Please help
Toady72
Posts: 4 Member
I just started using mfp about a week ago. I am a morbidly obese man who has a lot of lower back pain if I stand for more than 5 min. at a time. I just started walking from the Apartment to my parking space on Monday but I can only do 1 trip before I am hurting and out of breath. I try to do at least 10 trips over the course of the day. How long until I see significant results? I know that the weight will come off once I can walk. I want so badly to walk into a store and shop with my wife. Somebody please help.
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Replies
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Stick at it and you'll see the difference soon. You got this
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That's a great goal you have - keep that in mind!
You can do it, we believe in you 0 -
You can do this. just keep at it and keep doing what you are doing. when you start to feel better in the back parking farther away every week or so. You will see the weight start to drop. Good Luck and you got this.0
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It gets easier each time you do it, and each time you get out there is more calories burned which helps you get closer to your goal! You are doing a great job, so keep up the great work! Each day do a little more than you did the day previously and before you know it you will be racing down store aisles with your wife. You CAN do this! 0
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i bet after this week you would be able to go twice in a row!
keep at it... its a slow journey, but you are getting healthier each day!0 -
Results will not happen overnight. Work on it little by little. You may not see progress on a daily basis but believe me, you're making it.
If you need motivation, please add me as a friend and I will help in any way I can. I have been to that place where taking a simple shower made me winded and tired, so I can somewhat pick up what you're putting down.
Just keep motivated and understand that this is not an easy thing to do but if you stay focused on what you want, you WILL get it. If it was easy, this site would be empty. We all need help at one time or another.0 -
I just started using mfp about a week ago. I am a morbidly obese man who has a lot of lower back pain if I stand for more than 5 min. at a time. I just started walking from the Apartment to my parking space on Monday but I can only do 1 trip before I am hurting and out of breath. I try to do at least 10 trips over the course of the day. How long until I see significant results? I know that the weight will come off once I can walk. I want so badly to walk into a store and shop with my wife. Somebody please help.
Well done for trying! Keep at it, I found that if you are watching T.V, in the adverts do some Bicep curls without weights and slowly increase to a can of beans or something and do various other upper body exercises.
All moving is good moving, and before you know it your walking to the shop and around it! I know it'll hurt your joints but it gets easier. My joints in my knees hurt a lot so I am now practising my walking before I run and I have just started to go swimming. I find that there are times during the day when it is quieter like lets say when the gym opens at 6:30am (horrible time but once you are there it is ok) and there are dedicated swimmers, elderly and a mixture of body shapes there and everyone is very nice if you end up having a chat.
You may find that no weight comes off as you build muscle but all of a sudden it'll drop. Your weight will fluctuate naturally anyway and always try to drink lots of water. I eat from a smaller plate so my brain thinks yes lots of food but actually it's just enough for my stomach, and I have noticed my stomach capacity has shrunk!
Keep at it, you will improve before you know it!0 -
Well done to you! Keep at it! Good luck 0
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If you follow MFPs guidelines. You will see weight drop, even without exercise.
As for the exercise, it depends. With my degenerated disks, I sometimes can only walk as far as you say for weeks on end. Find a way to get into a pool: you will find that you are finally comfortable as some of that weight floats off. If you get an aqua jogging belt, you will likely enjoy the freedom of movement so much that you won't need a structured routine for awhile!0 -
I totally applaud your efforts and I think you'll see that it gets easier quicker than you expect it to! Next time you go out to your car (or in a day or two), see if you can do a lap around it before heading back in. Just adding +-20 steps to get around the car but just see if you can do it. If you can, then do that a few times. Then in two or three days, see if you can go out to your car, lap it, back to the door and turn around and go halfway back out to your car again (or all the way if you're feeling up to it). Just build little by little every day. That first trip with your wife into the grocery store is within your grasp, just keep reaching!
I did a similar exercise with jogging. At 301 pounds I could run about 10 feet. So I did. Then I would walk until I could catch my breath. Then I would run another 10 feet, then walk until I could breathe. Within a couple days I could run maybe 40 feet without needing to stop. that is child's play to some but for me, it was an accomplishment. I just kept adding on little by little and I was pretty amazed how quickly it came to me.0 -
Thank You all for the encouragement. It is so nice to see all of the help that people wish to give me. I can't seem to relax at all...I constantly feel like I should be exercising. When I try to sleep I lay down for a few minutes then start panicking abut my weight and have to get up and exercise or research exercise programs on the net. Dropping the weight seems to have taken over my entire life. Thankfully I have the greatest wife in the world . She tries helping me cope in anyway she can. I can do this and I know it. I just need to figure out how to relax.0
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Friend me if you like. I have a friend that lost a lot and could barely walk at all too and now he's a new man. I'm sure he won't mind having you on his friends list. You will be amazed what you will learn on MFP, it'll change your life. I have total faith you can do this after seeing so many others do the same.0
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First, congrats in making the commitment to lose weight. That is a huge deal, and one that takes a lot. Walking to and from the parking lot, what a great idea. 10 times a day, is a great start. What you will see first is how much easier it will get. My suggestion since you are first starting out is to keep a little journal on how you feel each day. Something along the line of "9 and 10 trips to parking was hard today", "wahoo, did 12 trips today!". Those ups will keep you motivated, and those downs they stink. But if you keep a little log, you will see for every down there is 2 ups.
