Ok I get it - really fit people can exercise and diet

I'm 60 and a lot of the exercises featured are appropriate for me. Some aren't suitable for me due to my collection of injuries picked up across the decades but for every exercise there's going to be people of whatever age or capability that can and cannot, should and should not do them.

Sorry you are struggling but you are painting with a very broad brush. Why not create a post in the Fitness forum outlining your restrictions and exercise goals seeking suggestions to get more targetted help?

I agree with those above. I'm 64, was obese for three decades or more before losing weight with MFP at age 59-60. I'm sorry that you're disabled, and admit that I'm not, but I do have an assortment of limitations (scar tissue from surgery and radiation therapy for cancer, some osteoarthritis, osteopenia, torn meniscus, that sort of thing). I was quite inactive for most of those adult years, but did start becoming more active after the cancer treatment even while obese, because decided I had to do that if I was ever going to have something like a normal life ever again.

Some of the exercises in the MFP blogs aren't appropriate for me, some would be fine (though I'm not "20 years old and flexible as . . . ."). I don't use them, because I've figured out by experimentation what things I actually am able to do, without aggravating current conditions excessively, to maintain or improve my health. Some of that involved taking advantage of physical therapy, to learn how to work with or around some of my physical issues; some involved cautious experimenting with activities to see which I could do without irreversible bad consequences.

I think the above posters are right, that if you post in the Fitness part of the forum, with information about your disabilities, you are likely to get suggestions of resources that will be useful to you. It will take a little patience, admittedly, because it's often difficult for us to clearly write out what our conditions/limitations are, and for others to understand.

Even so, I've seen some really excellent threads over there, where people with formal education use their knowledge to help a person with limitations, and others with similar limitations or physical conditions contribute information about what's worked for them.

I expect MFP's public face to feature slim, fit people because that's what most of their prospective users aspire to. (I personally think most people should aspire to be old, because the actual alternative stinks; but I understand that those younger may not aspire to rush that aging ).

I expect the MFP blog posts to try to address a very broad audience, and realistically, a big segment of the potential audience is younger and some are fitter already. Moreover, many of the blog articles are on the clickbait-y side, and not necessarily that great of advice, even for their target audience. I think most people, in most cases, will get more insightful and personalized advice in the forums . . . if they have a little patience with it.

I do, however, think that many sources encourage us, as older people, to underestimate our own potential for change and improvement. I'm not saying that any of us have all the options we had at 20, but we do have avenues toward some kind of progress that are open to many of us, if we can find the patience and the right route.

Best wishes for continuing success!

Pretty much any exercise can be adapted and changed to suit almost any fitness or level of physical ability.

Can do a push up? lean against a wall and push off that
Can't do a squat? Sit down on a chair and stand back up or if that's too difficult use something higher like a stool
Can't run? Just walk, can't walk very long? then walk for a little time.

I find it really odd that when it comes to health and fitness people expect to be experts from day one. They expect to go from zero to hero instantly. No where else is this the case. No one picks up a paint brush and expects to be able to paint a landscape. No one picks up a guitar and expects to be able to play it. No one decides to learn how to write code and expects to be writing software immediately. Why is health and fitness not the same?

Not every exercise will be right for you, but there's an entire community here to help you! Join a group, or a challenge, or start a thread asking for activities that people in similar situations can do. Good luck and we're cheering you on!

I can understand where the OP is coming from; they'd like to see more folks like us that we can relate to and maybe a more varied idea list. But that's advertising for you, and the front page is an advertising tool for Under Armor.

One thing about MFP is that there are a lot of good, sensible, knowledgeable people in the forums that are more than willing to help and point you to good resources! I personally ignore the front page stuff myself - I use the desktop app the most (I hate the phone app) and have a couple of different ad blockers running in the browser I use, so I tend to avoid them anyway

65 here with OA and can do selected things that MFP suggests. EVERYONE of us has to evaluate where we are, what we can do, and slowly improve. When I can't manage to do certain moves, I slowly work at it until I can get as close as I can--if it's something important to me. YouTube is full of gentle exercises. You just get started and pick up ideas as you go along. I swim (or did, until my fitness center closed for Lockdown). I miss it, but am doing other things.

I'm 72, over 300 lbs. I've gone to YouTube and found 3-4 vids that I use for my exercise. I've chosen a beginner walking tape by Leslie Sansone. Another is -- Chair Exercises for Seniors - Senior Fitness. My morning choice is Richard Simmons' Stretchin' to the Classics (classic music, no talking). the other is == 25 Min Chair Exercises Sitting Down Workout - Seated Exercise for Seniors, Limited Mobility.

Please understand. At this point I'm not able to get thru the whole walking or chair exercise programs ... instead I'm "chunking" them in 5 minute increments because that's where I hit my limit. I did 2 per day my first week. This week I'll do 3 per day. I'll increase each week as my strength and stamina improve. Don't give up!!

check out YouTube videos for exercise; I'm sure you'll find several to choose from

I disagreed with your post wholeheartedly. Should they post fat people on their page? How motivating would that be? Just like dentists show you the smile after the work and not before, MFP shows us who we long to be.

I came here to MFP three years ago, weighed 312 pounds and could not walk across the room without breathing heavily. Exercise was far from reach, my doctor advised me to lose weight first and so I did. I lost the first 50 pounds just giving up binge eating and overeating. I logged everything faithfully and so I learned.

Then I started walking with the help of a gold cart because I needed to sit down so often. My best friend's idea, it gave me the confidence to walk further and further. First only a few steps, then a few hundred feet. It took time, but soon I walked without 'my crutch' and the golf cart was just there to transport water and healthy snacks.

I started Thai Chi because of my imbalance and fell in love with it. I walked at home the Happy mile in front of the TV and looked like a fool but enjoyed it. I went to a belly dancing class. Later I joined a self-defense class for older women.

I started walking in the morning, bought me walking sticks and to this day I can be found walking the Nordic miles first thing in the morning.

What you do is up to you. You can sit there and complain about being older, or get up and do something about it. All you find here are recommendations. YOu have to find your own way out of your misery.

Log your food faithfully and enjoy new healthy meals. Find an exercise routine that will work for you.

I have lost 156 pounds!

I LOVE THIS UPDATE POST!!!!!!!

I was idly reading the thread and shaking my head on your behalf but then I saw your update.

I used to feel the same way, but I turned my life around, too, and it dawned on me: everyone has a story and what I see on the surface is not the whole story I’m privy to.

Other members at the gym tell me how “easy” everything is for me because “I’m athletic” and “lean” and i’ve “never had to struggle,” so I “wouldn’t understand”. I’ve stopped pulling my phone out to share my before photos. I finally realized, that was a defensive, apologetic act, and why should I be either?

Thanks so much for coming back and sharing your revised opinion.

And…..I’m so glad you stuck it out and joined us who now live “on the other side”. Of the mountain, that is.

Best
Update
Ever.

:flowerforyou: