help, I am fat and I don't want to die.

cynthiasutton50
cynthiasutton50 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
I have battled metabolic disorder for almost 12 years now after the birth of my first child. My weight has been up and down like a yo yo. I ended up sick and almost died from 2 pulmonary embolisms, one in each lung and one In my leg. If it isn't cancer, it's obesity. I hate being this big but it's almost like it took on a life of its own and I am helpless. My osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia are almost rendering me an invalid and I gained 50 pounds in 6 months when I was sick. I am on a wait list for optifast, but I don't have 1600 to spend on the shakes. Anyone out there have any sage advice on how to Kickstart my metabolism and a very easy exercise regime for someone who almost cries getting out of a chair? I am only 41, I want to live to see my kids grow up. They are only 11 and 7.

Replies

  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    Google I think chair exercises. They should be exercises using a chair, sitting down etc

  • Parkercomom
    Parkercomom Posts: 67 Member
    This is the easiest lifestyle change I have ever made. I have been on many diets in my life, only to gain it all back, plus some. I now eat what I want as long as it fits in my daily allotment of calories. I started March 18th and I have lost 23 pounds. For me, diets and shakes don't work in the long run...I always gain it back when I go back to eating normal food. This way, I am learning portion control and calories in v/s calories out. I added walking to my routine..the first days were slowwwww...and painful!! My body ached!! Now, I walk almost 3 miles with 0 pain and actually look forward to it. Allow yourself to make small adjustments. You will feel better quickly! Best of luck to you! This site is great and there are many helpful folks here!
  • Camo_xxx
    Camo_xxx Posts: 1,082 Member
    My sage advise is to seek professional help from your doctor, optimist shakes are not going to save your life.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    Camo_xxx wrote: »
    My sage advise is to seek professional help from your doctor, optimist shakes are not going to save your life.

    I agree, you really, really need to talk to your doctor.

    But I just wanted to say that I really feel for you. I can hear the pain and fear in your post and I feel so bad for you. Please hang in there and please get help from a qualified doc.

  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Welcome! I would try to get some medical advice on what is safe for you to try as far as exercise goes, since your abilities to move may be impacted by your medical conditions. Based on what you've said, I'd suggest some good shoes and walking or maybe swimming.

    There really isn't any way to "kickstart" your metabolism. Carefully tracking what you eat (weighing solids and measuring liquids) is the way to begin. Account for the calories you consume. Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit. Fitness comes from exercise.

    Weight loss isn't a linear, downward trend. Over time, if you're diligent, the scale will go down. But everyone's weight fluctuates up and down by as much as 5-6 overnight, depending on exercise and food consumed. Many people, myself included, take measurements as another barometer of progress.

    It's a marathon, not a sprint. You're here, you recognize the problem and want to fix it. That mental hurdle is the biggest one! You should be proud of yourself for committing to do this! :smiley:
  • pmg2000m
    pmg2000m Posts: 44 Member
    Would your insurance cover physical therapy to get you started with exercise? Depending on what you have available where you live, a physical therapist can help show you exercises that can help you get stronger & won't worsen any disabilities that you have.

    Sometimes insurance will also cover a visit with a dietitian. Since you have healthy issues, maybe your doctor can help you figure out how to get started.
  • bendyourkneekatie
    bendyourkneekatie Posts: 696 Member
    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    Welcome! I would try to get some medical advice on what is safe for you to try as far as exercise goes, since your abilities to move may be impacted by your medical conditions. Based on what you've said, I'd suggest some good shoes and walking or maybe swimming.

    There really isn't any way to "kickstart" your metabolism. Carefully tracking what you eat (weighing solids and measuring liquids) is the way to begin. Account for the calories you consume. Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit. Fitness comes from exercise.

    Weight loss isn't a linear, downward trend. Over time, if you're diligent, the scale will go down. But everyone's weight fluctuates up and down by as much as 5-6 overnight, depending on exercise and food consumed. Many people, myself included, take measurements as another barometer of progress.

