Do you PUSH past your aches and pains?? HELP!

yellowcapris

Hi guys..I am currently 175lbs at 5'5. I was about 135lbs a year ago, but gained 40 lbs quite rapidly due to binge eating disorder. (Right now I am no longer binge eating and have maintained 175lbs for 3 months ). I work an 8 hour day nursing job...on my feet all day walking around, standing, hardly sitting.

I have the time to workout either in the morning or after work, at least for an hour.

I have the desire and the energy to do a workout (i.e. I did a 45 minute turbo fire last week over the WEEKEND...felt great doing it!).

The problem is..on the 5 days that I work, my FEET ache and kill me, which I personally attribute to gaining 40 lbs so rapidly. My feet were in no way prepared to handle this body weight. When I work out in the morning, my feet kill me at work for my whole 8 hour shift. And after work...my poor soles are aching and any kind of physical activity would hurt my aching feet. I seem to only feel somewhat recovered enough to workout on the weekend.

My question for you guys is...do you still do workouts despite your aches and pains..knowing that when you lose the weight you will lose the pain? Specifically -Have you found an exercise that doesn't hurt your FEET? I know that swimming is an option, and I do have access to a pool, but with a history of binge eating and the hunger that follows a swim session, I don't know if it is ideal. I wear clarkes shoes and I do try to sit when I can.

Any suggestions, encouragement or how you have handled foot/body aches would be a blessing. Thank you all

Edit: I recently joined MFP and would love to have some friends on the site for support and motivation. I love to share recipes and quotes too....My goal is to resume back to my 135lb weight.. however my ultimate goal is to get down to 120-125lbs. Please add me as a friend if you similar stats, goals or would like to support each other! Thanks again everyone.

iluvprettyshoes

I have a tendency to ignore pain & so I stay injured quite a bit. I'm learning slowly.
Right now I have a sprained ankle & stationary bike is working great for me. Maybe that is an option for you.
Swimming is great too & I do some of that as well & the excess hunger hasn't been an issue there like I thought it would be.

Good luck to you!

2hobbit1

Listen to your feet - they are saying get better shoes! It makes a big difference if your shoes have enough support and are designed for the way you foot strike. I'm in the same situation - standing on linoleum floors that are over cement is hard on the knees, feet and back. I have found that gel inserts and good arch supports help.

Take a look at roadrunnersport.com they have good live chat and can steer you to a running shoe with extra cushion and good support based on your foot structure. And you don't have to order from them if you don't want too.

yellowcapris

Thanks guys! I hope I can get some more responses!

wildapril

Get some better, professionally fitted shoes and try swimming (not in the new shoes, though ). Your body weight won't affect your feet in the water!

wanttolose40lbs

When I was doing boot camp, the instructor loved to make us run and go up and down steps. My Plantar Fasciitis really flared up and I was in pain. I was told to buy expensive running shoes, which I did, and also bought inserts to go in them, my feet haven't hurt since. I have since quit boot camp and moved on to other things because I hate running.

LadyIntrepid

It depends on the pain. If it's just achy creaky getting older pains, I push through it. But if it feels like potential injury pain, I STOP!

Working out has actually helped the aches and pains -- my muscles getting stronger have helped relieve the pressure on my joints. Foot pain -- you may have plantar fasciitis which is generally treatable (f you do an online search, you'll find a ton of stretches to do and other tips) -- but most critical is to have super supportive shoes. That can even help knees, hips, back, etc.

ahmommy

My personal guidelines are that it depends on the type of pain. If it's muscle pain from working your muscles in new ways, push through it. You'll actually feel better after working the muscles again. However, if it's potentially an injury, it's best not to push it. I strained my achilles tendon and my doctor told me to rest it. She said that it was already weakened and if I didn't give it a break, I could cause it to tear completely and that would definitely put me out of comission, and for a long time.

It sounds to me like your feet are under a lot of stress with standing a good portion of the day, plus the rapid weight gain you experienced in the last year. I would get some really good shoes to wear, especially at work, and figure out the right fit for you for exercise that will go easy on your feet until you lose some weight and see how you're feeling. I think the stationary bike would be a good option for you. Plus upper body strength training.