Not feeling it today

43kelli

Hi, I'm just having one of those days where I don't know what I'm doing, going or why im doing anything. I keep having doubts about everything. Everytime I tried to get motivated to exercise I have an injury that keeps me on the sidelines, and then the motivation leaves. I have trip coming up in July that requires a lot of walking for about 6-7 days worth. Ive been plaqued by osteoarthritis in my knees that started 3 years ago, pulled my hamstrings twice in each leg, Achilles tendon pull in both legs, torn my inner & outer meniscus on my right knee 2 years ago, had surgery, pulled my hip 3 times. Im just so over these injuries. I feel I'll never lose any weight (especially my tummy since its been stretched out for over 20yrs). I want to feel alive inside so that on days like today, I cam just push through. I dont know where you start. There are not many people i know who can relate to me as far my weight or injuries go. Maybe im just having an off day because every thing is bothering me, which usually doesn't happen. Thanks for letting me vent.

L1zardQueen

I would just practice some walking since you’ll be walking on your vacation. Losing some weight will help. Carrying extra weight is hard on the joints.

To lose weight, however, you need to eat a less than you do now.

Read the stickies at the top, lots of good info.

43kelli

What are stickies & where are they?

spiriteagle99

For now, I would stick to walking. Get out in nature as much as you can. It will help both get you back in shape and to feel better mentally/emotionally.

As L1zard Queen said, your weight loss will come from your food choices. Focus on that. Log everything you eat and figure out what you can cut back, skip, or exchange for something with fewer calories.

L1zardQueen

43kelli wrote: »

What are stickies & where are they?

At the top, like this one>>>http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

Kohanai

Man, vent away. Sometimes it helps just getting it out.

Where to start - just pick something. Focus on your nutrition. Focus on being able to walk 100 meters at a brisk pace. Focus on being able to climb a few flights of stairs without stopping. I spent well over a year just getting my nutrition handled before I began serious gym activity. I tried to be active and learn how to eat well at the same time... it ended poorly, got me down, and I spiraled. Got up to my heaviest ever (278). Then my mom had a series of bad strokes, and I woke the heck up. For me, it took hitting an emotional low and seeing my mom almost die from weight complications (she was 320ish at that time) after her strokes. For you, it could be as simple as just choosing something to focus on.

For the doubts, have them. Feel free. But try to stay active on here, and exercise however you can. If you keep doubting while staying active, you'll eventually see positive changes, and those doubts will morph into little balls of excitement. I doubt the heck out of myself all the time. But, I've still lost weight. I still get better at lifting things. I still manage to jump rope longer each time I test myself. Everyone doubts themselves.

For motivation, try to find things you enjoy. As the weather gets better, do some laps (around the house, office, parking lot, park, etc) at different parts of the day. Get some small dumbbells and just curl them while watching tv or sitting on the porch. Stretch each day. You start small and you build. If you really need, see a physical therapist or a personal trainer - even if it is for just a few visits so that you can get a professional's opinion on safe and effective movements.

For me, the only way I pushed past my injuries was to do little things I enjoyed. When I felt like crap because walking up 1 set of stairs put me out of breath, just walking the neighbor's dog each lunch break made me feel better. That little bit of happiness helped me just deal with the injuries and poor health, and work past them. Our bodies adapt, and we do more.

It can be a slow process, and that can add to the helpless or negative feelings. But just know that your journey is what you make of it. Just try, one little thing at a time, and you'll get there. Before you know it, you'll be complaining that it started raining in the middle of your run.

PokeyBug

I totally get you... At least, I think I can relate. I injured my knee in a car accident around 15 years ago, got fat as a result of not being able to walk for about 6 months, and exercise has been a bit of a roller coaster since. I'd go through periods where I could exercise all the time, I was eating right, and life was going great. Then, my bad knee would stiffen up out of nowhere, and I was unable to walk for a couple of weeks. So, then I'd feel sorry for myself and eat bad stuff and just generally get into a funk.

I realized recently that I was basically giving up all hope during these periods. And life without hope, without effort is really depressing. I deserve more, I realized. YOU deserve more, too. So, I began using these periods where I couldn't move much without crutches (because I'm too clumsy to use a cane), to research. And, being that I was a French major and not pre-med, I've got a lot to learn! But I used my time when I couldn't walk to look at the different possible ways I could do something.

During my last attack, I figured out that controlling the amount of uric acid in my system might help. Uric acid is a major contributor to osteoarthritis and gout. (I think I may have gout, because my symptoms to that are very similar. I haven't been able to get to the doctor to be checked for it, so I'm pretending that's what it is. In my mind, it's better to take action than to not take action. Even if I don't cure myself, I won't be sitting around feeling sorry for myself.) To reduce my uric acid levels, I've been taking hemp seed oil and I've cut my sugar intake down to 25 grams or less of sugar a day. It's only been around a week, but I've managed to walk at least a mile a day this week most days and I've felt no pain.

I may not have cured my knee for life, but, at least I finally know now that it is far better to keep my mind occupied when my body isn't functioning the way I want it to than it is to sit around and fret about my messed-up knee. Do you have any hobbies? Any books you've always wanted to read but never had the time for? Look at this as God making time for you to take up that hobby or to read that book.