    It's a marathon, not a sprint. You're here, you recognize the problem and want to fix it. That mental hurdle is the biggest one! You should be proud of yourself for committing to do this! :smiley:

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  • mdgeppert
    mdgeppert Posts: 1 Member
    edited May 2015
    Buy yourself 2 of those 5 or 10 lb weights at Target, use an ace bandage to strap them to your ankles and kick your legs as many times as you can or desire. Or hold them and swing your arms up and down as much as you can or desire. Adjust the weight to your ability as you progress.
  • lsusan58
    lsusan58 Posts: 3 Member
    Listen to your hunger level. eat at level 3 when feel "ready to eat" and stop eating at level 5 when no longer hungry (=80% full). Most people eat til full or uncomfortable and this can mean 10-20 lbs difference just by listening to hunger level. Try to eat protein at bfast even if just few nuts or nut butter or seeds. "Better than bouillon" in soup aisle in glass jar, is great to make tasty homemade broth-soups that are quick, easy. also, braggs apple cider vinegar with or without the honey, add few tbsp. to glass of water, is great drink for metabolism as well as reducing appetite.
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  • Dave55412
    Dave55412 Posts: 88 Member
    I think spending money on special shakes is just a waste. Eating clean (unprocessed whole foods, and no flour or refined sugar) and maintaining a caloric deficit will help you lose weight. There's a lot of exercises you can do from a chair. Set small goals for yourself and when you hit them, set some more. You can do it!!!!

    Here's a workout you can do from a chair.
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/videos-detail.asp?video=38

    Info on eating clean.
    http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/diets/clean-eating/?page=6
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    You can do this. You have it within your power to make the changes you need to.

    This video is for real, have you seen it?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

    I'm not necessarily recommending that program, unless you're interested, but you can do this.

    "Chair exercises" on google are a great place to start. Also, check out Leslie Sansone videos on YouTube. If you have access to a Wii Fit, that's a good program, a relative of mine who had a very hard time with exercise used it to lose 60 lbs to get to their goal.
  • jenanon1
    jenanon1 Posts: 58 Member
    I'm so sorry to hear that. Sorry if this is an obvious and annoying question but do you log what you eat? Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one, maybe focus on one thing at a time and log everything. And anything you can do to move your body is better than nothing, so even stretching your arms, chair dancing, shuffling your feet, is way better than not moving at all. Hugs.
  • NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner
    NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner Posts: 1,018 Member
    Hi! If you struggle with exercise... Have you tried going to your local pool and walking up and down in the water. The water both supports you and gives you resistance to push against but without the pain of running, walking etc. swimming can be such a great none impact exercise and is really great if you struggle.

    Other than that. Weigh, log, be honest. YOU control what goes in your mouth. Not your body. We have to be accountable for weight gain no matter what our medical background. Eat less than you burn. It really is that simple.

    Good luck!
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    Hi, I really feel for you. I just want you to know that being disabled isn't a barrier to losing weight I promise you. I'm in a wheelchair a lot of the time and I've lost weight by eating 1600 calories a day and inches of my waist and hips too.
    Get to your doctor for advice, physio referral. Can you go swimming? Doing exercises in water is easier than on dry land, arm and leg lifts, seated yoga, anything little helps and it all adds up

    Weigh and log your food in grams not cups or spoons. But most of all, take your time and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Feel free to add me xx
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    I know that you hurt to stand up and move but please keep trying to. If you can make yourself stand up and walk the length of the room once an hour it will help you become more mobile. Then challenge yourself to walk to the gate, baby steps.

