well as i have been telling myself for the past god knows how long, today was actually my first jog EVER! i went for 20 mins before work, it started off with a power walk (the dog looked very confused) and then a jog then a power walk then a jog and a walk and a final jog! it was really good and i hate to admit it, but i really enjoyed it! i felt really refreshed afterwards. so im off jogging now in the morning for 20 mins and in the evening after work for 20 mins! i want to build up so i'll be jogging non stop for 1/2 an hour at a time.
does anyone have any jogging tips? How long do you think it will take to build up to this 1/2 an hour non stop jog at a time considering i am pretty unfit but not over weight?

Congrats!

You have the right idea, interval you jogging with walking until you can sustain the jogging. How long will it take? Hard to say, but shouldn't be too long assuming you are consistent with it.

I'd focus on each week lengthening the jogging intervals and shortening the walking intervals.

Not by much... just what you can handle.

It's a touch & feel process.

Best to you!

thanks steve! im at work at the moment and actually looking forward to going out jogging again! i hope the enthusiasm stays like this! I guess it will as soon as i start noticing i can go for longer and longer each time! unfortunatley i have put on about 3 pounds, but i did have a bit of a party weekend and drank 2 crates of strong belgium beer in 2 sessions! yikes!

Calories from alcohol add up.

If you go out drinking a ton each weekend, don't be surprised to see the scale creep up over time.

yeah i know! i really need to cut out the beer especially! im gona swop to gin and slim i think! i do like to party so im not prepared to cut out my pub trips and i reckon with my new found love of jogging i'll be fine! still not too sure if i can drop a dress size, im not sure if its possible or not for my build. Is there anything i can do to help tone my legs and bum and tum whilst jogging? does sucking in your stomach whilst jogging help or would that hinder my breathing etc? what about those leg weights you strap to your ankles? any good? its not very hilly where i live (considering i live in yorkshire) so there isn't really anywhere to do up hill running. Oh adn is this site predominantly American based?

You change specific parts of your body via isolated resistance training. For example, you can't say, "my thighs are fat so i'm going to weight train my legs," or, "my tummy is fat so i'm going to flex my abdominals while i run."

Fat is fat and muscle is muscle.

You have to lose the fat and maintain the muscle in order to get toned.

so will i gain any tone atall from jogging or will it just burn the fat and calories? and i take it leg weights will do nothing?

It will expend calories. If it's enough to put your in a caloric deficit, you'll lose fat.

Leg weights will increase the intensity of the exercise, thus leading to more caloric expenditure. But jumping right into resisted jogging/walking before building a foundation of fitness is not wise.

I'm actually not much a fan of resisted jogging anyhow.

I'm a fan of a good diet supplemented with appropriate levels of metabolic work (cardio and high rep resistance training) to establish a caloric deficit. This coupled with appropriate levels of lower rep resistance training to promote muscle maintenance.

i cant afford a gym and i really dont have the time for a gym as i have to be around home alot for my dog! what kind of resistance training can i do in my own home that will help to tone, or is it just a case of the ols squats and lifts etc etc?

First, I never said you need a gym.

Second, tone is an adjective in this context. Not a verb. You don't tone your body with weights. You use weights to provide a stimulus to build new muscle (maybe) and definitely to preserve the muscle you have. This coupled with appropriate diet and cardio will lead to a loss of fat and a preservation of muscle leaving you with that toned look.

Third, check out this link:

Workout Routines & Exercises - New iPod Videos!

It will show you a lot of exercises you can do based on the equipment you currently have... from none to some.

My site will have a wider array of videos and better description and should be out soon enough too.

The basic premise is though, you want to construct a routine that is balanced using exercises that call on the largest number of muscle groups to perform.

I strongly suggest reading though some more of the stickies, I know you checked out a few of them b/c you posted in one of them... but I go into a lot of detail in many threads regarding resistance training.

Cardio builds up fast as long as you are staying consistent and making sure to keep your heart rate up during your cardio sessions. If you are jog/walking now, I think within a month you should be jogging consistently. Just make sure that you are stretching well, because jogging puts a lot of new stress that your legs aren't used to.

hehe... i know this isnt exactly the same but yesterday i couldnt help but do 10 miles with a walking video because it had the walk-jog intervals... and i totally get what you mean about how great it feels afterwards... such a rush!!!

i had to come into work early today so i was up jogging at 5:00am, i am gona be shattered by tonight! still gona go out for a jog though. One more thing! my hips are aching, kinda like my hip sockets, i am assuming i am putting more strain on my legs than i am used to, will proper running shoes help with this? i am currently wearing some addidas trainers that i used when i did the gym. i do a few leg stretches before hand and i know i've only been out 3 times, but already, i can jog for longer each time, maybe its because im getting used to breathing properly and used to knowing how far i can go. i duno! either way, im enjoying it and so is the dog! lol, although she HATED getting up at 4:45 this morning, she is so not a morning dog!

It's hard to say why your hips would be bothering you. I'd ride it out a few days and see what becomes of it. If it becomes unbearable or even if it becomes worse, I'd take a break and possibly get them checked.

But it could very well be that you aren't used to the stress from running and it will pass easily.

Good on you for having the willpower to crawl out of bed at that time of day to exercise!

oh yes... i am a woman on a mission. well to be honest, i have to walk the dog before i go out regardless of the time, rain or shine, snow or gale force winds, i do this twice a day too so I might as well jog it and burn off some calories at the same time!
i am so tired now though, but i get to finish work at four so i can relax a little before i go out jogging.
i am always so so hungry when i get in from work, but is it better to wait until afetr the jog or eat when i get in, wait an hour and then go out?