Too out of shape to exercise!

[jstocker]

The way things are looking, I should be able to have my surgery by the end of March or the beginning of April. My problem is, I feel like I am too out of shape to exercise! Anyone else feel this way? My ankles hurt, my knees hurt REALLY bad, my back hurts when I'm on my feet too long...and the list goes one. I was just wondering if anyone else has these feelings (aka "hurts") and would it be better to get some weight off before starting an exercise regime?

Thanks,
Judy

[MyGenesis]

don't wait. best advise is to begin by just moving. do leg lifts while seated. arm lifts...try with soup cans and then work up to milk jugs. try walking. does not have to be alot. 10 minutes a day. then 10 minutes twice a day... When you begin to loose you will feel more like doing it for longer periods of time. anything you can add to your daily regular activities will have an effect.
good luck!
And yep...we have all felt this way at some point in the journey!

[momsquid4u]

Judy for me I still have to use my o2 when I am using the treadmill because I still get a little short of breath ( I have CHF )but other then that my knees and back and feet stop hurting by the time the dr ok me to do reg exercise at 6 weeks. I don't need any of my old meds for pain anymore so yes it gets better as the weight comes off.
Julia

[Jachut]

the sooner you get moving, the better you're going to feel. Its just a matter of starting with what your body can handle.

if you can only walk for 10 minutes, then 10 minutes is what you start with. As long as you get your heart rate up, sweat a little and feel tired from it, it doesnt really matter what it is.

Then you build up over time.

[Laurel86]

I used to have pain in my knees really bad. I also used to get really bad back pains & would have to lean on things cause it hurt to stand up straight. start working out now even if it hurts! just walking up & down your street to start. dont wait...ur doc will expect you to start working out & showing that your motivated. this is a big change for you. & just so you know, my pains started going away after i was down about 25lbs. i started at 248. now im down 51lbs at 197 & i have 100% no pain anywhere. you will be very happy :)

[skinny?PLEASE!]

Hi! Starting to work out while out of shape is HARD! I know! But it is just something that must be done... but the good thing about working out is in no time you WILL be surprised by how much easier it has become! You will have to try harder (or longer) to get your heart rate up.

I was 260 last Dec(after having a baby) and after avoiding the scale for months I joined the YMCA and went home that night thinking I'd weigh myself just to have a starting weight... when the scale read 309 I started to cry (and freaked my boyfried out lol) and ran out of here like a crazy women and went straight to the gym I got on the first peice of cardio equipment I found and after less than six mins thought I was goin to die lol! So I got off and went home disapointed thinking at least that was a start... when I walked in the door (I live across the street from the closest Y) my boyfriend laughed and said wow that was quick (which is funny now because I was gone about 10 mins) and I started crying all over again feeling very fat (for lack of a better word) and sore all over like I'd ran a maraton!

But I kept at it gradually increaseing my time and speed and just 3 short months later (and 25 pounds lighter) I am doing an hour at a time and feeling stronger than ever! I never thought I would push threw the aches and pains in the begining then one day it was just easier!

[wilsonpd64]

When I started this journey, I weighed nearly 350 pounds. I had been in a bad motorcycle wreck that broke my neck, my back in two places, and nearly ripped my left leg off below the knee. I am a "Frankenstein" mess of skin grafts, bone grafts, screws, plates and rods. To say that I was in pain is an understatement. I could bearly walk around for ten minutes in Walmart without a cane.

I started with walking maybe 10-15 minutes at 3 mph on a tread mill, using a recumbent bike (The kind you sit back on- it's good for a bad back and knees) and getting in the indoor pool at the local civic center. (water areobics are GREAT) As I dropped weight afterward, I felt better, felt like doing more, can do more.

I can now walk about 1.5 miles, do 20-30 minutes on an exercise bike or a treadmill, and do some wieght training. I have been off the wagon during the holidays, but I'm starting back THIS WEEK- aren't I guys? Trust me- you will feel better, you will do more- start doing what you can- it will improve with time.

[Jachut]

Yes, you are! I'm only sitting here typing instead of at my circuit class because the darn local gym has the hide to go onto a special timetable over christmas/new year.

