Need to Exercise, but I can't

_crafty_

I have PF and it stopped me from running about 4 months ago. At first I freaked out because I was worried that if I couldn't run that I would gain back the 30 pounds I had lost so far. I talked to my doctor, he gave me some suggestions on stretches to do and recommended taking an anti-inflammatory each day (Aleve or Advil). My advice is DO the stretches and TAKE the anti-inflammatory. It has helped immensely.

Most importantly DON"T GIVE UP. When I couldn't run anymore I started talking to my friends and came up with a couple lifting routines that were good for me as a beginner and lifting doesn't bother my foot at all. I have made amazing progress since then. BUT you will never move forward if you don't really want to. Stop making excuses. If you can't avoid "bad" foods then don't buy them at the store. Don't go to the restaurants that are a bad temptation for you until you can get yourself under control. You have to want to make progress. You can't let a bump in the road bring you to a screeching halt. There are exercises you can do with PF that won't be an issue. You just have to want to do them more than you want to sit on the couch eating.

rides4sanity

Get thee to a swimming pool. Zero gravity means no pain on your heels.

And trust me, nobody is looking at you in your swimsuit until something pops out of it. So just keep everything tucked in

This x 100. Put your self-consciousness aside and find an alternative you can live with. The other option is diet only which I find much more difficult to stick to. Not to be rude and not saying they aren't valid, but you need to stop making excuses, make choices. Good Luck!

Swissmiss

I also suffer from that. I stepped wrong on my left foot and it hurt something terrible for at least a year. It will leave with time. It just takes so long that we get frustrated. Have you tried biking?

cargilb

I have severe plantar faciitis in my heel. I can barely walk. I have tried everything the doctor has suggested I have done a Cast for two months, braces, Physical Therapy and NOTHING has helped it. Of course #1 suggestion is loose weight. I am having such a hard time with this. I am 41 years old I know what to eat and what is good and bad for me, but yet the BAD always calls my name, I have 0 willpower. I joined a gym a year ago and basically I make payments for nothing. I loved going to the gym and now that my heel is messed up I can't go and I know I need this in order to loose. UGH I am so fed up. Sorry just venting.

well go to the gym and start very light. 20 minutes of exercise and no more. you should leave the gym wanting to come back again and do more. DO NOT STAY AND DO MORE THAT SAME DAY.
I suggest you try bicycling and hopefully you will like it. I have flat feet and took up bicylng. Try it . I lost about 50 lbs from the spring of last year to now by counting calories and doing bike rides ranging from 10 miles to 60 miles.
Get on the stationary bike in the gym and do some 15 minute rides. DO NOT DO MORE for at least the first month.
enjoy and ride well.

amandammmq

I've been having shoulder problems, AND it has been super cold out... and I've had terrible foot problems in the past!

You might be able to find some exercise videos you can do. I have been doing a Pilates video for buns & thighs that you do while lying down - no pain to your foot at all! I bet there are other videos out there you can do, too. YOu might not quite feel old enough to do it yet, but I know there are videos out there designed to be done while sitting down. It's usually for senior citizens, but who cares!

I bet you could also look for Youtube videos for seated workouts. Anything to get yourself moving and feeling like you're being productive will at least get you started in the right direction psychologically.

I also suggest Googling good stretches to help relieve symptoms, and looking into getting really supportive shoes with good arch support - ones that feel extra good on your feet. I might be only 39, but I wear extra nerdy orthopedic shoes because without comfy feet, how am I supposed to do anything else?


I hope you find relief for the pain - it is NO FUN to feel crippled.

rougecrayon

I have an illness and at my worst, I am bedridden. No energy, cannot move. I was stuck on one floor of the house because the walk up the stairs intimidated me so much.

Now I am (hopefully) on the mend I am starting my fitness from a ZERO and I wished I had done something while I was sick to keep my fitness up because now it is so hard.

I just did my very first push up, and I can walk up the stairs now without needing to stop for the pain in my legs. These are huge accomplishments, but I wish I never let it get to the place where it was a problem.

It's true no matter what your body is going through there is always something you can do... swimming like someone else suggested (or water jogging, water aerobics, etc.). That's where I started.

trijoe

Get thee to a swimming pool. Zero gravity means no pain on your heels.

And trust me, nobody is looking at you in your swimsuit until something pops out of it. So just keep everything tucked in

This x 100. Put your self-consciousness aside and find an alternative you can live with. The other option is diet only which I find much more difficult to stick to. Not to be rude and not saying they aren't valid, but you need to stop making excuses, make choices. Good Luck!

I also vote pool! Join a water aerobics class. Go to the laps lane and do laps. This is spectacular exercise, too. The pool works basically every muscle in your body. You get total body workout. How perfect is that.

As far as will power? C'mon now. It's time you stop whining and start doing. You're never going to go anywhere if you don't start taking those steps forward. And all the cheerleaders at MFP can't do it for you.

Rhozelyn

Thank you all for the replies, it helps knowing people out there have the same or have suffered the same way. I don't like the gym for the simple reason that everyone in the one I go to are just in great shape and I feel so bad about myself. I would rather do work at home and that is what I am trying. I recently started walking the stairs at work instead of the elevator. It is only 3 floors but it still is something.

