I cried at the park today
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JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I suggest you not wait to get good new shoes. If walking hurts your ankles, it may very well be due to the shoes.
I already bought new shoes. It's one ankle and it's from an old injury. Thank you 😊2 -
1/2 mile is a great start! It really is. When I started 5 years ago, I could barely walk 1/4 mile without excruciating pain and rest stops. Within a few months I could walk a 5k. Now I’m doing triathlons. Just take it one step (literally) at a time. Keep building from where you are and you’ll be amazed what your body will do for you!
That's amazing!! Seems so far away but ik it just takes determination!! Congratulations on your amazing achievements and thanks so much for the encouragement!1 -
You can do it! You just need to keep trying. If you persevere you will definitely get there.0
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@appledawn0422, please don’t be ashamed, you took the first step! I was there 8 years ago, when I held my grandson for the first time! You totally have this! I too have achieved many goals since then and soooooo will you!1
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Every bit helps you get to your goal. I was the same way at one point and needed a cart to lean on in stores. I’m no where near my goal but I’m also no where near where I was. I’m halfway between and that’s great... you’re not where you started either. Congratulate yourself for making changes and for each small victory along the way. They add up. Don’t forget not to best yourself up either. You didn’t gain overnight and you won’t lose overnight either. I’m proud of you the same way that I’m proud of myself for making the decision and the effort to change our lives. One day at a time. We’ll have food and bad days but don’t give up.2
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Hugs to you
Don't be ashamed. You have no reason to be. You literally have done the hardest step on this journey - starting.
1/2 mile is awesome! That 800m - almost a 1km (I'm an Aussie - we use metric
). When I first started, I couldn't manage that without stopping. That was 160 days ago. Now I can HIKE for 6.94 km, easily walk 5km, and run just over 2km. I've lost almost 20kg, down almost 3 dress sizes, feel amazing and am the fittest I've been since before I was pregnant with my firstborn - 7 years ago. And yes - this is in 160 days - just over 5 months.
You can do this - but the first thing you need to do is to NEVER EVER be angry with yourself again. Never ever blame yourself for what you WERE - look at the person you are BECOMING. This journey is as much about your mental health as it is about your physical health.
Knowledge is power; research and EXPERIMENT what is best for you. Ask questions - there is no such thing as a stupid question. This forum is the best. I have had nothing but love from this forum
And remember, you deserve the best for yourself. And there is only one person who can deliver that - you.
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You've STARTED. That's where it's important. If you stay CONSISTENT, then things will change. Keep your expectations real. It's gonna be a tough road, but staying the course will prove it's possible.appledawn0422 wrote: »I'm 40 and morbidly obese. Im just tired of it all. Last week, I went to an amusement park with my teens and was afraid to ride anything. I was afraid I wouldn't fit! That's when I decided to make a change and start living. I've been researching and started meal prepping. I enlisted a work out partner for 3 days a week at the gym. I was all excited. Today, I went to the park to walk a mile. I could only make it a half mile 😭. I'm ashamed. How could I let myself get here!? My lungs hurt, my ankles hurt and my legs burned. I sat on my car and cried.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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You need to absolutely know that you can do this. Yes, even from that starting point. It will take longer than you think/hope, and that will be frustrating, but it will take even longer if you give up
Three years ago, I weighed 385 lb and couldn't walk 200 yards without my ankles hurting. OK, fine, so I walked 100 yards, and had a bit of a sit down before walking back, and I did that twice a day. I also significantly cut down how much I was eating.
After a couple of months, I could dispense with the sit down. A little longer, and I could just about manage to go round the block a couple of times a week. Then every day. Then round a larger block. Then I started walking to work once a week. Twice. Every day. All this time I was also losing weight, which took a heck of a lot of strain off my ankles and let them heal up.
My company had a plan for employee gym membership, so I joined up and got a personal training session. At first my 'squats' were just sitting on a block and then standing up again. Three months later, it was a lower block.
I very tentatively essayed what looked like a fun gym class for beginners. I was just about able to keep up for most of it. It was fun, so I kept going. After a few weeks, I could do all of it. I tried some other gym classes. They were harder - but they weren't impossible.
I tried a two mile hike, half of which was uphill. It was exhausting, but I felt so good at the top of that hill; so I did it again. Then five miles. Nine. Eighteen...
I now walk five miles a day, go to BodyPump gym classes two or three times a week, and hike 14+ miles across reasonably strenuous terrain on half my weekends. I'm training for a 24-hour charity hike in Scotland this autumn. I am doing things I literally never even dreamed were possible. But I didn't get there in one step.