When you look back next month, you and your wife will be surprised how much 30 days has made a difference.
I am thrilled for you, keep up the great work.0 -
Thank You all for the encouragement. It is so nice to see all of the help that people wish to give me. I can't seem to relax at all...I constantly feel like I should be exercising. When I try to sleep I lay down for a few minutes then start panicking abut my weight and have to get up and exercise or research exercise programs on the net. Dropping the weight seems to have taken over my entire life. Thankfully I have the greatest wife in the world . She tries helping me cope in anyway she can. I can do this and I know it. I just need to figure out how to relax.
Congrats on taking the first step to a healthier life! Maybe you should try doing meditation as a way to relax. Its very uplifting and you can do it before going to bed to help you sleep better. That has been what helps me through when I feel overwhelmed. Good luck and dont give up!!0 -
Lots of things you can do if you cant walk get some soup cans do bicepcurls.sit in a chair and do leg extensions do yoga doyogawithme is a great website its free and they have yoga in a chair if you need more suggestions let me know0
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I know it can be hard to start just keep your goal in mind and keep at it, you will get there, It is always nice to have a spouse who supports you in your effort, it makes it alot easier, my husbands is very supportive and prays for me each day and that is so much encouragement . You took the hardest step and now your on your way. Good job0
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Thank You all for the encouragement. It is so nice to see all of the help that people wish to give me. I can't seem to relax at all...I constantly feel like I should be exercising. When I try to sleep I lay down for a few minutes then start panicking abut my weight and have to get up and exercise or research exercise programs on the net. Dropping the weight seems to have taken over my entire life. Thankfully I have the greatest wife in the world . She tries helping me cope in anyway she can. I can do this and I know it. I just need to figure out how to relax.
you do need to relax!
rest and sleep are VERY important parts of losing weight.
you say you do your walk 10 times...? maybe set yourself up with a chart/spreadsheet so you can tick them off... and add more trips as the weeks go by, so then you know you have done your allotted exercise and can relax at the end of the day?0 -
By getting up and walking you've already taken the biggest step - congratulations on getting moving! You have nothing to be stressed about, because you've already taken such a huge and positive step toward losing weight and improving your health.
Once you've been doing this for another few weeks it'll feel easier and easier each time, so you can challenge yourself to go just a little bit further. Take it slow - and move just a little bit more every day. It may not feel like it now, but as the weeks and months roll on you'll amaze yourself with what you're able to do with your body.
Good luck - you're doing an awesome job 0 -
If you can, find a place with a jacuzzi and swimming pool; go there as many times a week as you can and just move your body around in the water. There is much less impact on your back and joints, but you will gain mobility, flexibility, and you will burn calories. I encouraged my friend (who was in a similar situation) to join a gym (that has those facilities) with me; she started out using a walker, graduated to a cane, and now she is moving along with nearly no pain. She has bulging discs, RA, and fibromyalgia. She had been in such pain that she couldn't get up. When she has to be away from the water for more than two days, she backtracks some, but has made incredible progress in only three months. Also, you should log EVERYTHING you eat and drink on your MFP (I check before I eat some things to see if it is worth the calories); after a few days, you will see what you must adjust in order to reduce your calories. Another thing that helps me was keeping in mind that every pound is equal to about 3500 calories.0
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Thank You all for the encouragement. It is so nice to see all of the help that people wish to give me. I can't seem to relax at all...I constantly feel like I should be exercising. When I try to sleep I lay down for a few minutes then start panicking abut my weight and have to get up and exercise or research exercise programs on the net. Dropping the weight seems to have taken over my entire life. Thankfully I have the greatest wife in the world . She tries helping me cope in anyway she can. I can do this and I know it. I just need to figure out how to relax.
Nice deep breaths Sir and take it one day at a time, you can do this, YOU are doing AWESOME already!!!0 -
If you can, find a place with a jacuzzi and swimming pool; go there as many times a week as you can and just move your body around in the water. There is much less impact on your back and joints, but you will gain mobility, flexibility, and you will burn calories. I encouraged my friend (who was in a similar situation) to join a gym (that has those facilities) with me; she started out using a walker, graduated to a cane, and now she is moving along with nearly no pain. She has bulging discs, RA, and fibromyalgia. She had been in such pain that she couldn't get up. When she has to be away from the water for more than two days, she backtracks some, but has made incredible progress in only three months. Also, you should log EVERYTHING you eat and drink on your MFP (I check before I eat some things to see if it is worth the calories); after a few days, you will see what you must adjust in order to reduce your calories. Another thing that helps me was keeping in mind that every pound is equal to about 3500 calories.0
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You can do this!!!!! take small steps at a time...don't rush... patience...
Great job so far!!0 -
I just started using mfp about a week ago. I am a morbidly obese man who has a lot of lower back pain if I stand for more than 5 min. at a time. I just started walking from the Apartment to my parking space on Monday but I can only do 1 trip before I am hurting and out of breath. I try to do at least 10 trips over the course of the day. How long until I see significant results? I know that the weight will come off once I can walk. I want so badly to walk into a store and shop with my wife. Somebody please help.
