Morbidly Obese & Exercise

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I started with small walks, still doing 2 small walks a day, but now adding in some Richard Simmons or other exercise dvd's to the mix also. I am also doing my lower back strengthening exercises to get my back into shape. I am currently 261. so I little bit at at time.

i know if you were like me theres NO WAY IN HELL you will get in a swimming pool,:noway: so other than that i started with walking,a little at a time as you say the old knees hurt like heck but do it everyday and over the weeks it will get farther and farther without you even noticing! and faster too!:drinker:
i was nearly 400lb to start,

Hello,
I started here 3 months ago at 298 ounds and I am 51. I started off with walking away the pounds videos doing a 1 mile in home walk. It is about a 15-20 minute workout and it really helped my stamina. I also started spending more time in the pool! It's great on the joints. I have lost 43 pounds and now I can do the 4 mile in home walk which is about 55 minutes, and I can do the elliptical trainer for 45 minutes. The more you exercise, the easier it becomes and you are able to go farther and longer when the weight starts coming off and it will as long as you eat right. I don't eat back my exercise calories because I haven't had the need to. I have enough fat to provide the necessary exercise fuel for a long time!!
Good luck to you!

I was on the high end of obese, on the charts, but not morbidly obese, but I'll try to help. I have had experience with joint pain, shoulder surgery, now a broken foot, blah blah blah. I have met several morbidly obese friends while working out at the YWCA. Most of them did water aerobics and water exercises until they lost enough weight to start walking, etc. It's easy on your joints, you can even wear a floatation device (yes, they have them for all sized people) and 'water jog'. It burns calories like crazy and when you get out of the water, you feel limp then later, like you've been at a spa all day. It is so relaxing. Once you start losing those pounds you gain the confidence to start the other exercises and and become, best of all, healthier and happier.
Good luck and I'll say a prayer that you find what works for you! <hugs>

Hi I started this journey at 327lbs and at first walking was difficult and painful but it has gotten better. The water aerobics so many are suggesting would definately be a plus. Easier on the joints and fun as well. I sent you a MFP request and would like to join you on this journey.

At my heaviest (at least documented heaviest, ha!:happy: ) I was 325lbs.

At 50 years old (18 months ago) I had weightloss surgery and am now down to 160lbs and I am so grateful for the ability to truly move again. Now I am doing Zumba, 5K runs, strength training and all the things I always wished I could do.

I am not trying to talk you into weight loss surgery, just sharing my personal choice and experience.

But, prior to surgery at 325lbs I walked as much as possible and the best shoes for me were Asics because they had good support and plenty of gel to cushion my feet as I walked. Walking was often uncomfortable--but, truthfully at that weight sitting, laying down, and everything in between was uncomfortable for me. I had to get to the place in my mind that it would take and embrace an increased level of "discomfort" in order to reach my goal of "living again" and I would just have to learn to stick it out.

I also found that the one cardio machine that I could do without hurting myself was a "recumbant bike" . Not the usual exercise bike, but the kind where you sit back like a recliner almost. This got my heart rate up, and worked my legs without the added pressure my weight placed on my back, hips, and knees.

I wish i could have lost the weight in the traditional way, but after years of struggle, no thyroid gland and numerous endocrine and metabolic studies it was determined that to be successful I needed weight loss surgery as I was losing the battle for my health.

Immediately after my weight loss surgery (before I ever left the hospital) I no longer had high blood sugar (Type 2 diabetes), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides and have never taken another medication for any of these illnesses.

I pray that your journey will be successful as i know how hard it is to live a happy, fulfilled life at 325lbs.

God's blessings!:flowerforyou:

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i cut down on eating rice or dont eat at all for days, i manage to cut down almost 10 kgs in a month

She needs a healthy life style. This is far from one.

No Kidding! That's the worst advice i've ever heard on here! seriously!

Hi friend! Just know u can't start by doing a marathon. Just move any u can more than normal! Whether it be short 5 min walks spread out over the day. And as time goes on add a couple min to each walk as u get used to it. Any movement more than what u do now is going to benefit u! And maybe try some water activity to help w the pain u feel. Taking the pressure of the weight off in the pool could really help to move more! Good luck and know that u can do it! It will take time but if u dont give up it WILL get easier!

