chronic pain and weight loss

Orchestra · July 2013

i have Fibromyaglia and so i'm in constant pain, the more i do the more pain i'm in and i get tired very quickly and also get unwell very easily through doing what most people consider a normal amount in a day.

but i'm sick of being overweight and i know it's only going to make me hurt even more than i need to, so how do i balance exercising with housework because on a lot of days i only have the energy for one or the other but i need to do both on most days (except weekends when i have my rest days).

is there anyone else with fibro or chronic pain who can relate? how do you deal with it? any tips would be great (and if anyone wants to add me then feel free to!)

herblackwings39 · July 2013

If you use MFP as it's designed you don't have to exercise to lose weight. Just eat the number of calories it gives you. If you are able to exercise one day you eat those calories back so your deficit, which is already built in, stays the same.

__Di__ · July 2013

i have Fibromyaglia and so i'm in constant pain, the more i do the more pain i'm in and i get tired very quickly and also get unwell very easily through doing what most people consider a normal amount in a day.

but i'm sick of being overweight and i know it's only going to make me hurt even more than i need to, so how do i balance exercising with housework because on a lot of days i only have the energy for one or the other but i need to do both on most days (except weekends when i have my rest days).

is there anyone else with fibro or chronic pain who can relate? how do you deal with it? any tips would be great (and if anyone wants to add me then feel free to!)

I am sorry you are suffering with this OP.

I do not have that condition, but feel free to add me if you want xxx

bizzyeck · July 2013

I too have fibro. I have no major tips but want you to know I share your pain. There are a few here in the same situation.

I too have to decide daily about activities. Work wipes me out for the day. Thank god I only work 3 days a week or the house would never get cleaned.

I have lost 18 lbs since January with virtually no exercise. However, I have not lost any weight for the last 12 weeks. I find that avoiding white carbs does help me feel better overall . Also, make sure you get enough rest. I also limit my obligations outside the home.

So, no big wisdom. from me. Just try the calorie deficit as set up by MFP and you should be able to lose weight without exercise.

jackieg218 · July 2013

Hello and let me start by saying I feel your pain... Really I do lol.

I too have fibromyalgia as well as multiple sclerosis and the 2 together love to make muscles sore and talk about spastic muscles!!!

For ME... Not saying this is the case for everyone, but for me, I just walked, walked and walked some more. When I first started it was around the block, then I kept building time and distance... Now I walk for miles up very steep inclines and I feel great. Doctors told me for years that exercise was the best treatment for fibro ( I honestly thought they all smoked crack in order to say this, I mean as bad as I ache all the time you want me to WHAT?!?!) well they were right. I feel better today than I have in decades, when I go into a flare up, I treadmill slowly rather than outdoor walk... That way I control my environment and it helps to not get over heated.

Water I hear is a good place to exercise, only I wouldn't get my fat *kitten* in a swimsuit to save my life... So I honestly can say yea or nah on that one.

But move, a little more each week, just move. I also watch how much whites I eat when I flare ( bread, rice, potato etc) I don't know if it helps reduce the pain from a medical stand point, but to ME I seem to feel better when I watch them.

I wish you luck and gentle hugs!

Jackie

lcfairbairn74 · July 2013

I have fibro too, as well as a few other chronic conditions, so know how you feel. As others have already stated, you don't need to exercise to lose weight. All you need to do is stick with your calorie target. I lost the first 45 pounds sitting in a wheelchair not even able to stand up, simply by following the calorie guidelines on this site.

If you want to move a little more, just start by walking. Swimming is excellent exercise too as it takes the pressure off your joints. I used to love aqua-aerobics as it meant I could burn some serious calories without being in pain. Exercise becomes easier as you lose weight, as there's less pressure on all of your joints, too!

You can do this too! Just follow the target MFP gives you for calories and you will lose weight! Best of luck! :flowerforyou:

1longroad · July 2013

I have the diagnosis of fibro, and other conditions as well. There are days I can do more than other days. At times I work my 3 12 hour shifts and am wiped out for several days after. Other times, I still take walks on my days off.

It is all about calories in vs calories expended. I found that cutting out as many processed foods as possible has also helped my fibro.

It is a day by day journey, but well worth it!! If you want to add me, feel free!!

summersbest · July 2013

Fibro sufferer here and know exactly what you are feeling. It takes all the energy I have on some days just to get out of bed and stay awake during the day not to mention cooking meals. I do not exercise on a regular basis but try and go for walks or use my recumbant bike when I am feeling up to it. Used to do aquafitness which was good as no stress on the joints. Hoping to get back to swimming but doing some lengths instead. All I can suggest is to start small so you don't feel overwhelmed or overdo it and to listen to your body. A little is better than nothing at all.