Each trip to your car will get easier as the weight comes off. You will see the first results in endurance as you walk to and from your parking space. Just watching your caloric intake will go a long way to helping in the beginning of your weight loss. Don't give in, it could take a little while to get there, but you can do it.0 -
You can do this!!! You have taken the first major step - WANTING TO DO IT. Bits and Pieces....little by little.0
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The biggest thing to get in line is your food diary. Exercise is great and will improve your health but you can lose weight without it. I was disabled for the first few months of weight loss so I just ate at a calorie deficit and lost just fine.
I know you are excited to start seeing results but I'd recommend logging a couple of days of normal eating first, so you can see how much you've been eating to maintain your current weight. Then take off 1000 calories for 2 lbs a week of weight loss, and eat that amount.
Make sure you log accurately. If you don't have a food scale that should be your first purchase. Weigh foods, measure free-pouring liquids. Enter your own recipes using the recipe builder. Database entries with no asterisk are more accurate.
For exercise just do what you can. Aim to do a little more each time. You will get there, just be patient and stick with whatever changes you make. Good luck to you. :flowerforyou:0 -
The biggest thing to get in line is your food diary. Exercise is great and will improve your health but you can lose weight without it. I was disabled for the first few months of weight loss so I just ate at a calorie deficit and lost just fine.
I know you are excited to start seeing results but I'd recommend logging a couple of days of normal eating first, so you can see how much you've been eating to maintain your current weight. Then take off 1000 calories for 2 lbs a week of weight loss, and eat that amount.
Make sure you log accurately. If you don't have a food scale that should be your first purchase. Weigh foods, measure free-pouring liquids. Enter your own recipes using the recipe builder. Database entries with no asterisk are more accurate.
For exercise just do what you can. Aim to do a little more each time. You will get there, just be patient and stick with whatever changes you make. Good luck to you. :flowerforyou:
Great advice.
Congrats on taking the first steps - you can do this, it may take time so take it slowly and look for people here who can help and keep you motivated :drinker:0 -
A great quote - 'If you have the courage to start, you have the courage to succeed'
You are doing a sterling job just by starting to walk. Like others have said, set up a chart and tick off your walks. Get a pedometer and just see if you can increase by five steps each week.
The worst thing about taking that first step to lose weight is the beginning - where you want immediate results. Patience will pay off. Make the walks part of your habits and focus on something else.
And well done again! Good Luck!
KM0 -
Hi there!, I would love to help, I too am morbidly obese, and have 2 herniated discs in my lower back pressing on my sciatic nerve, so I completely understand where you're coming from!, I also have knee pain and arthritis in my ankle/lower leg area from a bad break I had several years ago and I had to have a metal rod implanted from my knee to my ankle.
Exercising is great, and a great way to build muscle and help burn fat, but as of right now, I am just counting my calories and losing weight that way, once I feel able to exercise, then I will.
I have lost 22 lbs so far in around 30 or so days, and my back started feeling MUCH better after I had lost around 11lbs!, (and I lost THAT in the first 7 or so days!) and it's now feeling even better than that, and to give you an idea of my activity back then, I am a stay at home mom, and one of the only times I leave the house is to walk my son to the bus stop around the corner from our house, we live in a duplex, on the top floor, so there are stairs (huge problem for my knees and leg!), and so just walking to the corner and back, would put me in soo much pain, that my back felt like it would give out, I would have to pretend to have to bend to brush something of my pant leg so that I could stretch out my lower back, and that would relieve the pain for a couple more steps, so I would do this until I finally, out of breath and in pain would reach my door, enter and sit on the stairs to recuperate, and after a few minutes, I would start walking up my stairs (going up using only my better leg that hurts less) one step at a time. (I can't believe I'm posting that!, it's pretty shameful :S)
I now can walk to the bus stop and back with hardly ANY back pain, I am not out of breath, and walking up the stairs still poses a problem for my leg and knee, but not as bad as before, on some day I can even walk up the stairs normally, using BOTH my legs to step up the stairs, so that is awesome!.
Once I lose another say 10 lbs, I will start to exercise with this workout DVD I have which is recommended for the morbidly obese and for those who have limited movement (like me as I can't kneel, so cannot do any floor work, like sit ups etc.), and it's called "Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds", and I will start with the 1 mile walk.
So anyways, as long as you watch your calorie intake, and I'll teach you about BMI so you know how many calories to aim for, you CAN lose weight without exercising, and once you feel better, start small and work your way up.
I hope this helped a little, and add me up lol!, and anyone else for that matter lol!, I can always use more friends, and we'll do this together . 0 -
Keep it up. Have faith and don't fall in temptation. You will do great.0
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You are doing the RIGHT thing! Don't forget that! If you are tired or discouraged, try to remember, how can walking be a BAD thing! May I also recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. Start with 6 glasses of water today. Do that for a week and then try 7 for another week, working up to 8!
The water will help! The walking is the cherry on top!
Please keep posting!!!0
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