But I WILL be going out for a run after dinner when its a bit cooler. Stinking hot here today - my SIL and BIL arrived home today for good from their 2 and a bit years in Canada (yay!) and are dying. From snow to full on summer Melbourne heat.

[wilsonpd64]

I'd take a little of that Melbourne heat...can you ship us some?

[Firedoc19]

I know what you mean Judy. I am 3 weeks post-op and having trouble with my energy level or should I say lack therof. I am trying a small walk each day and hopefully increasing as well. Hang in there.

[wilsonpd64]

Got on the airdyne bike last night for 15 hard minutes...it ain't much, but it's 15 minutes I wasn't sitting on the couch watching the Food Network....

[want 2 be a loser]

Food network love that channel! Just wondering why we do that to ourselves tho! That is what I watched when I was recouping from surgery and it sure made me hungry! Great job on getting on the bike thats the 1st and biggest step!!

[MoOrLess]

I agree with everyone here - start small and just be "consistent" -- it WILL get easier as each pound comes off. Motivating yourself to do something 'new' for just a few minutes every day will become a 30 minute workout before you know it - and it IS key to consistently losing weight once you are banded too...I was able to lose for 3 months straight and I was only able to do the treadmill for about 15 minutes (slowly) due to pain from years of herniated disks and other issues.

You can do it - just don't "over do it" or it will set you back and you won't be able to exercise for days at a time (I know!).

Best wishes and sign up for the exercise challenge for January - EVERYONE!!! It is a great way to stay accountable to YOU :)

[gregken77]

For me just getting started is the hard part. I was doing so good for a couple of months and then I got this nerve pinched in my hip and stopped. Well Ive been going to a chiropractor on this 3 month program to fix things and Its really done wonders. Im pain free again so no excuses not to work out. I attempted to start yesterday and talked myself out of it. (I am sort of weak from lack of food this week from being too tightly filled) Anyway its probably best I wait. Been having near black out experiences from not eating right. Anyway what was my point? Oh its hard for me just to get started. Once I start its like this switch in my brain clicks on and Im good. Ill do it everyday. Its just getting myself to that point that hard. Anyone else like this? Oh it hurts also the first few times you start back. I hate that part. You know my doctor said he tells most his patients not to even try working out until the get half there weight off. I think that is just crazy. Its not just working out that needs to start but a whole life change needs to start where your more active. I did the hardest thing the other day. I turned the cable off. No more couch potato for me. We are all going to start being more active---take the kids to the park to play, go walk, attempt to jog, or just do something fun that involves getting up and moving like walking around the mall shopping ect.

[PhotoNut]

Water aerobics was the way for me. My knees, ankles, and hips were so bad I couldn't walk a full 3 minutes on the treadmill. The water aerobics classes helped me gain mobility, improve cardio strength, burn fat and build muscle without the pain of my own weight working against me. The resistance in the water is surprisingly effective and the classes were fun. After a while, I was able to progress on to step aerobics classes and more!

Its a process, and sometimes a slow one but as the others have said getting started is the important part and often very difficult. The hope of living without pain was my motivation, and it paid off. It will for you too!

All the best,

[redgrldj]

Dang Susan... I was going to say get in the pool too... You don't even have to find a class to start.. just walking laps or holding on to the side and kicking your lages is great exercise...

[SweetCori]

I have Cerebral Palsy and led a pretty sedentary life until about a year before my surgery. And then I was only active in the summer time when our pool was open (I don't have CP in the water! Okay, I do, but I don't think like I do). I have arthritis in my back and did not realize to what extent until I started working out more regularly. I had to take some time off from the gym due to the pain, but I went through lots of pain for a long time (lucky I have a high tolerance!). Now I've been back since 1/5 and have gone 10 times and I feel good. I can use a treadmill for the first time in years and am gradually increasing my speed. I couldn't use one before because of my weight and how slow I had to go, the treadmill wouldn't move at all.

[skinny?PLEASE!]

So how is everything going? I really hope you found a work out routine that works for you!