Awesome advice. I totally agree. Every movement you make helps move towards your goal of a healthier you :flowerforyou:

Start out slowly. Honestly, I threw around the excuse for a long time that I couldn't exercise yet because I was obese, but it's a complete lie. Your body is capable of so much more than your brain thinks it is. Start out walking, or swimming, or whatever feels manageable to you - the key is consistency. Get up to 3, 4, 5 workouts a week; and, slowly but surely, you'll notice your stamina increasing. For me, the biggest breakthroughs happen when I don't think I can do any more - I get a second wind and then I'm so proud that I could go just the *tiniest* bit faster or further. When you're just getting started, your brain is constantly going to tell you to back off and relax; but just know that your body can do more than you think it can. With that said, don't push yourself too hard straight away.

You can do it! You can!

Hi. I looking for friends who have a LOT of weight to lose and have a challenge with exercise. I'm currently 325 lbs and 50 years old. Even walking becomes painful after a few minutes. Ideas, personal stories and mutual understanding needed.

Hi,
I haven't read any other posts so I'm sorry if this is repeated but I will tell you what I started out doing. I started out not even being able to walk for 5mins without my back KILLING ME and being so out of breath it was scary(I sounded like I was having an asthema attack)...I would walk out to my mailbox and to my front porch(about a grand total of 60-80ft round trip) when I could do that I started walking down to the lake(across the street from my house) when I could walk there easily I came right back..when I could walk my road I started walking at the walking track(it honestly took a good 2-3weeks). I would also get on my gazelle and I couldn't go longer than 5mins at first but I did 5 mins for about 3-4 days and then moved to 10mins and so on...After a month I walked in walmart and didn't even need a cart(I always had to get one and park by the carts so that I could make it in)..I am up to being able to walk 15mins or so at a time before I have to stretch my back. I have found now that I don't have to stop my workout I can stop and stretch a little to loosen my back and keep going I don't have to sit down anymore. I used to have to completely stop and sit down. It seems like a slow process and it's so frustrating because you WANT to do it but if you haven't been active or worked out in awhile your body needs time...I am down 24lbs but honestly I feel like I've finally been put in the game! I never thought losing 24lbs would change my life so much there is so many differences I already am finding in myself. I just need to work on endurance. Goodluck and if you want a friend to help keep you encouraged you can feel free to send me a friend request this is hard and frankly I'll take all the help I can get

Angel

Angel, you just said something so important here. I am having very similar feelings in that I have only lost 18 pounds but I can't believe what a huge difference already. One of the doctors at my work said something today that really put it into perspective though. Think of it as bags of sugar which are 5 pounds each and you can see why losing even 18 and 24 pounds is so huge. 24 pounds is like almost 5 bags of sugar. Imagine carrying 5 bags of sugar around with you all day. When she said that to me, I realized why I was already feeling so much better! I'm now thinking of every 5 pounds as one bag of sugar I've been able to put down. Good luck to you!

I haven't ever really thought about it like that but that is a good way to describe it! Your doing an awesome job 18lbs is big...You can feel the difference and so can I at 18 and 24lbs can you IMAGINE what we are going to feel like when we've lost 60 or 70lbs?? I think I'm gonna feel like I can do anything! I am so excited not so much by the fact of the number on the scale going down but excited about how much better I know I am going to feel! Good luck!
Angel

Jennnnnnn Here is a link to the site I got the DVD from. www.chairdancing.com The DVD's are reasonably priced at about $15.00 and they have multipacks that have all 3 types of DVD's for about $52.00. (Stretching, Strength and Aerobic) I'm really enjoying the Strength one I have!

Awesome! Thanks! I think I'm going to get these.

Good luck to you all. I'm right there with you. I started slow and have been able to add. I watched some of the chair exercises on youtube and have done those some. I just searched exercises for obese peoople on youtube and found a lot of good stuff there

It is a tough road. It is hard to get started. It is embarassing. We just have to do it.

May you all be successful on yoru journey!!!

I was about 370 lbs when I started losing weight. I started out by getting a secondhand Wii on Ebay and doing fitness games. I couldn't use the balance board at first because I was too heavy, but it's not necessary for all of the games. I moved from the Wii to workout DVDs after a while.