I have lower back pain and want to add exercise to dieting.

G0ATLY

Lets me start by saying hello. I'm a female, 26, 6'ft tall. I'm obese into the 490 lbs+ range and currently on a ketogenic diet since May 11th 2013. Simply through dieting I have lost A LOT, but I am starting to see flab in odd places and it is bringing my mentality down and want to add toning while losing the weight. However I have some issues physically. I honestly don't know the amount I have fully lost due to not weighting myself. I did not have a scale that would measure that. I did take a starting measurement of various areas and there are DRASTIC results of 4ish inches just off my waist/torso, bust and even my forearm lost 2 inches. However.. My stomach is DROPPING down into a huge weird pouch and got bigger into my thigh resulting in 3 inches gained. I kind of look like a pear with a tire around me.

Okay sorry for the yapping here is my question/help me?

I have horrible stinging, burning, almost radiating pain in my lower back, and it's been there for longer then I have been losing weight. The thing is, it's hard to exercise or over exert myself because my back brings me down as well as this odd debilitating conditions the doctors REFUSE to treat. When I exert myself, walk, get warm/hot, or stand for long periods of time I become covered head to toe in red blotched hives and my face feels like it's burning and if I keep going and don't stop I end up hospitalized due to sever stomach cramping and inability to breath. This can happen if I DON'T sit in the shower.

Now there is a new symptom in which they (doctors) think my weight loss is pinching nerves in unusual spots and my skin waist down is numb. From below my breasts to above my ankles all the frontal area, including groin area is numb and weak.

REAL QUESTION:

What are some exercises I can do with out being on the floor. Maybe chair or bed related that cater to flatting my "tire", reducing fat on the back of my calves and fixing the flaps under my arms?

G0ATLY

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iggyboo93

Ehow has some articles on exercising while sitting down. Google "exercising while sitting". You can do a variety of things with a couple of 5 pound weights. Go see another doctor who won't ignore your concerns.

moondawg14

At 500 pounds, the very best thing you can do is focus on your eating. Continue to lose weight through diet. Focus on this one thing, and do it right. Don't worry about inches, don't worry about how you look, don't worry about how much you can (or can't) exercise.

Since sitting in the shower seems to prevent all of your symptoms, it sounds like you're simply getting VERY overheated when you work out. If you feel like you must continue exercising, then reduce the intensity of your exercises to something that you can maintain. OR go out in the back yard and work out with a hose spraying on you! Or work out in the shower. Or workout naked. I dunno. What you're doing now is clearly not working, so try something else.

Good luck!

HollisGrant

There is an MFP member named Ed Davenport who was very heavy, in your weight area, who lost all the weight. You might look up his name in the member database and email your questions to him. He seems very nice and might be able to give you some answers. He is very healthy and physically fit now.

bobbystrongarm

I think your best bet will be adhering to a strict diet for awhile. This type of weight loss isn't going to happen over night, but you can do it if you stay determined. Try to eat as healthy as possible. Vitamin and anti-oxidant rich foods should be making up a large portion of your foods. Health should be just as large of a focus as weight loss. Have you and your doctor come up with a diet plan yet? Think of your diet as phase one. The more weight you lose the more mobility you will gain back. More mobility means you will be able to start exercising more readily. Don't get caught up in making this a race. If you stick to a diet, day in and day out, week after week, month after month you will get to a point exercise wont be so painful. You should be able to lose weight fairly quickly. At your body weight you can have huge calorie deficits, it takes a lot of calories to sustain your size. Use this to your advantage. Eat a lot of vegetables to keep your calorie intake low and your stomach full.

Have you tried swimming to get some exercise? Great way to remove the load from your back and it will be low impact for your joints as well.

A stationary bike could work. There are ones that basically have you sitting in a chair the whole time. I have also seen little steppers that are not attached to anything. You could just slip one under your feet while sitting in a chair. I saw some on ebay and i think at target once while shopping.

Grab some small dumbbells or resistance bands. You can get cardio in by using your upper body in a seated position. Try things like shadow boxing or moving your arms around in circular motions. Any movement will be good. There are boxing games for the nintendo Wii that involve a lot of arm movement and coordination. This could make essentially flailing your arms around more fun. These games can be surprisingly tiring when you get into it. Punching the opponents in the game is also a great way to get frustration out, I find it very cathartic.

As far as extra skin or flab I'm not sure there is much you can do really. Your skin will tighten up over time, but how much changes from person to person. Eating vitamin rich foods and omega3 fatty acids can improve skin elasticity to some degree. I think the best thing would be to not worry about this just yet. Lose the weight, become healthy, and then take it from there. If it is still flabbier than you like after adequate time to tighten up there are all sorts of cosmetic procedures that can be done. Worrying about stuff like this before it comes around is a sure fire way to demotivate yourself. If it happens, it happens. You're reclaiming your health, don't let anything discourage you.

I wish you all the success in the world. Never give up.

cargriff7

I have had lower back pain for many years. My doctor eventually referred me to a physical therapist for lower back pain. I made it clear that I wanted exercises that I could do on my own. The physical therapist was delighted that I was willing to do the work. I was given exercises to do at home and didn't have to keep coming in to the office except now and then when I needed to change something. It seems in your situation that it would be helpful to get some medical advice as to how to stay active without injuring your back. Hopefully, you could be taught to do exercises that would strengthen your core and actually improve your back! Keep up the good work!!!

ragingmrs

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Now there is a new symptom in which they (doctors) think my weight loss is pinching nerves in unusual spots and my skin waist down is numb. From below my breasts to above my ankles all the frontal area, including groin area is numb and weak.

REAL QUESTION:

What are some exercises I can do with out being on the floor. Maybe chair or bed related that cater to flatting my "tire", reducing fat on the back of my calves and fixing the flaps under my arms?

If I were you I would try to find a local pool. With your weight, back pain and standing/over heating issue water aerobics would probably be your best bet. Possibly a senior center may have a class that would work well for you.

Warchortle

Doing any exercises that strains your body (in an unhealthy manner) isn't beneficial. I agree with focusing on your diet and consuming healthy foods. If you could find a pool perhaps that could be something you could add as exercise, but just losing weight will ease pressure on your bones.