Need to lose 200 lbs/Severely Obese

Hello. I'm new to myfitnesspal so I'm trying to figure things out. I saw your post and wanted to say hello. I am not obese but have obesity on both sides of my family. I was a skinny girl but when I hit puberty, I started gaining weight quickly. Because I didn't want to be obese, I started aggressively working out in my 20s. I was in the gym 2 hours a day 6 days a week, which kept me very fit. Fast forward to today, I have chronic back pain, had several surgeries, was a pain management patient which resulted in becoming dependent on my prescribed meds causing me to go to drug rehab ... 20 years later, I am now off of narcotics (which were intensifying my pain). I still deal with back as well as various other pain related to overdoing it in the gym (imagine that!), but I manage them without the aid of prescription meds. When I went to rehab, I was down to 115lbs (I was 5'8, they say I'm 5'6 now after all of my back surgeries and procedures). After rehab because my body was in starvation mode, I was given protein drinks/bars and a high protein diet which caused me to gain 35lbs in a month (add about 16 more pounds ... ). I'm not obese but heavier than I should be and am working on taking this weight off which is difficult since I can no longer work out at the gym or do almost everything I knew how to do before chronic pain.

I now walk as much as I can ... though I developed intense nerve pain in my leg so it's difficult. I also have costochondritis (torn cartilage in my chest) so I can't work my upper body or even lift my left arm. I work out with Leslie Sansone walking DVD's. They may help you get started. It's a lot of marching in place ... at home in front of your TV. I actually march when I normally would stand, anything to get moving and burn calories. I rarely sit and even stand at the kitchen table when I eat. I'm standing/marching now as I type this. Baby steps will allow you to take larger steps. Even these small things help. Try to move more than you have been. Park a little bit farther away from the store. If you can, take a flight of steps instead of the elevator (I have a fear of elevators, LOL).

I don't eat a lot but my eating habits aren't as healthy as they should be. That paired with obesity on both sides of my family and being unable to work out like I did in the past is catching up with me. I am hoping this site will help push me closer to my goal of health again.

I know our circumstances aren't the same, but I know what it's like to endure lengthy medical issues, traumas as well as the effects of chronic medical issues/medications on my body. I lost more than a decade going through the progression of healing, revelation and where I am today. For me, healing is still a process (physically as well as mentally).

Be encouraged. Do what you can today and you will be able to do even more tomorrow.