Anyone lost from diet alone?

shakybabe

Hi

I'm desperately trying to lose 2 stone, but I have been in wheelchair for the last 6 years. Recently I bought some passive trainer pedals which are like exercise pedals but motorised and move your legs for you (as I don't have the co-ordination to pedal myself)

Since I got these I have been able to burn up to 1,000 cals a day but after a few days my legs get very painful, they swell and all the veins can be seen so look like I've got green lines down my legs (like spider veins?) Previously I had them in inner thighs but they were not noticeable at all on lower legs.

Every time I manage a couple of intense sessions a few days in a row.. it seems to take me nearly a week to recover from and I'm so stiff and in pain I can hardly move the following days.

Has anyone had success losing weight from diet alone with no exercise?

stuffinmuffin

I started MFP using just calorie deficit alone & it works just fine!!! Just don't eat lower than 1200 per day (there's no need to starve) - the weight will come off! Xx

Irene8509

Agree with Stuffinmuffin. Started with calorie counting first and added minimal exercise through the following weeks. I now do more intense workouts to tone and shape my body, but initially the calorie counting was sufficient. Good Luck

shakybabe

what is MFP please?

sgha

Is there a chance you can ask a physical therepist for advice? Maybe they can set up a program for you. Also, you might try doing your workout every other day to give yourself a rest day. Good luck.

sgha

MFP is the abbreviation for this wonderful site - My Fitness Pal. LOVE IT!!:happy:

0PhAtDaDdY

what is MFP please?

My Fitness Pal

goron59

what is MFP please?

MyFitnessPal

netchik

You can lse from diet alone, but if you want to burn some calories as well, punches really get the heartrate going. They suggest that for people with lower body injuries. Maybe give it a go and see how you get on?

trud72

hi there when you choose you calorie amount it will tell you what you are expected to loose and that is without exersice! so exersice is a bonus...
couldn't you do any cardio based ones like punching ect?
or what about swimming? not sure how bound you are...

sandislim

I think you should get some medical advice - your muscles shouldn't hurt for a long time after exercise unless something else is happening, if you've already been training hard and then suddenly you start getting pain, it doesn't seem right to me - but I wouldn't give up either, get some advice from your doc and see if there is a solution or help you can get.

CarolynB38

I agree with everyone else but if you did want to use your pedals I would suggest building it up slowly with a rest day in between. Sometimes it pays to take it steady. Perhaps start with a few minutes every other day and gradually build it up, rather than causing yourself pain and discomfort by doing too much too soon. I admire your dedication and I really wish you well with your weight loss :flowerforyou:

mazza2marilyn

hi, like you, i cannot do a lot of exercise ( i have pmr ) if i do i'm in pain for days afterwards. i've been on this site since the end of june and i've lost 22lb. a few days ago i walked nearly three miles, but it took me over 5 hours, having to stop quite a few times. that is the most i have done since starting here, good luck in your journey,

shakybabe

Thanks to everyone for comments. I was 12st 7 in June so lost 7lbs that I know of for sure. My scales were a bit erratic today and don't seem to be working properly so waiting for new ones to arrive to see what they say.. I'm hoping I may have lost a bit more.

It seems very slow.. I have under-active thyroid and with my mobility issues.. exercise is difficult as its not just my legs affected it affects co-ordination of all my muscles (arms and speech muscles too). I can't swim as no longer have co-ordination to get arms and legs to work together and live long way from any accessible pool.

which is why I saved up and bought the Passive Trainer Pedals.

I can only walk few steps with assistance mainly for transfers between cars/chairs.. I use powerchair most of the time as I can't self propel either.

I have a few exercises I can do on wii fit and I can do wii tennis with wrist weights on and bowling.. can do a punching motion but not fast and one after the other.. I don't usually score much on wii boxing!

I was hoping the involuntary movements would help me lose weight faster but i don't seem to have been on the right amount of calories and its send my body into starvation mode and slowed my metabolism even further.. plusI was thinking if can't move 'm not burning any and have been trying to survive on 600-800 cals for the last year (probably why my weight never shifted from 12st 7!)

Most of the initial 7lbs as lost through water tablets as I suspected I was carrying alot of water after reading posts on other thyroid forums... but losing the actual fat seems to be a very slow process as my body doesn't seem to want to let go of it and I daren't eat too much in case it makes me even heavier! :embarassed: which is deeply embarrassing for when people need to lift me with or without chairs on steps etc.

Nette_54

Hello, as everyone has said yes you can lose weight with diet alone and I understand what you are going through, I was in a wheelchair for 3 months several years ago and it is soooo frustrating but I am lucky in that it was only a short term thing for me. It sounds like you have worked too hard to soon. Take it easy with the exercise, do a little bit every other day and gradually work up to pace that doesn't hurt you. Upper arm things would be good like exercise bands and as someone else suggested swimming would be very good, Do you have a pool or hydro pool that has wheelchair access to it. I had physio in a hydro pool and they taught me all the exercises to build up my muscles for my back. Do you have family who could take you swimming or is there a healthcare people who will take you. Good luck with your weight loss and remember little stages is the best way to go

_Ben

In the past I have done weight loss via diet alone, such as carb stave or just low cal intake. Try talking to a physical therapist, see if there is any low impact exercises they can recommend for you. I know at my school we have certain machines that are designed to work with wheelchairs, even thread mills that are on low speeds that you can just go on with your wheel chair

engineman312

I agree with everyone else but if you did want to use your pedals I would suggest building it up slowly with a rest day in between. Sometimes it pays to take it steady. Perhaps start with a few minutes every other day and gradually build it up, rather than causing yourself pain and discomfort by doing too much too soon. I admire your dedication and I really wish you well with your weight loss :flowerforyou:

i agree, although maybe you can alternate between light, medium, and hard work outs, with a rest day or two. i like to do light, hard, medium, break, hard, break, medium, repeat.

debgcook

When I workout even if it is intense, I do get sore too. But then I go walking the next day. You have to keep moving to break down those muscle otherwise it stiffens up. Trust me. One day workout hard, then the next day do light workout. I try to workout hard every other day and then the other days is either walking or light workout. I give myself at least 2 days off.

debgcook

By the way, diet only only works for a while then you must move to burn.