Why I had to Do this or Die, and Exercise Suggestions

For the record I did not eye roll, I thought "wow!".

As for exercise, swimming is usually good. Ellipticals are easier on the knees than actual running. If you have seen a Dr. about the knee I would ask them though.

Don't be afraid of the scale. All it does is pop out a number and that only has as much meaning as YOU give to it. It can be important in measuring your progress and ensuring your plan is actually working the way you want it to (there is definitely a learning curve to weight loss). Just use your weight as one of the tools for tracking progress (pictures and measurments are other good ones) and define yourself by how you feel, not your weight.

~Best Wishes

Congratulations on making such a huge change in your life. That is the first and hardest step. I bet you feel better already!

As for exercise, I would suggest rowing if you have access to an indoor rower. It is one of the best workouts and it is no impact so your knees will thank you. I would also be willing to bet that if you are able to strengthen your legs, your knees won't bother you as much, though check with a doctor first.

Stick with it!

Thanks so much for the lack of eyeroll and support. Where I live I have a lot of opportunity to swim, and I bet canoeing could count as exercise also, huh? I may buy an elliptical I figured it would hurt just as bad as hard pavement running but I haven't tried it so I don't know.
I'm focused on my eating, how do you guys plan your exercise? Morning, night? And how do you stick to your guns on it? I work 40 hrs a week and go to university but I know I can make the time just don't know when is best

How about water aerobics and any other exercise you an do in the pool.

Congrats on your positive steps!

I've had on-again, off-again knee problems for years. If you have a bike, cycling is a great exercise. It's low impact on the knees but it helps strengthen many of the muscles around them (though you should do other strengthening exercises, since cycling alone can leave some muscles underdeveloped). When the weather is nice, it's far more fun to bike outdoors than to be stuck in a gym. When the weather is bad, I think it's still more fun to bike outdoors in a good rain jacket than to be stuck in a gym....

Swimming is also great, and even lower impact. Sporting goods stores are a good place to go for the kind of suit you actually swim in, vs. the kind that people wear to lounge in. You can also buy online if you take accurate measurements, and Tyr (tyr.com) allows returns for exchange if the size isn't quite right.

Like everyone else I highly reccomend walking and swimming, or any exercise performed in water. WHen the weights starts dropping your knees will start to feel stronger. COngratulations for taking on this endeavor! Takeit minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. You will get there!

Wow! My first reaction to see that you confronted your drinking and weight issues all at once was "Hot Darn! This one didn't just dabble her toes in the pool, she cannonballed in! AWESOME!!!!!"

Keep up the good work, don't be afraid of the scale, whatever that number is, just say "hey that's the starting point, and I'm going to aim to not see that number again" Sometimes that number is better for the end of your weightloss, so you're looking at how far you've come. At one point I got so obsessed with the number I was told by a doctor to stop looking at the scale. I know what the starting number is, now the only time I get weighed is when I go to the doctor (which between the doc for the asthma and the endocrinologist, means I get weighed about once every two months, sometimes more than once in a month if I have other appointments in between or they both happen to fall in the same month.) The rest of the time it's all down to can I button up my pants today? (actually since I appear to be at a weird in between size, right now it's all about which notch I use on my belt.)

As for exercise, I too have crappy knees too (chondromalacia patella and early stage arthritis, including a bone spur), I would suggest trying a couple things to see what may or may not hurt your knees. I've had to modifiy my combat classes and can only do upper body during pump (I do exercises given to me by my physical therapist during the squat and lunge tracks since they are both on the no-no list), I"ve had to modify athletic conditioning since some of the cardio moved have been banned by the doc ( no burpees, no pop squats, no jumping jacks), I know some people suggested bike riding, be careful with this, I was given a restraining order by my ortho doc for RPM and had to hand over my biking shoes because the biking is making one of my knees worse, so you may try it and find it doesn't work for you. If you have access to a pool that you can swim, go for it, I would if I did (check online for swimsuits, you can probably find some good one piece suits either at sporting goods store websites or sites like Land's End and they might even be starting to go on sale since it's technically the "end" of the summer retail season), steer clear of running until you've built up some strength in your knees, running can make it worse, walking is good though. If you're a member of a gym talk to one of the trainers there, they may have some good ideas of things you can do to help strengthen the muscles around your knees and can suggest modifications for certain moves if you're into taking group fitness classes but there are certain things you know your knees can't take. Check online for knee strengthening exercises, you can probably find a bunch of exercises that you can print out and work on too.

Best of luck and congrats on your new beginning!!!!!!!!!

how do you guys plan your exercise? Morning, night? And how do you stick to your guns on it? I work 40 hrs a week and go to university but I know I can make the time just don't know when is best

When I first started I just started by attending 1 zumba class....and I was hooked! From there I went to 2 zumba classes a week, and added a day of yoga. Now I'm getting ready to add to that and included 3 days a week doing a home work out video..and also starting to use the weight machines...I guess what worked for me the best is that I did it gradually, so while I was sore I wasn't can't walk down the stairs sore. I really enjoy how I feel after a good work out, which has helped me stay motivated...although as of late I have been making excuses and generally begging off (but tonight is my first scheduled day back!! )...I actually write out my workout schedule for the week on the calender and i get a big smiley face for completed ones, and a big red X for missed ones....putting it on paper and hanging it on my fridge where its a constant reminder really helped me to get moving! As far as morning or nights....its really up to you! I refuse to get up at 4 am to work out and be to work by 6...so I prefer evening....but that at times comes with drawbacks (I get that exercise energy high that sometimes makes it hard to sleep). Where ever you can find the time to move...take it!! Good luck, and congrats on all the changes you have made so far!!!