Slim down w/o strength training, possible?

WanderingRivers
WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Unfortunately, I am not able to do strength training programs thanks to a bum knee since their backbone seems to be a ton of lunges and squats which are instant sources of pain for me. Is it possible to still slim down with just cardio like walking? I'm hoping to shrink the ugly c-section pouch and build things up around the knee proper if that helps.

TIA

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    You just need a calorie deficit.

    Do you have a diagnosed 'bum knee'?
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    There are body weight programs and upper body programs out there. What exactly is the issue with your knee? I have all sorts of lower body issues, but working with a physical therapist and a trainer who is a corrective exercise specialist has done wonders to improve the condition of my hip, knee, and ankle. Seeking help and getting into lifting may actually help your knee depending on the issue.
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    You just need a calorie deficit.

    Do you have a diagnosed 'bum knee'?

    Yep. ACL only attached on one end and arthritis. So yeah, bum knee is definitely a thing.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    You just need a calorie deficit.

    Do you have a diagnosed 'bum knee'?

    A bum knee can be 18 different things, each of which has different solutions.

    A clear diagnosis accompanied by PT is the best thing to do.

    But for the other question, sure, you can.
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    There are body weight programs and upper body programs out there. What exactly is the issue with your knee? I have all sorts of lower body issues, but working with a physical therapist and a trainer who is a corrective exercise specialist has done wonders to improve the condition of my hip, knee, and ankle. Seeking help and getting into lifting may actually help your knee depending on the issue.

    ACL is only attached on one end and arthritis so lunges, squats, and the like are my enemy since they're instant sources of serious pain.

    Since I'm too young for cortisone injections and surgery is financially out of reach, exercise is the only solution I've got to try lessen the pain.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    There are body weight programs and upper body programs out there. What exactly is the issue with your knee? I have all sorts of lower body issues, but working with a physical therapist and a trainer who is a corrective exercise specialist has done wonders to improve the condition of my hip, knee, and ankle. Seeking help and getting into lifting may actually help your knee depending on the issue.

    ACL is only attached on one end and arthritis so lunges, squats, and the like are my enemy since they're instant sources of serious pain.

    Since I'm too young for cortisone injections and surgery is financially out of reach, exercise is the only solution I've got to try lessen the pain.

    I'm confused. You can't do exercise because of the bum knee, but exercise is the only way to strengthen it?
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    There are body weight programs and upper body programs out there. What exactly is the issue with your knee? I have all sorts of lower body issues, but working with a physical therapist and a trainer who is a corrective exercise specialist has done wonders to improve the condition of my hip, knee, and ankle. Seeking help and getting into lifting may actually help your knee depending on the issue.

    ACL is only attached on one end and arthritis so lunges, squats, and the like are my enemy since they're instant sources of serious pain.

    Since I'm too young for cortisone injections and surgery is financially out of reach, exercise is the only solution I've got to try lessen the pain.

    I'm confused. You can't do exercise because of the bum knee, but exercise is the only way to strengthen it?

    Like cardio type stuff. Strength training programs all put me in pain. Walking is iffy some days Too truth be told
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Yes you can slim down without doing squats and lunges...you can slim down without exercise.

    You can try body weight exercises for all parts of the body including the "bum" knee but keep it low reps etc.

    You can do some lifting or resistance training using lighter weights or bands....

    You can walk if you want...or swim which would be good...
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited May 2017
    rybo wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    There are body weight programs and upper body programs out there. What exactly is the issue with your knee? I have all sorts of lower body issues, but working with a physical therapist and a trainer who is a corrective exercise specialist has done wonders to improve the condition of my hip, knee, and ankle. Seeking help and getting into lifting may actually help your knee depending on the issue.

    ACL is only attached on one end and arthritis so lunges, squats, and the like are my enemy since they're instant sources of serious pain.

    Since I'm too young for cortisone injections and surgery is financially out of reach, exercise is the only solution I've got to try lessen the pain.

    I'm confused. You can't do exercise because of the bum knee, but exercise is the only way to strengthen it?

    If exercise is the only way to strengthen around your knee, you should have a very specific set of exercises to assist with it.

    If you doctor or PT didn't or won't give you any, you can try google for knee strengthening for separated ACL.
  • irridia
    irridia Posts: 527 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Yes you can slim down without doing squats and lunges...you can slim down without exercise.

    You can try body weight exercises for all parts of the body including the "bum" knee but keep it low reps etc.

    You can do some lifting or resistance training using lighter weights or bands....

    You can walk if you want...or swim which would be good...

    Swimming is non-impact HIIT, or at least it can be HIIT. I dropped 20lbs just with calorie deficiet and HIIT style swimming. It is also full body resistance. My method was to go in whatever forward stroke, i.e. face in the water, as hard as I could until I couldn't breathe then switch to resting mode on my back doing slow back strokes and when I felt like I was breathing right, do it again.

    Side stroke is really good too and it is head out of the water type.
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    irridia wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Yes you can slim down without doing squats and lunges...you can slim down without exercise.

    You can try body weight exercises for all parts of the body including the "bum" knee but keep it low reps etc.

    You can do some lifting or resistance training using lighter weights or bands....

    You can walk if you want...or swim which would be good...

    Swimming is non-impact HIIT, or at least it can be HIIT. I dropped 20lbs just with calorie deficiet and HIIT style swimming. It is also full body resistance. My method was to go in whatever forward stroke, i.e. face in the water, as hard as I could until I couldn't breathe then switch to resting mode on my back doing slow back strokes and when I felt like I was breathing right, do it again.

    Side stroke is really good too and it is head out of the water type.

    One of my goals is to get small enough so I can buy a swimsuit and go swimming w/o looking like a whale so that's something I can put on the goals list for when I slim down enough.
  • beanz744
    beanz744 Posts: 221 Member
    irridia wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Yes you can slim down without doing squats and lunges...you can slim down without exercise.

    You can try body weight exercises for all parts of the body including the "bum" knee but keep it low reps etc.

    You can do some lifting or resistance training using lighter weights or bands....

    You can walk if you want...or swim which would be good...

    Swimming is non-impact HIIT, or at least it can be HIIT. I dropped 20lbs just with calorie deficiet and HIIT style swimming. It is also full body resistance. My method was to go in whatever forward stroke, i.e. face in the water, as hard as I could until I couldn't breathe then switch to resting mode on my back doing slow back strokes and when I felt like I was breathing right, do it again.

    Side stroke is really good too and it is head out of the water type.

    2nd what she is saying n u can also try upper body training with machines as well
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Exercise is not required for weight loss. It's good for you, but not required for weight loss.
This discussion has been closed.