Why Cant I jog!

when i was younger.. pre-children id run 4 miles no problem, at the same weight i am now. and by asthetic comparison im much firmer and more defined now.

im on the tail end journey of loosing alot of weight, i have 20-30lb left. iv sped walked for 45+min a day for 2 years and within this last year iv incorporated jogging into my routine..as well as circuit training and dancing. after a few months id figure i could jog a mile straight at least but im still having problems with a quarter mile!

 what is wrong with me??

the problem is that i get a pressure/dull pain in the top of my chest/bottom of my throat.. kinda like the feeling of breathing in extremely cold air.. but painful.. it intensifies when i breath in. it begins after a few hundred yards of jogging a slow to moderate pace. it intensifies even more as i push myself on. it never goes away until i stop and begin speedwalking again.  my heart rate seems strong and even my blood pressure feels fine. no dizziness no edema. i really dont get it

any advice is more than welcome

All due respect, ASK YOUR DOCTOR!!  Sounds too serious to let any Internet amateurs walk you through.

if it were possible i would but unfortunately insurance is not an option at this time in my life.

Can you jog for a hundred yards, walk for hundred yards (or however long it takes for your breathing to level out) then jog for another hundred and build up over time?

Original Post by maureengulizia:

Can you jog for a hundred yards, walk for hundred yards (or however long it takes for your breathing to level out) then jog for another hundred and build up over time?

This could be a great idea. Check out the Couch to 5k program or the Learn to Run thread on here. They both help the body ease into jogging.

Does the pain start immediately or only at a certian point in the run?
Are you able to do other cardio such as the elliptical or the bike?
What about speed walking?
(or as lovingly referred to on some of the threads here: wogging?)

iv been working on that for awhile, the pain does seem to decrease with time but its so minimal i wonder if its really getting any better. id give anything to be able to run a straight mile.

:(

Some posters in this forum recommended this program:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.s html

I'm only on the second week, but I realized that starting slow is more enjoyable and makes me want to stick with it.  Now I realize that even though my peers can run, I shouldn't expect to just start right off running half an hour straight.  

Also, look at online articles about the intensity levels of exercise.  You want to work at a medium intensity so you can keep going.

You should see you physician.  You may need an echocardiogram and a stress test.  Remember, chest pain while running/jogging may be a signal of coronary artery disease.  Whatever you do, go see you doctor!

In my early 20s I jogged religiously. 30-40 minutes, several miles a day. I loved the runner's high and it allowed me to eat almost all I wanted and never gain weight. After having 2 kids, I got too busy and too tired to do it anymore and it fell by the wayside. After 5 years or so of weight gain (top weight of 275!) I started to make forays into jogging again, but both times, I ended up with terrible ankle sprains within days, and was in pain for weeks following. Obviously, the excess weight was a huge factor, but it was at that time that I decided that at my age (38 now) it was probably best to stop trying joint-damaging exercise like jogging and switch to something easier on the joints, so now I go on a 30-40 minute VERY VIGOROUS bike ride around town. It's not quite as intense as jogging, but since my calorie intake is less than in my 20s, it's just as effective and quite enjoyable. If your town has decent bike lanes and paths, I'd highly recommend it. When it's hot out, I do it at late at night, and it's great because there is no traffic at all!

 

I don't know if this would be a solution to your symptoms, but at least it is less strenuous.  Ditto to what others said about seeing a doctor. 

It could be:

- a cardiac problem

- a thyroid problem

- an upper GI problem with your esophagous (do you ever get heartburn?)

- exercise-induced asthma

- chostonchondritis

You absolutely need to see a doctor about this. No excuses! Is this going to cost you some money? Yes. You'll probably need blood tests and a visit to a cardiologist for a stress test. But we would hate to have you drop over dead from a heart attack leaving all those kids motherless!!

good point and a definite valid fear of mine. until i get the funds it will be a combo of walking and jogging which doesnt seem to trigger it. being the perfect weight isnt worth comprimising my health. :)

 

thanx everyone

 

 

blika,  i just wanted to tell you that I get that freezing air feeling sometimes too.  Not sure what it is either.  It feels worse on windy days.  It feels better if I breathe in my shirt for a couple of seconds and it eventually goes away.

Hope you feel better!