Plus size fitness?

[88cev88]

I've been looking into getting into some kind of plus size fitness, possibly yoga, pilates or Zumba. Anyone have any experience with this? Is one better than the other to start with?

[barbara55109]

Greetings,

I'm 61 and I've been fat all my life. In 2020 I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and was ordered to both lose weight and establish a regular exercise routine before I would be placed on the kidney transplant waiting list. I was fine at 224. But I wanted to live so....

I have multiple limitations. I have holes in the bones of my knees and ankle from prednisone. Walking is very painful. I have a five pound weight limit due to an inoperable parastomal hernia. (My initial illness was ulcerative colitis since childhood. I lost my colon at 30 and have an ileostomy.) All of ,my health issues stem from that ulcerative colitis - including my CKD, holes in my knees, hernia and more.

I've tried to take a few classes at the Y but their pace was just too much for me. All the classes geared to seniors and others with health limitations are in the middle of the workday. I work full time.

I go to the Y 4-5 nights a week and ride the recumbent stepper and recumbent bike. The stepper is my favorite because the back reclines a bit and it takes the weight off my knees.

I have taken yoga in the past at a former job and I did like it. The teacher was really good about adapting moves to accomodate for my inability to get on and off the floor easily. Kneeling is worse than stairs on my knees. I also really liked Tai Chi. Again, all the adaptive classes I found are during the work day.

I HATE going to the Y, but if I want to stay on the transplant list I must "prove" I'm doing all I can. I listen to library audiobooks on my phone and that helps.

After 4 years and much hard work I hover around 160. I am still fat. But I'm now at my lowest adult weight. I also passes all the annual heart stress tests at the transplant center. They really worry about heart health since kidney disease is really hard on your heart and it is usually something heart related that will kill someone with CKD.

I'm very frustrated that the prevailing "wisDUM" is that all older, broken people who need adaptive exercise don't work. I've worked since I was 9 years old and won't be stopping anytime soon. I need the health insurance more than ever.

Good luck.