Continuing to lose weight with a back injury. Feeling discouraged.

AlyssaPetsDogs

I'm 24. I've lost over 40 pounds in the last year with a good 50 or so to go. I lost the weight by a combination of eating at a caloric deficit and working out (walking, jogging, cycling class). It was all great fun.

Unfortunately I have degenerative disc disease (diagnosed when I was 18 and had issues prior to diagnosis when I was 14. Haven't been bothered since my flareup when I was 18. It's genetic too - not something I did to get this) and I'm suffering from a flareup. It mainly impacts my last two vertebrates and I have a pinched nerve causing painful sciatica.

I'm pretty limited now in that I can't walk very far. Something like running or spinning is out of the question. I'm in the midst of doing physical therapy, although my flareup this week has even made some of those exercises impossible.

I'm seeing a doctor and was instructed to walk as much as I can, but not to push myself. I have an MRI and follow up appointment in about two weeks.

Does anyone deal with similar issues? I know I'll just continue to eat at my deficit and walk when I can, but I'm feeling rather discouraged at the moment seeing as I've been doing so well and become quite active. Any advice or encouragement is helpful!

RAinWA

I really feel for you! I'm almost recovered from surgery to repair a herniated disc (my 4th in 6 years). It sounds like you have a good plan - keep the deficit and walk as much as you can. It's incredibly frustrating. I did manage to not gain any weight this last go around (I'm in maintenance), so I'm proud of that.

Stick with what your PTs and doctor say you can do. I did some upper body work (very little) and some gentle swimming too. And walked as much as the pain would allow. Sometimes things just take time.

Best of luck to you!