How fast do you think I'll improve?

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So I've started jogging. So far, I've been running around this small park near my flat. My aim at the moment is just to run around the whole park without having to stop or slow down. I usually have to stop, but I try to meet certain "check-points", such as one of the bins or benches, before I stop or slow down. I don't really time myself, but the jog isn't very long - I'm guessing under 10 minutes, so that's a little pathetic.

My BMI is about 27 and I haven't done regular exercise in years, so I don't expect to be great at first. Though I'm wondering how quickly my body will adapt to this new routine. If I run around this park everyday (even at the pace I'm at) do you think I'll see some progress soon or am I not pushing myself enough?

You'll need to engage in at least an hour and a half of "vigorous" physical activity a day if you want to lose weight with exercise alone.

Why is "vigorous" in quotations?

I knew I wasn't doing enough, but I guess it's not really about weight loss as much as it is about trying to get into a new habit. I always sabotage myself when I try to do strict dieting and loads of exercise all at once. Then I just burn out and start binging. So this time, I'm trying to take it reaaally slow by making smaller changes over a longer period of time. That's why I'm trying to cut portion sizes or not have as much sugar or remember to drink more fluids and, more recently, trying to do some aerobic exercise. I also plan on adding some strength building on top of that.

I just don't want to get obsessed with dieting and exercise to the point of an eating disorder (which I have done before). I'm trying not to think about my appearance or if I'm losing weight. I just want to slowly build my way towards a good amount of daily exercise and maintain my health. I figure doing something is better than doing nothing, as pitiful as I am at the moment.

I just want to know if I slowly add more time to my running over a few months, am I doing the right thing? Like I said, I have been sedentary for years and my stamina is so bad I can't do vigorous exercise for more than ten minutes without feeling faint. That's actually how unfit I am.

Make your short term goal 30 minutes of running, interspersed with a few stretching or aerobic exercises in between, or short bouts of walking and stretching, until you feel fitter. I'm an experienced marathon runner trying to get back into long distance, and when I first started out all those years ago I got fitter quicker than anticipated. I began with 10 km races and built up to 21, then 32 and 42, and then ultras of 50 or 56 km and after several years was ready to tackle our country's most famous marathon of 89 km distance: which I never thought I'd tackle but completed 10 now: 7 during the 1990s and three from 2010-2012. Ready to do no. 11 next year (ran in 2014 but my mind wasn't strong enough to finish - dropped out at 76 km).

I'm not saying you need to run marathons or become obsessive about distance, just showing that it won't be difficult to manage 30 minutes and don't go out too fast at first. You'll improve quicker than you think! Don't be an extremist about diet either: a balanced diet is fine and choose more natural foods over processed ones. I've never followed any specific diet but have been vegetarian from time to time.

Persist.

Go as slow as you want and persist. 10 minutes is 10 minutes more than you'd otherwise be doing.
Before long you will be able to get the whole way around without walking.
Give yourself a couple of rest days a week where you walk around the park instead of jogging it, this will give your body time to regain strength for jogging.

The key is to persist, don't get disheartened.

Drop me a private message if you want to discuss.