    Good luck with your loss. Please don't stop trying to fight this, sending you a hug and an add xx
  • Chrysalid2014
    Chrysalid2014 Posts: 1,038 Member
    Is there a hydrotherapy pool anywhere near you? Your doctor might be able to refer you there and as I understand it that would include a specialist physio to work with you.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    You don't need to kick start your metabolism. You don't need to drink a shake, take a diet pill, drink green tea, or go on any sort of "diet" in order to lose weight. Weight loss does not have to be some sort of punishment for your body. Technically, you dont even have to do exercise to lose weight, although its good for your body and you can eat more that way.
    The only thing you need to do is to eat less calories than you burn. I knew how scary it is, and I know how overwhelmed you probably feel. Believe, me I have been there. It's not as complicated as the diet industry makes it seem though. You just eat less. The harder part is usually the mental and emotional changes we have to learn to make.
    Start by logging all your food. Every single bite. Even if your over every day at first, it shows you what your actually eating and knowledge is power. If you don't have one, buy a food scale. Weigh and measure everything.
    Dont stress it, if you have occasional bad days, and don't sabotage yourself by giving up, just because you over ate a day or two. It's the big picture that matters. It will take a while, but time will pass one way or the other. Just dont ever give up!
  • jorinya
    jorinya Posts: 933 Member
    Take each day as it comes. Enjoy your children. You can do simple exercises from your chair. Here is one my consultant uses:
    Sitting on a comfortable chair, lift your left knee up, put your leg back down. Lift your right knee up, put your leg down. You can use your arms too while doing this, opposite arm to leg you lift. Repeat for 10 reps or as long as you can do. You can use dumbbells in your hands while you do this yo strengthen your upper body.
    Also suggest, although sits been said already, go see your doctor. Try get to the swimming pool, water helps a lot cos it makes you feel lighter.
    Good luck!!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    I have battled metabolic disorder for almost 12 years now after the birth of my first child. My weight has been up and down like a yo yo. I ended up sick and almost died from 2 pulmonary embolisms, one in each lung and one In my leg. If it isn't cancer, it's obesity. I hate being this big but it's almost like it took on a life of its own and I am helpless. My osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia are almost rendering me an invalid and I gained 50 pounds in 6 months when I was sick. I am on a wait list for optifast, but I don't have 1600 to spend on the shakes. Anyone out there have any sage advice on how to Kickstart my metabolism and a very easy exercise regime for someone who almost cries getting out of a chair? I am only 41, I want to live to see my kids grow up. They are only 11 and 7.

    Metabolism does nto need kickstarting. You will not lose weight and maintaing the loss by following any magic program. You need to eat less calories and stick with it. Which is completely free. And enough to lose weight.
    For the rest, as in what food restrictions you need with your health issues, I would bet the dr has already givne you recommendations. If not, go back and ask what to avoid or elimiante completely.
    As for exercise, this is not needed for weight loss, and weight loss through diet alone will probably help a lot with mobility. But, in the meantime, your dr should be able to tell you what you can or even better what you should be doing. I doubt that with embolisms not moving is option, no matter how hard and painful it is to get up. If you truly cannot move at all, then maybe the answer is a physical therapist.
  • MelanieJohnson2
    MelanieJohnson2 Posts: 2 Member
    Prayers for you . I hope you find what works for you . Trying Mfp has helped me . Being aware of what you eat keeps you from over eating. You know how many calories you consume . My doctor also put me on an appetite suppressed and I am exercising 30 minutes a day. It has already helped. It is a lifestyle change for me.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    You've gotten great advice.

    I'd second the suggestion to talk to your doctor: he or she should be able to refer you to a dietician, as well as possibly some physical therapy options. I think the pool idea is a great one, and for you having it be part of therapy or just having someone help you at first would make it easier.

    I can't tell if you are saying you are disabled or just that even getting up makes you hurt. If the latter, you don't need to think in terms of traditional exercises, but just walking, even starting very slow and easy like walking around the house and working up.

    Same for food--you don't need special shakes or anything to kickstart your metabolism, but just to find a way of eating where you can be happy eating fewer calories. I think the dietician would help, especially as you have medical conditions, but logging your food here to start can be extremely informative. Just looking at my diet helped me understand where I could easily cut calories, and sometimes you see that you are getting more calories from some things than you may have imagined. A good weight-loss diet is just a good healthy diet in general (well, any diet where you have fewer calories than you burn): you'll want to watch portion size, get in your fruits and veggies, have protein with all meals if possible, stuff like that. But looking at what you are currently doing is the way to start, and not overcomplicating.

    Once you just start taking some steps here, including raising the subject with your doctor, I think you will be amazed at how empowered you start to feel. And once you start losing weight and feeling like you are more in control than you imagined it does wonders for motivation. You can definitely do this--you have all the reasons in the world!
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