Please help: having big problem losing weight.?

Question

I need to lose 2.5 stone. I have major mobility problems and have put on the weight since I've been put in a wheelchair 2years ago. I can't stand/walk more than 50yards. I have a lot of wrist pain so have difficulty in propelling my chair along pavements etc that ave cambers or are on a hill. I have mental health difficulties too which I cope with by comfort eating and self-harming. As a result I am terrified of swimming as I am so fat in a costume and my arms are cut.

I have really tried and keep failing an becoming so disheartened. Has anyone got some suggestions please.

Answer 1

I really would go swimming. Find out when the quiet times are and go then. I have self harmed but still went swimming. Just have an answer ready if anyone should be cheeky enough to ask. Once my scars had faded a bit, I would say that I had been doing some aggressive gardening but fortunately no one ever asked.

Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do and also, as I'm sure you know, very good for mental health.

Try to keep as occupied as you can each day. Write yourself a timetable of things you will do...that should help to stop you comfort eating as much. Diet, but you don't have to go very strict with your calories...try having 1400 a day...you will lose weight and safely too. Add on to that the swimming and you have the recipe for a good weight loss programme.

Never allow yourself to go hungry. So eat loads of vegetables with your meals and have a slimming soup for starters as this will help to fill you up even further.

It IS difficult, especially when you have mental health problems...I know that...but you will start to feel the benefits very soon.

Make tomorrow be the day that you begin. I wish you lots of luck.

Best wishes

PS> Suck my**** who commented above has overstepped the mark this time. Saying something like that is totally irresponsible and particularly saying it to someone who is already struggling with mental health issues. Take no notice of those comments, please. We are all with you!

Answer 2

First of all, have you tried talking to your doctor about trying to lose weight and how hard you're finding it? I have physical health problems and so can't excercise a lot (like you put loads on after becoming disabled and having to use a wheelchair a lot of the time). I managed to lose over 5 stone with my doctor's help and the use of xenical. you do need to get it on prescription however, and whether it's suitable for you will partly depend on any medication you're taking too. You do need to stick to a VERY low fat diet while taking it, so you could try just going with the very low fat thing. Also, I found that I can manage certain forms of exercise - for me an exercise bike is ok, but walking/running etc. isn't. Another thing you can do is see if your doc can refer you to a physicotherapist who may be able to suggest forms of exercise you can do that you can manage - also they may have a hydrotherapy pool where you could exercise without feeling quite so self consious. Failing that, check out at your local pool and see if there's a disabled swimming group you could join, you'll find they are much less worried about any scarring etc. you may have. (you could also try wearing a long sleeved thin top over your swiming costume too ;-) might make you feel less consious of it all).

Try not to be down hearted about it all, and do talk to your doc, they'll probably be really supportive and if they're not, then consider changing docs!

Answer 3

Different things work for different people so don't be dishartened if peoples suggestions don't work out for you. And I completely understand the not wanting to swim, I will not go either.
But here is what i have been doing and since the middle of january I have lost 1.5 stones (although i have another 3.5 to go).
What I have done is to go on a calorie counted diet, I do not do much exersise, but probably more than you can manage at the moment.

P.S. I gained all of my weight through comfort eatting to, so I can sympathise with that.
I was recommended by my doctor to limit my self to 1300 calories a day, and its not as bad as I thought it would be. I can eat anything I like, as long as I stick within my limit each day.
To do this I eat things like porridge, and to fix the chocolate side of things I drink low fat hot chocolate.
Keep a record of how you do each day, I find this keeps me moticated as I can see how well I can do.
Good luck, and I hope you get along well.

Answer 4

First of all make a note of how many calories you are eating a day and try to reduce your calorie intake - the safest way to do this is by referring to your doctor. Personally although i have found that it is referred to as an unsafe diet, the Atkins diet really does work - it is a low carbohydrate diet, which works miracles if you want to shed stones. It starts off quite hard, a two week induction phase which will see you cutting your carb intake to 20g a day. This is the period when you will see great results when you step on the scales, however i can't stress the controversy surrounding the diet enough, therefore before you start any weight loss programme refer to you doctor in advance. But i do suggest the Atkins diet - i lost over 2 stones in 6 weeks on the diet. Whatever you decide, good luck. x

Answer 5

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Is there any way to get an electric wheel chair, which would be better for you?
I know what you mean about eating comfort foods. They are the ones that taste so good

Is there any way that your comfort foods could be substituted for comfort food that aren't as high in calorie, fat, sugar or sodium? These are the things that make them taste good, but there are some that are better for you and tasty too.

You mentioned you can stand and walk 50 yards or less. It would be good for you to do that whenever you are up to it? It will help you stay mobile. If you stop doing it, you will get so you can't do it at all.

The swimming that you mentioned is good for you, as long as you can do it. Any swimming and /or exercises that you do in the pool will help you tremendously. It's easier on your joints to do movements in water.

Would some bands a few inches wide (2 or 3) help support your wrists? You don't want them too tight because it would stop circulation.

I hope you have someone who works with you to help you improve your activities for daily living. And hopefully with some help you can eventually get better.

You didn't say that your condition was permanent of temporary. I pray that it is temporary. If there is any chance; work to get better in every area that you need it. Make goals for yourself that you can keep.
God bless you real good.

Answer 6

Weight Watchers is available on line, if you can't attend a class. I have found they are very helpful, non-judgemental people who are there to support you. The program is a healthy eating diet and not a "diet". As for the comfort eating and self-harming i hope you are getting help from a professional, weight watchers will show you what foods to eat and what to avoid but will not address your mental health issues., you must seek help for that if you are not already doing so. Good Luck

Answer 7

I feel the only way is to eat/buy low fat foods.
~DO NOT BUY bad (high fat) foods - if they are not there you won't be tempted.
~THINK POSITIVE just remember all the reasons why you want to lose weight and keep going - you can do it.
~Set a target that you can achieve. When you've made that, you'll feel that you've made progress. Set the next target, & so on.
~Try to do whatever exercise you can - even sitting down - every little helps
~ I know its hard - but stick at it - we're all behind you here on Yahoo Answers! (Well most of us are!)

Answer 8

If you are from the UK, go to your local pharmacy on join the Lipotrim programme. It is a total food replacement diet that involves 3 shakes/soups a day. i did it for under 3 months and am 4 stone lighter (with exercise too tho) hopefully once you start to see the results (which you will very quickly, i lost 10 and a half lbs in just my first week) you will start to feel better about yourself, it sounds you have very low self esteem at the moment. It has all the vitamins and minerals your body needs and i feel fantastic now.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Good luck.

Answer 9

please write me at [e-mail]. I can help you as i work with wheelchair people whom i help to lose weight. The woman i work with now had been on wheelchair for 10 years and lost 3 stones already. It's not easy but very possible.
regards,
angelika

Answer 10

I would discuss weight loss options with your physician. Also remember that weight is just an outward representation that changes shapes and appearance frequently. True self worth has nothing to do with appearance and everything to do with what kind of person you are - kind, compassionate, loving.
I wish you much success in discovering your inward beauty.