Cardio is no longer an option...

slhall0822
slhall0822 Posts: 128 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I need some strength training advice. I love cardio, it's my "go-to" in order to burn calories and lose weight. However, due to some recently diagnosed foot injuries (two inflamed bursa sacs, tenosynovitis (an inflamed tendon sheath) and a benign cyst - all in the ball of my right foot), I can no longer rely on my treadmill to lose weight.

Can anyone recommend some super low impact strength workouts that will help me build muscle while I'm giving my foot time to recover? Whatever I do, I can't put pressure on the balls of my feet (so no squats or lunges either). I love cardio and feel lost when it comes to strength training. I'm a stay at home mom with a 3 year old. I do have a treadmill at home, but my doctor has ordered me to stay off my foot as much as possible until further notice. Also, I don't have access to a gym or pool at the moment. So, I'm sticking to recorded exercise TV shows, DVDs, and videos online or via Netflix to do my workouts. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

Replies

  • howeclectic
    howeclectic Posts: 121 Member
    I used to enjoy power yoga.
  • Dreysander
    Dreysander Posts: 294 Member
    You can do cardio without using your legs. Get yourself a hand bike maybe?
  • ClosetBayesian
    ClosetBayesian Posts: 836 Member
    slhall0822 wrote: »
    I need some strength training advice. I love cardio, it's my "go-to" in order to burn calories and lose weight. However, due to some recently diagnosed foot injuries (two inflamed bursa sacs, tenosynovitis (an inflamed tendon sheath) and a benign cyst - all in the ball of my right foot), I can no longer rely on my treadmill to lose weight.

    Can anyone recommend some super low impact strength workouts that will help me build muscle while I'm giving my foot time to recover? Whatever I do, I can't put pressure on the balls of my feet (so no squats or lunges either). I love cardio and feel lost when it comes to strength training. I'm a stay at home mom with a 3 year old. I do have a treadmill at home, but my doctor has ordered me to stay off my foot as much as possible until further notice. Also, I don't have access to a gym or pool at the moment. So, I'm sticking to recorded exercise TV shows, DVDs, and videos online or via Netflix to do my workouts. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

    Shadow-boxing while seated. Also, look up chair exercise routines (for people who are wheelchair-bound). This may be a good time to focus on upper body strength training, too - I like The Challenge routine from P90X3, personally.

    I also have a foot injury (surgery scheduled for January 28th); I find that swimming and yoga both aggravate it; YMMV.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    edited January 2016
    Floor Pilates or something taken from ballet called 'Floor Barre' would work. There are videos on youtube or DVDs that have different routines using those. If you feel really ambitious, there is also floor bellydance (but be warned it's really tough and requires a lot of strength to do in the first place).

    ETA: I have a few malformed toes from birth, so when they act up from long walking, etc, I do these floor exercises until they calm back down :)
  • andreada98507
    andreada98507 Posts: 24 Member
    I've not yet tried the method but I saw a PBS program with Miranda Esmond-White sbout her "Classical Stretch" that might be what you need until you heal. It looked very gentle, but I'm not certain it will keep you off the parts of your feet that you need to rest enough. Here's a link: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365382070/ and you can find her DVDs on Amazon. Maybe your doctor has a suggestion about how to continue exercising until your feet are better.

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