Getting fit is a process of baby steps. If you try too much it'll be unpleasant and you'll injure yourself. Stay within your limits, where it's pleasant - just push those limits from time to time to see whether they've shifted. And you'll get there.16 -
Hi @appledawn0422
Congratulations on deciding to make the change. Don't forget that weight loss is mainly down to what you do with your food so if you focus on being in a caloric deficit of up to 500 calories a day then you WILL steadily lose weight.
You don't need to exercise to lose weight (your body mass means your BMR is already high so you can eat quite a lot of cals and lose weight). It is of course good for mobility and fitness. It's great that you are getting out and trying to walk and go to the gym. My advice would be to take it very easy - the last thing you want to do is injure yourself. You said that you found walking half a mile painful, particularly on your knees, legs and ankles. I would suggest finding a distance you can walk without this pain and build up slowly from there (i.e. 100m to start with and add on no more than 10% extra in one go i.e. 100m for x days, then 110m for x days, 121m, 133m, 146m etc). It sounds very tedious but you'll be able to increase it quite quickly (you could even do the walk twice a day) and you can be confident that you're not hurting yourself. Others have suggested lower impact activities such as swimming - these would be good to try.
Good luck with it all - don't be hard on yourself, you're doing really well.3 -
1/2 mile is fantastic! it takes time to build stamina so don't be hard on yourself.
Wishing you all the very best.1 -
We are almost in the exact same position. I'm 41 and last summer my sister, 15 year old and I went to an amusement park and twice I attempted to sit in the seats of the newer rides, I actually did but they wouldn't close properly. I held up the ride twice. I was so embarrassed and discouraged. I vowed that that wouldn't be me this summer and yet... here i am again. I've lost some pounds and gained some pounds but nothing that's stuck.
I'm back on MFP to get back on track. I've just decided to take it one day at a time and celebrate the little victories. To have mini goals that make me feel great about myself when they get accomplished.
I'm also going to start walking daily again. All the best 5 -
You could look at it this way... You are a step further along than you were before you went to the park, because now you know that you want to change
The mindset is the biggest and hardest thing to change!
Good luck. You can do it x3 -
Just look at all those encouraging messages and good advise from MFP members! That's what it is all about: MFP will do all the necessary calculations for you and what could go wrong with great member's support? I started 443 days ago and so far dropped 36 kg / 80 pounds, started on 170 kg / 375 pounds. I prepare a basic meal plan for the next day and take it meal by meal, day by day. Still a long way to go - but where would I be if I would not have started last year to do something for myself, something for my health?2
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You should feel proud of yourself for taking the first steps. You went to the park and you walked...that is good! It doesn’t matter how long you walked for...you done it. Set yourself small goals to start with, then push yourself a little further each time you meet your goals. I remember seeing a quote somewhere and I think it’s quite fitting for your post:
No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everybody on the couch!
Never give up 🤗4 -
I'm so overwhelmed at all the support and encouragement that you all have given me!! From the bottom of my heart ....Thank You!! I'm starting my day and heading to the gym to do the elliptical (for as long as I can). I'm not going to set a goal except as far as I can so I won't be disappointed! You all are so right. I didn't get here over night and I won't get healthy over night! Baby steps and consistency!! Thankful I found this community of wondered people! ❤️10
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Good for you. You went out, you didn't achieve your initial goal but who cares! It gives you something to strive towards. Sore muscles means they haven't moved in that way in a while and so they are yelling at you. Let them yell... no pain, no gain! Don't overdue it but get out there again. Everytime you move you tell your body you want to be healthier! It gets easier.... and it's worth it!1
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One day you'll be at that park laughing with joy at what you've accomplished while remembering the day you cried so early in your journey. Keep marching forward in your fitness, health and wellness journey and don't quit until the miracle arrives.1
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Oh sweetie - what you did was still amazing! Do not let this get you down! Just realizing the situation you're in and doing something about it already makes you a winner in my eyes. Do a little more each day and you will be amazed with how far you come. And as a group exercise instructor, I always say that it's not about how skinny you are -- it's about how STRONG you are! That is an accomplishment in itself. So, work your way up and do great things. I know you can!1
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you realized there was a problem
you came to believe you needed to change
and you are actively trying to enforce those changes.
a half mile is perfectly fine. a quarter mile would be too. just.keep.going.4 -
You're headed in the right direction. Be proud of yourself. Many people don't even take that first step. Keep going and you'll be surprised just how quickly things improve.1
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Good for you for deciding to make a change. Go easy on youself. Don’t expect to go from zero to 100 mph overnight or you will discourage yourself. Make gradual changes in both nutrition and fitness and be consistent. You will be amazed at your body’s ability to adapt and change.0
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Everyone has to start somewhere no matter what it's for. I tell people thus all the time when I'm at skating. Same goes for fitness and weight loss.
