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Have you considered joining a running club? The answer to this is probably either a) yes, I’m in one, or b) what’s a running club?
A running club is a group of people who live in an area and run together. No, you don’t have to be a marathon runner, or even particularly good at running. But, as someone who is trying to exercise to lose weight, joining a running club can have some major benefits. As always, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients will have to have been cleared to exercise before attempting to start running with a running club. But, while you’re still under restrictions from your bariatric surgery, you can still think about how to involve yourself in exercise when the time is right.
5 Reasons to Consider Joining a Running Club
- Make Time Fly- Solitary running can make every minute you’re running feel like an hour and every mile feel like ten (or is that just me?). But, when you make running a social event you might find that having someone to talk to makes the time go by faster. You might be amazed at how distraction can actually help make time seem to fly even if you aren’t. You might not be able to talk back (again, just me?) but you can certainly listen to other runners who have the capacity to both run and talk.
- Great Way to Find Health Minded Friends- A running club is also a great way to find friends who have exercise and health in mind. For gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients this can be a great thing. We can’t always count on family, friends, or coworkers to have their health on the forefront of their minds. Sometimes we need to find like minded people in different places. And, well, if you’ve never been to a running club, that may be a good place to look.
- Gives You the Accountability You Need- Running clubs tend to meet certain days and times. That breeds built in accountability. You can’t press snooze, you can’t say you’ll do it tomorrow or the next day. You know when they meet, and that you are expected to show up. It’s kind of like the buddy system, but with more than one buddy.
- A Wealth of Knowledge- You’ll likely find a variety of people in a running club, from amateurs to experienced runners to even coaches. They may be able to share tips and knowledge on exercise and running (think warm ups, breathing techniques, the best sneakers, blood pumping music, or how to avoid or handle aches and pains) that may have taken you years to figure out on your own.
- You’ll Push Your Own Expectations- When you’re on your own, no one is there to encourage you to run a little further or a bit faster. But, when you’re with a group you might feel the drive to push yourself that little bit further or just a bit faster. You’ll probably get encouragement as well as praise for doing it, too. That sense of teamwork and camaraderie can work to your advantage. Harness it!
Feeling jazzed about joining a running club? Remember, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients need to be cleared to exercise by Dr. Shillingford, MD before starting to run after bariatric surgery. And, let’s face it, you’ll probably need to start slow by walking before you start running. But in the meantime, browse this list of running clubs in Florida to see if there’s one for you.
Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. His gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and gastric band patients receive exemplary care at Northwest Medical Center’s Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery, where Dr. Shillingford serves as Medical Director. His Boca Raton office is easily accessible from nearby locales such as Wellington, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, and Coral Springs.