Lower Back Pain

TaxEhh
TaxEhh Posts: 9
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
New to MFP. Question: is there anyone else out there just starting out and getting very bad lower back pain? I've lost 7 lbs in 6 days and today I have the most terrbile lower back pains I've ever had! Anyone getting them as well and have any information on how long it will last? It's making me not want to work out :(

Replies

  • newfette81
    newfette81 Posts: 185
    what kind of exercising are you doing? my trainer says a lot of peoples lower back pain is due to lack of core strength. if you're just starting could the pain possibly be from your muscles adjusting to a new active lifestyle?

    also 7 pounds in 6 days seems like a lot to me.. are you over training and possible hurting yourself?
  • Jezebel9
    Jezebel9 Posts: 396 Member
    This is sort of funny. I started with MFP and started having low back pain, too. My bed was the same, my exercises seemed fine, couldn't figure out what was causing it. Then I went camping for a few days, and although my bed sucked, my low back pain went away... what could it be?
    Sitting on the sofa all day with bad posture surfing MFP!
    Soooo~
    less sitting in bad posture on the computer, perhaps.
    8)
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    Ig the back pain is something new to you then you need to examine what you are doing differently than before. If you have just started exercising, take a look at what you're doing and how.
  • TaxEhh
    TaxEhh Posts: 9
    I've gone swimming twice and also went bike riding for 35 minutes (nothing crazy just light riding) within the past 6 days of the diet.
    I sit down at work so I am not very active at all.

    I'm getting about 1200-1300 calories a day.

    I'm thinking maybe its my body getting used to all the moving around...but wasn't sure if others felt the same way too.
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    If you're not used to it, bike riding can do it. Especially if the bike isn't properly adjusted for you (seat height and handlebar height).
  • kschmi24
    kschmi24 Posts: 59 Member
    Hello! I have had lower back pain on and off for YEARS. When I started MFP I had pain. It was enough to where I only really could walk for exercise. I walked (rather slowly, actually) as much as I could--walked to the grocery store instead of taking the bus, night walks, walked on my lunch break at work. I think that was my only form of exercise the first month and a half. When I lost some weight and my back felt a bit better, I started slow jogging and was careful on the elliptical. I did some P90 (not x, the beginner's one) and made sure to keep my core nice and tight. I also did "gentle yoga for complete beginners" to help limber up my lower back. Running (use Couch to 5K) did wonders for my core, and now I've worked my way up to more intense workouts (longer runs, p90x, weight lifting, biking). I still occasionally have lower back pain, but not nearly as much as I used to--I carry most of my weight around my belly, so it stresses the lower back. Anyway, the moral of my story is core strengthening was the most important thing I could do. Avoid things like Zumba and things where you have to twist and shake your hips a lot and take it slow until you get stronger.
  • Werglum
    Werglum Posts: 378 Member
    I damaged my back (years ago lifting an outboard motor - but that's another story!!) and I was given exercises to do by the physio, they are great and I have done them ever since. Firstly the superman - lie on the floor on your tummy with your arms out above your head, try to lift your arms and legs off the floor at the same time (or opposite arm and leg until you strengthen things up) and another one that I do on a swiss ball which is to wedge your feet under something (like the couch) and with the ball under your hips (again on your stomach) do reps of raising and lowering your torso. It strengthens up your lower back and if you do ab work as well it balances things out.
  • kschmi24
    kschmi24 Posts: 59 Member
    Also, in regards to overdoing it/ 1200-1300 calories a day. That is probably okay for now if you are doing mild workouts, but when your workouts become more intense you absolutely need to eat more. . That is how I started--1240 calories a day with my walks. Now that I work out 6 or 7 times a week, I eat more like 1500-1800 depending on how active I had been all day.
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    I suffer from a diagnosed back problem (SJD) and have to do some gentle back excercises before getting out of bed, then some standing ones after I am up. I find this helps tremendously. I am sure you can find some suitable excercises on google or if you would like my programme you can message me.

    But you do need to look at what you have been doing and how you have been doing it as it could be your posture while excercising or the set up on your bike, if the seat and handlbars aren't at the correct height etc.

    If it continues do see a doctor or physiopherapist to find out what is going on.

    Good luck
  • TaxEhh
    TaxEhh Posts: 9
    Thank you for all the wonderful information!

    I did have the Yoga version of P90x a few years ago and I loved that. I do want to start looking into doing some Yoga activities to help stretch me out.
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