My Forum

I don't think losing weight is easy, society and particularly advertising seems designed now to fatten people up even when they think they're making healthy options.

As a few others have said running low to medium distances is less significant than diet. But I think being a runner is quite a boost to the psychological battle of losing weight. I think it promotes a better self image and helps focus on living a healthy lifestyle.

I think if you just try and cut out processed food and drink it is a big help. I don't think some 'healthy snacks' are benifical either. It used to be frowned upon to eat between meals. I think we only do so now because the food industry want to sell more products.

Hi, I could do with a bit of motivation at the moment so, if you don't mind, I'll go public here.

I'm a bit of a binger and at one time a few years ago was up to 16 st. At 5' 7" that was terrible. For the last year or so I've been between 13 1/2 - 14 stone (14st 1.5lb last Sat).

I have done the beginner running program a few times. While I think weight is more about what you eat and drink exercise to me is a big pschological tool that focuses the mind and helps improve self image and general well-being.

I will begin the run/walk again tomorrow. I stopped running last year leading up to a knee operation. My surgeon wasn't too keen on the idea of me running again but it's the only exercise that works for me so I'll see how it feels. I think that if it gets me to lose the weight then the benefit of not having the constant weight on my joints will out-way the short periods of running impact.

In summary 14st 1.5lb now, target 11st, therefore 43.5 lb to lose.

AgentGinger wrote (see)

If the qualifications on his wall say he's a member of the "Royle Collidge of Surgens", then perhaps you should seek a second opinion.

Yes I'm a bit dislexic and the spell checker didn't do the title.

I think it takes longer than that to become a consultant. One of his colleagues did think it was the other knee when he examined me though, so I'm not totally convinced of their infallibility.

I'm not really looking at the authenticity of the knowledge, more the desirability of the answer I want to.

I've never been an elite runner but I used to enjoy the constant battle to get up to 10K type running distances. In October 2012 though I had Arthroscopy to examine a possible cartilage problem. I'd stopped running leading up to it and was hoping to get back to it, after the consultant discharged me, so that I could get fitter and lose some weight. His advice though was to avoid running. I'd had a torn cartilage and there was no cartilage at all on the outer top part of my left knee.

The knee is better than it was and I didn't suffer so much skiing (also not encoraged) last March 2013. I don't find other forms of exercise as easy to fit in to life or as effective in getting the blood pumping.

Does anybody have an opinion on whether to run in the face of the experts? If I could get fitter and leaner wouldn't the benefits out-way the negatives or will I likely end up needing a mobility scooter earlier than planned?