I ve posted recently on this but I think my GP surgery must have got things wrong
My orthopaedic consultant advised my GP to get me onto NHS Weight management
A nice guy from the active team in the council, seconded to the GP surgery rang and prescribed a weekly low impact circuit training class . 5 weeks free then £4.00 a session. But more than that,5 months gym membership at £25.00 a month
I can’t walk. So am really confused. I look after my overall health and am getting by but know I need to lose weight and have been doing it gently via weightwatchers since new year.
I am sure my consultant didn’t mean gym - if nothing else it seems stupid paying half price just to be able to use one or two no impact machines especially as I can barely string 4000 steps a day. Plus with my cardiac condition I pace myself
Has anyone else had this experience? Maybe I am being too wary … but am getting by just now and it feels like am being advised to do something that would endanger my wider health.
paul
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TheBoys
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it is a fairly new thing for the medical profession to prescribe gym membership. Depending where you live depends exactly on what’s offered I think. But, the gym people would be quite happy to take you at YOUR pace and they won’t be making you lift huge weights or make you run! They won’t be endangering your health ans they will be quite used to people like you and me.
Also, if you are offered weight management it’s free for a while and you are paying for Weight watchers
It’s up to you what you do but if that was me I’d be grateful for the help thats on offer and I’d grasp is with both hands.
I don't know UK system, but it seems to me that the introductory low impact training might be useful, but the gym membership, which isn't free, rather optimistic. There is another thing too, which of course our "leaders" being into denial and obfuscation aren't mentioning, is attending gym places you at risk of acquiring an infectious airborne disease which indeed endangers your wider health.
I think it's largely acknowledged now that although exercise is important for cardiac and bone health, it doesn't help much with weight management. One on one with a trained dietitian could be a lot more helpful to you. 🍀
And I've heard (from a medical source) that 4000 daily steps is what keeps your risk of death stable,not worsening, and the risk reduces, from all causes, by a certain percentage for every 2000 additional steps. If I can find the item I'll post it here. (And not just steps, but movement.)
You know your self best. If weight watchers doesnt work out for you long term there is an organisation called overeaters anonymous. I used to go and found it hugely helpful
Hi there Paul, there is no mistake these options are what the consultant can offer I believe . However the patient has the final right to choose. I was passed to a gym by my GP but it made one of my conditions worse and no improvement in the one referred for, and no notice of weight loss. I also have a freind with no weight issue who has arthritis in her knees very bad to spite injections & Herbs. So I would suggest you continue losing weight by the method you have selected, slowly over a longer period as this seems best with your other health conditions. The Health Gyms are very good and connected to the NHS usually so it is up to you what you choose to do, you may even meet some new freinds Best Wishes
HiThanks for that. It's so strange as when I Google NHS weight management it's like a weight watchers type system no mention of a gym...
Ironically I just got stuck on the bedroom floor trying to reach for something that had rolled under the bed ... So gym is deffo out for me. All I can really do is a bit of walking at the moment...
Keep up the walking even if only up and down the garden or where ever you walk. There are some good chair exercises on line , but if bedridden even them are too hard. Another way is to eat a little less or check which foods cause inflammation which if reduce sometimes lessons the pain. Yes an exercise bike at home can be a cheaper option to gym costs or a treadmill. But still remember little and often and stop if it does not work for you. There is a weight site on Healthunlocked with lots of freinds in similar problems as you.
If you don’t want to join a gym don’t join but riding a recumbent bike would probably be helpful since you have issues walking (Im in the same boat) exercise is not just helpful for weight loss its also helpful for your mental health …. I prefer to bike at home rather than a gym .
HiI might invest in one. The discounted gym is still a lot as can only really consider using one or two machines and then the price goes to full cost in 5 months. Meanwhile I just hurt myself and got stuck on the floor took ages to get up lol...so gym is out just now.
I won’t go to the gym because I know deep down I know I won’t go …. If you are thinking of investing in a recumbent bike you should also look at a stationary bike and try both…. I have psoriatic arthritis and my body is just destroyed from this stinking disease and I find that I can’t walk for 2 hours straight but I can peddle for 2 hours sometimes longer … but cardio wise the recumbent isn’t very effective but a stationary bike would be much better for building up stamina.
lol - i never realised the thing about hail hail ; and the song - it was just a nickname people used for our identical twins growing up to distinguish from their sisters. Now they each have twins as well! Keeps us busy 😀
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Knee osteoarthritis 
Looking for TKR advice 
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