and others who swear by swinging their arms in big windmill circles.

onekeaneo

Hi Cantdecide.
First thing I’d like to say to you is fair play to ya for your achievements so far!! Seriously!!! I can’t emphasise that enough. The hardest part is getting out there and doing something about your fitness so fair play.
Secondly… I wouldn’t be to worried about your lack of energy levels just yet. Exercise will improve this but I would agree with Hunnymonster, have a look at your diet. Fried/Fatty foods decrease your energy levels.
Thirdly… take it nice and easy!!! If you’ve been inactive for a while and now you are suddenly putting your body through a workout in the morning you have to be careful to not do to much to soon. Don’t get impatient or frustrated with what (you perceive!!!) to be your lack of progress and try and do too much too soon. You are improving on the levels you were at you probably just don’t realise it.
Not sure about the problem you are having with the water to be honest but you are right to take on fluids.
If you get a stitch I would suggest you slow it right down and try to walk it off, if it goes away you can pick it up again. Be patient and don’t be so hard on yourself. We all get stitches by the way.
With regard to the chafing of the legs and the nips. Plasters work well for the nips and someone else mentioned this before (might have been hunnymonster)…Don’t laugh KY Jelly. I tried it and it works a treat. Easier to get than easyglide (that’s what all those pros use!) and I think it better anyway.

cantdecide

that's all gold guys, thanks a lot. For the support, too. I kinda had a mental block when it came to physical activity and I was really starting to suffer because of it. If I hadn't gotten so fat so fast, I might never have changed my ways. It's a tough and lonely gig, starting off but I'm really starting to get a kick out of it now and I'm not putting myself under pressure- I'm not even weighing or measuring myself and I won't until my waist is in check.

copacetic

would say bodyglide is the best for avoiding chafing around the body, it comes in a stick like a old style deodorant, I used it during marathon training and it is not half as messy as vaseline or jelly.

Plasters don't work for nipples if you have a hairy chest, they come off when you get sweaty. Get some micropore surgical tape from boots or tesco. It stays on and is much cheaper anyway.

On the thighs, the easiest solution is long 'bike short' style lyrca shorts under your normal shorts. I don't like them personally, depending on how low down the chafing is you could do what I do and wear lyrca mix boxers cut the 'netting' out of your running shorts. Make sure they are pulled down a bit and they act like bike shorts and stop your thighs rubbing together.

Stiches, generally as you get fitter you'll get them less and less although some people suffer a lot with them. I find breathing out hard when stepping on the opposite foot can help. It can be related to drinking a pile of water on an empty stomach before running.


keep at it the weight will come off.

--amadeus--

Fair play to you - getting out is teh hardest thing by a distance.

On the stich, don't let it put you off because it is nothing to do with fitness. I've been running for a couple of years and I still get them. Changing your breathing, stretching your arm over your head or windmilling will help but if you ignore it it will go away eventually. The nausea may be becasue you are pushing yourself to hard perhaps? I strongly recomend not bothering with a watch or timing your runs at this stage, just relax into them and take your time. I only get nausea if I am pushing too hard so just back it off a little. Try not to go to a walk though, even if you slow waaay down try to maintain a running motion (even if you would alk faster).

I agree with the others on the vasaline / lube thing. Make sure you get a good pair of trainers as well, especially if you are well built. Final thing - don't expect a miraculous energy buzz straight awat - running is pretty energy intensive and can leave you feeling tired so your body needs to adjust to the demands you make on it. You will feel the benifits but it's all long term stuff, sadly!