For the gym what about trying a bike first. It's less weight bearing and i suspect you'll find it a bit easier.
Baby steps. You'll get there and then you can advise the next person posting similar. But just keep going. We all started somewhere1 -
Sending major hugs your way. 1
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Congratulations on your new found purpose. You'll likely find that your life is nothing more than an outcome of your behavior.
As for the past, unless there are elements to learn from, move on.
Looking forward seek progress, not perfection.
...and forget motivation. Motivation is emotional and fleeting. Enjoy it while it lasts and ride on the wave.
Choose discipline. Discipline yields results.3 -
Hello, @appledawn0422 !
It is so great that you have taken the first step. Many of us have had moments like that. Here's a great account of a moment like that by @The_Movie_Chair , who has chronicled her journey in an amazing blog here on MFP:
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/The_Movie_Chair/view/the-empty-chair-beside-me-909153
Weight loss is all about making small improvements, taking daily and weekly actions that add up over time. (Here's one of my favorite videos about this -- How to Get 1% Better Every Day by habits expert James Clear.)1 -
Hello, I would recommend this
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10750239/july-2019-fat2fit-weight-loss-challenge-support-group-registration-page#latest
It’s a support group, it’s helped me stay motivated to keep going. Ask questions, get support, vent and make friends. No bs.1 -
You can't change the past or where you are at this particular moment. You can only change your trajectory and destination going forward. I retired last January (2018) after a long sedentary IT career, morbidly obese in my own right. The family bought me a new bike for Christmas 2017 in anticipation of retiring, with the encouragement, "go forth and ride." Riding is way easier on the body when you are older and oversized. Except up hills, of course, LOL. But its a great way to get fitter. It's my choice in preference to running.
I lost 35+ lbs last year, and this year I'm bouncing in a narrow range, but being measured by the doctor as gaining muscle mass. So, in his words, "you're getting fitter/stronger, you're feeling better, and your clothes are getting looser. You're doing basically the right things, keep at it." Of course, we want to accelerate the loss, and with summer now starting, my successful regimen of last year (riding to the beach - I live close to the shore in NJ) and swimming most days is ramping up. Swimming, by the way is another great low-impact exercise.
Exercise is not sufficient, however. Some sort of dietary regimen is needed. "You can't outride your fork," is a cycling fitness saying I picked up last year. For me, "moderation is key," and I'm not doing anything to wacky. Caloric control, fresh whole and home prepared foods, lower glycemic values, lower salt content all work for me.
All these changes will take time to manifest in a postive direction, and the direction doesn't always seem to be positive. You will have both imagined and real setbacks, this is life. I see you're walking. Much as you, I had difficulty walking when I began this last year; a mall was a strenuous outing. This past winter, during my "cycling off season," I joined a winter senior hikers group - and boy could some of those old geezers really walk LOL - I felt truly inadequate compared to them. But I kept at it, and it all got better. Time. Effort. Results.
You can do it. You've already chosen the path to embark on. You have motivation (your kids). Fighting you will be your brain - discouragement is always stalking around, waiting to get you. Just keep your focus. There will be both real and imagined setbacks, this is life. But you will prevail if you keep your focus. Good luck.1 -
You TRIED. You got up and OUT and MOVED. THAT is what you need to focus on. Very few can set a goal and achieve it the first time out of the gate. Please, please don't let what you feel to be a set-back deter you from pushing forward. Give yourself time.1
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You can do this! Like others have said, the fact that you walked is still good! You may not have reached where you wanted to but you moved your body and that's better than nothing! In July I could walk about .75 miles before I felt like I was dying. Now I walk 3-6 miles at a time and often run 2 of those miles. Your body (and mind) will get stronger. 1
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I remember the first time I cried related to my weight - I was in the dressing room and realizing I had to move up from XXL shirts to XXXL.
The second time I cried related to my weight was when I had surpassed 100 lbs lost.
I’m now 3.5 years into my weight loss journey and I’ve been bouncing around 130-140lbs for awhile now.
I can do things I never thought I’d be able to do - running in 10K’s, in addition to multiple 3-5 mile runs each week. Lifting heavy weight 2-3x a week. I’m back to size 34 jeans, wear XL shirts (and longing to get into L).
You’ll surprise and amaze yourself each and everyday but you have to keep going. If you take a day or two off, that’s ok, hop back on and get going again and it’ll be very worth it.6
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