Impatience

"Its a marathon not a sprint", etc. There are so many cliches on this out there that I don't want to repeat them. You just have to focus and know that you're not any different than anyone else on here, in the sense that if you exercise and eat at a calorie deficit, you will eventually see results. I'd say for motivational help, friend up with people who have been in your position but now ARE NOT. Get their advice and counsel and let their results motivate you. Happy losing!

Do you have a Physical Therapist? It sounds to me like you need more of a personalized, structured plan focused on rehabilitation if you're in a wheelchair/walker at this point.

I don't know how to help with the impatience- you seem to already understand that those expectations are unrealistic. I would probably suggest setting short-term realistic, achievable goals and focus on meeting your goals, then set new ones. Meeting goals goes a long way towards improving morale about one's progress.

Do you have a Physical Therapist? It sounds to me like you need more of a personalized, structured plan focused on rehabilitation if you're in a wheelchair/walker at this point.

I don't know how to help with the impatience- you seem to already understand that those expectations are unrealistic. I would probably suggest setting short-term realistic, achievable goals and focus on meeting your goals, then set new ones. Meeting goals goes a long way towards improving morale about one's progress.

Agreed - and the goals do not have to be directly related to weight loss - they can be fitness goals also.

I know there is a "sit and get fit" website out there. She emails workouts daily to your inbox. It's www.cherylmillerville.com. All exercises designed to be done in a chair. Maybe that's a way to start.

Feel free to add me as a friend if you would like. There's lots of support on here!

It took me 2 years as of January 1st to lose 90+lbs (and I still have about 30-40 more to go), so needless to say, I've taken the slow route. What has kept me going was a couple of things:
1) Rewarding myself for little accomplishments. I have set a reward for every 10lbs lost (but you could do 5 etc.) and another smaller reward for other mini-goals that I accomplish such as going to the gym 5 days/week for the month. You can tailor this to what works for you.
2) Don't try and do everything at once. Make small changes that you know you can live with.
3) Log in to MFP everyday, log your food and read the message boards. The posts are very inspiring, and there's always help and support when you need it.
4) Know that it's ok to mess up (I've fallen off the wagon several times, it's just important to pick yourself back up and start again).

In this one-hour photo, instant oatmeal world, I want to get fit now. I'm 50 pounds overweight, very unfit, and have to use a walker and wheelchair to get around because of my bad joints and muscle atrophy. I want to be strong and fit...NOW. Have any tips for someone who needs to take it slow but wants to see results fast??? I mean thinking shifts and emotional help.

How bad do you want it? When the desire to be fit is like a fire in your belly, you'll be ready to do ANYTHING to get there.


A year ago I was 80-90lbs overweight. I REALLY wanted to get back into shape, but I felt like I didn't have the tools. I told my hubby that if I got a YMCA membership I felt like I would have the tools and equipment to DO what I needed to do. So he relented and got the membership. I knew if I stopped using it after a few months, I would never hear the end of it.

so in February I started going to the Y. The first few weeks, I went 5 days a week, and I sweated and struggled through 30 minutes on the treadmill. By the time I got off, I was literally stumbling. About the 3rd week, I cut down to 3-4 days a week, and I added some strength work. A couple months in, I was able to walk on the treadmill for an HOUR. Sometime late summer I stopped sweating on the treadmill, even though I was doing hills.

about that same time, I noticed something odd about my upper arm. I laughed when I realized that the odd growth on my arm was biceps muscle. I don't think I had ever seen it before!

sometime over the summer, I caught the attention of the trainer on duty and the fitness monitor. The trainer knows my schedule almost better than I do. They both are more than happy to show me how to do an exercise or to check my form to make sure I am doing it right. They tease me and joke with me, and I love it.

I've only lost about 32lbs in 11 months, but I am now doing things with weights that I never imagined I would be able to do. I may never hit my goal weight, but darn it, I may end up better than I was 20 years ago.

So ask the PT to show you some exercises you can do with your upper arms, and ask what you can specifically do for your lower body...and by golly, you do them like your life depends on it! Your progress might not be fast, but I bet you'll see new things going on with your body by Spring!

It is inspirational that you recognize from the beginning that a lot of this is in the head. How exactly right you are!!!

One subtle change I made in the beginning that really helped me was substituting the word "can" with the word "will."

I can walk 100 steps today. I WILL walk 100 steps today.

Focus on figuring out what your minimum goals are first. Don't try to overdo it all at once. Do something for a bit (a few weeks), then add a new goal. Keep adding. You'll get better at this as you go along. There might be times when you falter for a bit. Rely on the minimum goals when this happens, evaluate what you are faltering with, make a plan then keep going. Be persistent. Tell yourself what you WILL do and then follow through with it. Your goals may change over time. Mine did.

Just remember that commitment is more important than motivation. You have to will yourself to make the change in your life and follow through with it. Do not beat yourself up over things but instead give yourself positive talk on where you started and how far you've come. Give yourself positive talk on what you can do and what you will do. Talk yourself INTO it and not out of it. It'll be a daily thing.