I do agree with some of the above posts in that you can still loose weight just by watching what and how much you eat. Maybe start there and then see about some sort of exercise once you have your eating on track.

Feel free to add me if you want. Good luck. ~

Cinnabon64 · July 2013

I too have Fibro, so I know exactly how you feel and were you are coming from. My future wasn't looking to promising, being only 48 and hardly being able to do anything. I had to quit my job and at this point worked very few hrs (hair stylist) a month. I finally got to a point that I had to try and change my life.

I joined MFP, like you have, and started logging everything I ate. I made some major changes in my diet and started walking on my treadmill. Very low speed for a short period of time. I slowly built up endurance and then speed, followed by stretching. I couldn't believe how quickly I started feeling better and how the weight started coming off, pound by pound. This was starting the last week of January of this year! Last summer I couldn't even plant my own flowers, and this summer I am not only gardening, but mowing lawn and riding a bike for the first time in at least 27 yrs!

I still have my Fibro pain, and am still on my meds and have massage every 4 wks. I eventually want to get off my meds if possible, but for now I am enjoying my new found energy and love for life. I still pace my self and if I do flare it doesn't last near as long nor near as intense.

I would encourage you to log your food and exercise. For some with Fibro or other issues even cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping counts as exercise! Keep you food journal public so your friends can see....it helps keep you accountable when you know others are looking. Eat back your calories burned. You don't want to keep your calorie intake too low or you will plateau quickly and the weight will come off slower. Feel free to add me as a friend!

starbeck33 · July 2013

You should check out Leslie Sansone's walk at home DVD's. I did them earlier this year when suffering from chronic migraine and other fibro-type symptoms. Even if I could only do the easiest one at 30 minutes, I felt so accomplished because I was able to do something! Also, nothing beats a nice walk as well, but when weather doesn't cooperate...I do her DVD's! You can buy them at Target/Walmart or Amazon.

She also has some free videos on Youtube.

Orchestra · July 2013

thank you for all of the support you guys!

i definitely do want to get active because i have a secondary problem, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, so it takes at least twice as much for me to lose any weight

so i need to get myself doing at least a tiny bit every day to make up for my rubbish PCOS. my health is ridiculous and those 2 are just my physical things, bleh.

i cant leave the house alone (mental health problems) but when my partner is off work then we'll go for long walks together. hoping to find a swimming pool near enough and hopefully do aqua-aerobics since i enjoyed it when i did it about 7 years ago.

so i'm gonna just try to do a tiny bit of cardio most days and build up my durability and then i can hopefully lose weight

gonna add some of you if that's alright

dnunny70 · July 2013

I was going to suggest walking in the pool. I've done water aerobic classes and looked on YouTube for some exercises. The past few ads I've done the exercises at the community pool. I try to t cardio moves and ten do some strength/toning.

glin23 · July 2013

I don't have fibro, but I have chronic pain and I just deal. I don't mean to sound insensitive but for me, it's either that or be addicted to pain killers. The way I look at it is, if my body is within certain limits/types of pain, it's normal. That said if you're looking or low impact exersize have you tried swimming/biking or maybe an elliptical. That said even if you didn't have chronic pain it's gonig to take time for your body to adapt, so don't fret. I remember the first time I tried an elliptical. After 5 minutes I was huffing and sweating up a storm. It was not pretty.

I aplogize for not reading further perhaps, but have you discussed something with your doctor? Maybe he/she can get you on some sort of plan?

windstar57 · July 2013

Hi…I feel your pain…seriously. I, too, have fibromyalgia…a lot of days it's a battle pushing through the day. Some days are "almost normal" which helps to balance the "uncomfortable days". I work full time and go to school at night. It is definitely a challenge.

I have started eating gluten free and I find this has helped a lot! I am also on Savella and I feel that has also helped to take the edge off the pain most days. I find the more walking I do, the better I feel. It is a definite process and I know how you feel when you say you want to lose the weight but then you can't exercise like you would like to. My advice is to do what you can everyday to get through with your food tracker. Add extra exercise as you can, even 10 - 15 mins a day.

Stay focused and positive, at least you are moving forward to improve your health and I believe every little bit helps.

chronic pain and weight loss

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