Critical necessity to lose 60 lbs..

NamVetJim

For years I've failed at dieting mainly by not caring.
Now I'm wheelchair bound because of severe osteoarthritis in both knees.
If I can lose the weight I'll be considered for knee replacement surgery, otherwise I'll remain in wheelchair prison.
Mercer County, NJ

JeromeBarry1

It will take a while to become accustomed to the lower calorie intake necessary. You will achieve that.
There are a wide variety of devices you can use in your wheelchair to get some upper-body weight-bearing exercise as well as cardio-vascular exercise. Both help improve your well-being.

There is nothing about your present condition that prevents you from achieving your goal. This day, you have. Care about yourself now.

try2again

Welcome So I get the sense that you do care now, but you should know that I have found that even sometimes when I lack the motivation to make good choices, I can get by by just focusing on the math & what I need to accomplish that day, or even that meal. If you set up your profile and choose a modest weekly goal, it may take a little while, but it will be easier to stick with for the long haul. You can really do this, wheelchair & all

Being a military man, maybe you would enjoy this thread:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

estherdragonbat

I've been in a similar situation as far as failing at weight loss because it wasn't a priority... until I developed a complication that made it so. (In my case, the veins in my legs collapsed under the stress of carrying too much me, and I was told that the condition can't be cured, only managed. With compression stockings and weight loss.)

You can do this, but don't rush. You didn't become overweight in a week. You won't get to a normal weight in a week either. Plug your stats into MFP. Pick a sensible weight-loss goal.

Courtesy of a post from Teabea in https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10019216/1-or-2-lbs-per-week/p1

Pound per week goals
75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

Keep in mind that these are safe maximums, but that going more slowly might be less-stressful. I set my goal to 1lb per week when I had 114 to go and found it much easier to stick to.

Make small sustainable changes. When I got started, the only dietary change I committed to beyond eating within my calorie budget was "keep homemade desserts to 200 calories or fewer per serving". Over the last two years, I've made other changes: focused on hitting my protein and iron, looked for snacks that helped me reach protein, iron, or fiber targets (basically cutting back on the "pop chip" type low-calorie snacks that are basically low-fiber carbs and salt. I do still have them from time to time, but much less than I did at the start), discovered that some starchy carbs were—for me—just as filling as potatoes, but lower calorie. Butternut squash, I'm looking at you!

Don't try to do everything right out of the gate, but remember that so long as you stay on the right track, you'll get there.