Am I too heavy to run???

Last week I started the Couch to 5K running program.  I had done it once years before when I was much lighter.  I saw some posts on the Fitness forum with some people saying they wouldn't run unless they were 175 pounds or less because they were worried about joint damage.  I had my VSG on 8/24/15 and this morning weighed in at 204.

So should I be doing other exercises until I lose more weight??  I am excited at the possibility of becoming a runner but don't want to be doing more harm than good!

I am returning to my trusted VSG board for wisdom and advice, thanks in advance!

I started running at 260 and I've been fine.  A few bumps and bruises, but those happen to skinny runners as well.  

Make sure you get fitted for proper shoes, listen to your body, do not start out too hard or you'll injure yourself (but that would be the case at any weight), you'll be fine.  

Here are the two things I have been told to really pay attention to when starting a running program:

1. Get proper fitting shoes. Have someone at an athletic shop fit you for the shoes. Do not go the cheap route. Quality shoes are extremely important for proper support and impact absorption. 
2. Pay attention to your body. If your legs begin to hurt and the pain doesn't go away within a minute or two, it's a good indication that you should stop and need to modify your program 

My legs are bowed so I had a really hard time with the impact of running and just couldn't manage any distance without popping shin splints and having a lot of hip soreness after running. I decided to go with the elliptical instead. It's no impact and I don't have any problems with shin splints or joint soreness and I get a good cardio workout. 

If running works for you great! Go for it. If it doesn't there are alternatives that will give you the same benefits. I'm a big proponent of High Intensity Interval Training. You get a fantastic cardio workout while also building muscle strength for your entire body. 

Time for a bike instead!

If you had any joint trouble at your high weight, you might want to check with your surgeon or a physiotherapist to make sure running will not overly stress those joints. A physiotherapist can also advise you about other exercises in place of or to enhance your running. Good luck.

psychoticparrot

Definately do a sttetching warm up specifically to avoid shin splints. 

You don't state whether you are male or female, or how tall you are.  Here is my story.  When I tried to run at 225 pounds at 5'4", I broke a bone in my foot. It was a fibular seismoid.  I wore a foot boot, then a hard cast, and finally a year later, a surgeon removed a pulverized bone.  The extra weight meant I was always in discomfort when doing any sports.  But I loved sports and always pushed thru the pain.  I went to my pcp several times with other issues and told her my foot was still sore.  As soon as I went to a foot doctor, he knew what the problem was.  The pain would come and go because the bone fragments kept shiftiing.  What I didn't know, was that running on trails going up and down hills is really hard on your bones when you are overweight.  So, my suggestion would be to run on a flat trail, not cement.  I ran for 41 minutes today on trails.  I ran, 5 min, 11 min, 16 min, 5 min and 5 min and walked a combination of 7 miles.  It is so much easier at 155 pounds.  I don't hurt, I am not breathing like a steam engine.  I am not in a hurry to run a 5K.  It will probably be spring before I sign up. I am taking it slow.  If I could do it again, I would not have run until I lost some weight. (This was pre-WLS) 

I started running at 212 lb, and 5'0". It's much easier to run now at 158.... But in my opinion you are never too heavy to run or do any exercise. The lighter and more fit your body is, it will obviously be easier... But you have to start somewhere!

and yes, it's all about the shoes!!! Good shoes are worth every penny! Good luck :)

RUN RUN RUN!!!!! Get your run on! I can't stress it enough! I ran my first 1/2 maraton at 210 lbs and I rocked it! I love running....its helps emotionally and its awesome to see my improvements and my time improving! Good luck to you!!!! You can do it!

I've done everything from 5K to marathon distances and am unable to run continuously.  I like the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk intervals to cut down on wear and tear.  He's got a number of books as well as quite a bit of the info on his website.  I've seen folks from late beginners to extremely heavy folks achieve half marathons using it without tearing themselves down.  My shin splints and lower back pain went away.  Most importantly, you need to listen to your body and have a continuous dialog with your primary care physician to stay ahead of any issues like foot, joint, back pain.