Make running a habit?

[Healthy Stealth]

I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
start running. How many days would it take to turn running
into a habit that I look forward to?

[Doug Freese]

"Healthy Stealthy ;" <healthystealthy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8898fc46.0406060704.44e0091e@posting.google.com...
> I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> start running. How many days would it take to turn running
> into a habit that I look forward to?

From a minute to never. If you asked the question about golf
or bungee jumping IMO the answer would be never. The best
advice is to find a very conservative program that starts
out with a run/walk program that builds very slowly. Scoot
over to http://www.runnersworld.com/ and find a startup
plan. Then you can tell us how long it took.

-DougF

[Swstudio]

"Healthy Stealthy ;" <healthystealthy@yahoo.com> wrote
in message
> I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> start running. How many days would it take to turn running
> into a habit that I look forward to?

Find other little rituals/habits that tie in with the run
itself, to strengthen and enforce it as a positive
experience that you enjoy even if you are tired.

I run a lot on the treadmill, and have tied in many of my
daily activites to this run, such as checking my business'
P.O. box in the post office by the gym. I also like to
relax after in the mall and have a latte or maybe a chai
tea. I know there will be a lot of friends in the gym, so I
look forward to seeing them, especially if I feel
unmotivated or tired.

Find people to run with if you run outside. You will depend
on each other to make it a positive experience. Perhaps
joining a running club will help. Making new friends through
a club does a lot to get you motivated.

Reward yourself after the run with something you like, every
time... like me and my latte or whatever. Anothing thing I
like is going to the farmers market here in my city (next to
gym as well) and picking out fresh food to eat for dinner!

The reality is you will not look forward to it on some days,
and those are the days when these other factors can help.

cheers,
--
David (in Hamilton, ON) www.allfalldown.org "The most
insecure people are the ones you see putting other people
down constantly."

[Gentolm]

sam has it pretty good about 30 dayz with a support group
might take less time the group can get you out on the road
when you do not want to go. example = i have run 12
marathons yet last thurs i just did not have the umph . I
got a call from one of my fellow runners to run together
,,, well that got me on the road ,,, i was glad for that
call plodzilla

"Healthy Stealthy ;" wrote:
>
> I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> start running. How many days would it take to turn running
> into a habit that I look forward to?

[Sam]

"Doug Freese" <dfreese@hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:gFHwc.167523$WA4.130108@twister.nyc.rr.com...
>
> "Healthy Stealthy ;" <healthystealthy@yahoo.com> wrote in
> message
> news:8898fc46.0406060704.44e0091e@posting.google.com...
> > I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> > start running. How many days would it take to turn
> > running into a habit that I look forward to?
>
> From a minute to never. If you asked the question about
> golf or bungee jumping IMO the answer would be never.
> The best advice is to find a very conservative program
> that starts out with a run/walk program that builds
> very slowly. Scoot over to http://www.runnersworld.com/
> and find a startup plan. Then you can tell us how long
> it took.
>
> -DougF
>
>

When I was studying counseling, I had a prof really into
behavioral therapy. He figured it took 32 days for something
good to become a habit (bad things usually happen faster!).
His rationale was that most people begin a new "program" on
the first of the month, for instance stopping smoking or
beginning running. So if they complete the month and then it
carries over into the next month, they will feel like they
have accomplished something.

Of course with a running program you do not need to run
everyday (in fact I recommend against it).

I would also suggest that you start with walking and then
gradually add in some running. RW Online is a good resource
as Doug notes.

[Paulm1125]

>I want to start
>> running. How many days would it take to turn running into
>> a habit that I look forward to?

You will know it is a habit when you feel like something is
wrong on a day you don't run. Or, if the only question is
when you are going to run as opposed to whether you are
going to run. You have to make a regular part of your day so
looking forward to it or not ceases to be an issue.

And don't let a few failures stop you. It took me 25 years
worth of false starts before I could get back in the habit.
I know you can do better than that.

Paul

[Bethowmuch]

>How many days would it take to turn running into a habit

Days??? it took years for me but I think it was worth it.

[Bill]

Healthy Stealthy ; wrote:
> I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> start running. How many days would it take to turn running
> into a habit that I look forward to?

If you can avoid doing too much too fast in the beginning,
and plan recovery times to let your body adapt, you should
be hooked in 6 weeks. The longer you persist and the gentler
you are with your body, the stronger the addiction.

Alternate hard and easy days, hard and easy weeks. Plan
breaks to walk, swim, cycle or lift. Resist any urge to
"perform" to some personal or social standard, rather, train
the body to do more by giving it time.

[Miss Anne Throp]

3 days..........just like crack.

[Rick++]

The first two weeks of starting any new sport are often
unpleasant because it takes that long for muscles to get
used to it.

Then it may take anywhere from 4 to 20 weeks (depending on
age, overweight) for your wind to catch up. When one can run
continously for 15 minutes without feeling exhausted, than
that often feels good.

Then it can become a pleasant habit. You start feeling "off"
on days you dont exercise- weather its runnning, walking,
lifting, swimming, etc.

At this point some people develop the opposite problem of
"overtraining". Not all parts of your body get used to
running at equal rates. Some people have joint problems when
they overdo it. Others may have digestive problems. Other
may get crabby-hperglycemic due to blood sugar level
changes. Almost all these improve over the years and not
increasing exercise levels too quickly.

[Not Stabbem]

Pot is better. Then you won't care what shape your in.

healthystealthy@yahoo.com (Healthy Stealthy ;) wrote in
message
news:<8898fc46.0406060704.44e0091e@posting.google.com>...
> I want to get back into shape and lose weight. I want to
> start running. How many days would it take to turn running
> into a habit that I look forward to?