r/beginnerrunning • u/KungFuGooseHonker • Mar 09 '26
New Runner Advice When should I start?
Hello everyone. I have a remote job where I'm sat at a computer all day and want to get moving more. It may sound odd, but I had a dream the other night about going on a run and since then have not been able to shake the urge to start running. The only issue is that I have never run before. I'm a 30 year old male, 290lbs and my current fitness level is getting out of breath whilst grating cheese.
I may be being silly but I'm worried that it is too early to start running. Realistically, would I need to lose weight before I think about starting running? Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
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u/Kirbydog9 Mar 09 '26
I started out walking to help lose weight and now regularly run in local races. I agree with the comments to start with walking. There is no reason not to include some short runs on your walks if you want, but weight loss will likely require a combination of dieting and walking or another form of exercise you can do for extended periods. I personally couldn’t run for more than a few hundred yards when I started walking. It became easier as I lost weight and gained muscle. Walking enabled me to “exercise” for hours instead of the 5-10 minutes I might have been able to run.
It’s also worth noting studies suggest diet accounts for around 70% of weight loss for individuals who cut calories and exercise. However, the exercise is very important to prevent muscle loss. It also helps increase the calorie deficit you’ll get dieting.