Cancel the gym membership pronto!
"They" say weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise....have the bad stuff but less of it and mix in some good stuff... all within your calorie limits.

walkwithme1

I've been dealing with this since July 2011. I did therapy, shots, boot and even had surgery dec 2011. I healed, re-injured after a 5k May 2012. Healed again. I can't use a treadmill, elliptical or arc trainer. I can't run. But ya know what I can control: diet and my attitude and I can spin and row. I can do upper body exercises. I can keep others accountable which ends up helping me. And guess what, right now, I have a stress fracture in my left foot (same one I had surgery on) got cortisone shots today! They put me back in my boot for another 3-4 weeks. No one is going to do this for you. You can't live on excuses...I've never wanted or expected sympathy from my friends on here...what I get is support and encouragement and suggestions for more things I CAN do. Decide how bad you want to be healthy and go from there, because I can guarantee you this: it won't be your last set back and you don't need excuses to add to those setbacks.

Oh an I'm 36 and didn't develop the problem till after I lost 30+ pounds.

elainecroft

There are plenty of ways to workout without standing/walking, but you do have to be a bit creative. My mom teaches a "Zumba in a chair" class to get people who are chair-bound to dance. You can also do kickboxing style punches, lift weights, those russian things where you move the medicine ball from side to side, etc. Anything where you are moving will burn calories. Good luck!

autumnsnow786

so this may sound odd, but try rolling your feet back and forth over a golf ball with a little pressure. I was never diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, but I did this when my plantar fascia was feeling tight and it helped.

spirityes

Hi I just joined and read your comment. I find it is a matter of changing mind about what I think exercise is any given day. Sometimes I just use my arms and wail around to get me blood going other times I meditate and feel better just knowing I am not alone in this challenge to change my life. Whatever it takes each day.

dancngdolfn

I have the same problem and i went and got orthodics for my shoes and my feet don't hurt at all anymore as long as i wear the orthodics. Worth a shot! Good luck.

polo571

Check out the guy on the biggest loser. He is 52 and has a bad knee and only does upper body, rowing and biking. He has 2 weeks where he has lost 10 plus pounds. Discipline and desire is all you need. 90% of losing weight is mental.

chellebublz

I second the biking. I would try the bicycle machines at the gym, I'd imagine you can use those without putting much pressure on your heel.

jlapey

This may sound mean, but someone said it to me once and it really hit home;

"When you are ready to do something, you will find a way. Until then, you will find excuses."

karlalband

Add me, you need more support (would help with encouragement). I have had both my feet (heels ) operated on. I know where your coming from. I also have many other health issues too many to mention. I started MFP in Oct 2, 2012 and am down 33 lbs. I have 0 willpower but am very stubborn and determend. I hurt everyday someway or another. So add me, and don't give up!!!

LCFulmer

For 8 weeks I was in an air cast (I've been out of it for 1 month now) due to genetic issue two of my bones in my foot fused together causing stress to my tendon. During the time in the air cast I made it my business to do at least something to continue my weight loss journey. I would do push-ups on my knees, sit in a chair and do bicep curls, shoulder press and triceps. My point is I decided No Excuses and you have to get to that point. An injured tendon is very painful; I've also dealt with planters as well several years ago. Another thing I did was jacks...no jumping just moved my arms and one leg at a time. For guidance with the weight lifting I used my P90X videos and went at my pace..even if it was just 15 min a day.

cwolfman13

You can lose weight with a calorie deficit. Just using MFP to log your food is all that you need to do - and stop making excuses. You can use the pool, you can use your arms, you can do this. Just decided like so many others have.

This^^^....a caloric deficit is all that is necessary to lose weight. Actually, it is best to establish this deficit in your diet rather than trying to work off a bad diet. Don't get me wrong, exercise is great...and I think there are a great many things you could do even with the injury...but do it for overall fitness, heart health, and strength...not you weight loss.

Aarjono

Weight machines. you will build muscle and thus burn more calories. or invest in a couple of heavy dumbbells and lift them at home. there are websites with lots of great exercise videos on how to lift at home. You could do it during commercials.

Where there is a will there is a way.

Good luck to you!

cebreisch

There are workouts designed for people to sit in a chair to do it. And you can always get some weights. Even in the "You on a Diet" books there are exercises that don't require you to walk around. Any movement is good whether it's waving your arms around to music or twisting/turning at the waist to holding a phone book to your waist and leaning forward and backwards.

there are free workouts on ATT Uverse, and you might even be able to find some workouts while sitting on YouTube. I know Richard Simmons has one.

For what it's worth, and good luck!!

tombelt

I don't know what to tell you about motivation but just know that I had the same problems as you. I could barely walk every morning and I tried the same remedies that you did. Don't get mad, but your doctor is 100% correct. I lost the weight! 115 lbs. No more plantar's! That should be your motivation. I started out biking. Easy on the knees. I got hooked. I lost 30 lbs the first year riding once or twice a week and doing little else. Then I got serious! Its been 5 years. I go to the gym and lift weights every morning. I go to spin class 2 times a week and cycle outdoors 2 times per week. I walk, hike, kayak, and jog just to change it up .I know everyone cannot do that but it is up to you. I heard someplace a quote that said, "Somewhere someone busier than you is working out right now." I'm 53, working full time and studying for my masters in educational administration. I have 4 grandkids and I want to be able to enjoy them.
So, just get up, go to the gym, get on the bike, swim, do something, do what you can, just move! And do it again tomorrow. Don't beat youself up if you fail one day, just get up and move and do it! Stay with it for 21 days, eat right, make myfitnesspal a game that you want to win and you will win! Good luck buddy! Go for it!