My name is Ian I'm 60 years old and over weight so I'm desparately trying to lose weight. the only problem is I have ME/CFS and if I start exercising I end up in bed totally exhausted. I've had this condition for 18 years. I would love to be able to exercise but when I ask my doctor what I should do they are at a loss for words. I'm told to take it easy. I started on a slimming world diet 5 weeks ago and have lost seven and a half pounds in that time. which I'm pleased with. I can't help wondering though what my weight loss would be if I exercised as well?
has anybody else faced a similar problem I would be pleased to hear from them
Kind regards
Ian
Written by
slim16
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Well done Ian, on your 7 1/2 pound loss...you are going to feel so much better when not carrying that extra load around. Have you considered swimming? Even just a gentle doggy-paddle will get you moving without any strain on the joints, and keeps you away from the food too!
My dad (years ago) used the pool to get stronger after a triple heart bypass - he even learned to swim having never been a swimmer. Getting his weight under control and combining walking, swimming and eventually, the occasional game of tennis kept him going another 17 years after his heart op.
Exercise is basically any form of movement that you can enjoy without feeling exhausted - table-tennis on the dining room table? A little pottering in the garden, an exercise bike in front of the TV? Pushing the lawn mower, or hoover even. It gets easier as you get lighter!
What a lovely photo - and I'd like to welcome you to the Weight Loss NhS forum. Many Congratulations on losing 7.5 pounds - that is fantastic! Would you like a 7lbs Weight loss badge to mark that?
Do read our Welcome Newbie post for extra motivation and inspiration, and to help you find your way around what is available in the forum. It's in the Pinned posts area - right-hand-side of the homepage, or at the bottom if you're accessing via a mobile device.
I can see that DartmoorDumpling has given you some excellent suggestions in her reply, and I can't really add any more to what she's already said, except to wish you the best of success with the remainder of your weight loss journey.
I know you're doing a Slimming class, but if you fancy joining the Monday group weigh-in - an online weigh-in, then please do consider joining us, you'd be very welcome. The latest thread is in the Events section.
I hope you don't mind my giving you that link, but I thought it might be helpful as well, as HU has so many helpful communities, and it can be great to join in a few as relevant.
Thanks for replying to me. No I haven't considered swimming because `I'm worried any type of exercise might trigger adverse affects. maybe I should consider it. maybe when I've lost a little bit more weight i will give it a go. I have started walking around our block of houses each day. with the intention to increase the distance in a few weeks time. unfortunately ME is a funny beast the simplest thing can trigger an adverse reaction so it's literally trial and error I'm afraid.
Totally get where you are coming from a s I have fibromyalgia plus other stuff. This weekend I had so much foot pain even lying down was uncomfortable let alone walking.
Sorry to hear about your problems, it's hard to focus on exercise when you are suffering from various ailments. all you can do is try and look at the good things in your life. over the past 18 years my life has been an emotional roller coaster and one thing that has alway helped me, is positive thinking. don't get me wrong I've had bad times but proved more than once that positive thinking is the only way forward. so now I'm losing weight and I'm trying to do some exercise. if I lose weight great if I don't get fighting fit so what. there's a lot wose things.
I do hope you find some ease from your pain. If you don't you can always have a good moan to me. I'm a good listener and sometimes it helps.
Well done on the weight loss so far. Some people with chronic conditions find that stopping eating wheat can help ease their symptoms and help lose weight. Perhaps this would be something to look at?
I've tried all types of diet in the last 18 years and found none of them worth a mention. I did in fact stop eating wheat for a long while but it made no difference. one thing I did find a benefit from was a short course of Vitamin D capsules my doctor prescribed last month. I noticed my energy levels rose. so I am continuing to take vitamin supplements especially vitamin D.
This vitamin is easily overlooked and if it becomes depleted it has an adverse affect on number of the bodies functions. I wasn't aware of this until mine was tested.
One of the problems a lot of people with ME/CFS suffer from is inactivity especially going out into the sunshine, this can have a knock on affect and consequently depletion of vitamin D. i found this out the hard way.
Losing weight hopefully will have many benefits least of all it will give me confidence to get out into the freshair. that's got to be good?
Glad you have mentioned vitD I went to a MS clinic with my hubby and he was prescribed them plus the nurse told me everyone over 50 should consider taking them, apparently over 50's need it as it isn't absorbed enough as you get older but she did say everyone who lives in the northern parts of the world would benefit.
I totally agree, it's something that's overlooked by the majority of people. you only find out about it after it's to late. I'm pleased I've got a GP that's on the ball. she is willing to explore every avenue to find answers to my problems. Since I've started seeing her she improved my life 100%
Brilliant when my hubby was diagnosed in December last year he wasn't given any info just told he could go on a drugs trial.
Anyway since then I have joined the NHS MS forum, I am not sure if there is one for ME maybe you could check but they told me he could get the flu jab and should ask for a blue badge to enable him to keep working.
The nurse at the hospital has given more help and advice than the consultant or doctor I must admit. A doctor like yours is worth their weight in gold. ⭐️
I've found that the information that you get is there if you are willing to spent a lot of time and effort looking for it. which kind of defeats everything. If you have a debilitating illness, the last thing you want to do is spend hours researching your illness it is very energy draining. Information is better now than it used to be but that's not to say that its good. far from it. I haven't met a medical professional yet that is totally commited to the cause it depend on the individual how much info you get. I've tried for 18 years to get a sympathetic ear without much success I've even had a consultant tell me to take it easy.
I've give in. now I try to eat healthy and take each day as it comes. I keep telling myself I'm a lot better off than some people. that way I don't get frustrated and disgruntled.
Sorry to hear you have lived with ME for 18 years, we are relatively new to my husbands illness, we were told he was stage 2 and had actually not noticed the stage 1 physical differences beforehand. As you say you have to search for info and you will find it but there's also so much conflicting info you get overwhelmed especially as these illnesses affect people differently. My husband is self employed so again if you don't work you don't get paid, at the moment we are managing, like you say take each day as it comes and think things could be worse.
Good luck I hope like me you find the forum helpful and encouraging.
Hi Ian and welcome a lovely photo you have a very pretty wife.
I myself just do a little extra walking at the moment I have a treadmill and do what I can when I can. My goal is to hit the pool when I look a bit better in my swimsuit there's a confidence issue here lol. My husband has MS and I understand how you have to take each day as it comes.
I would just continue what your doing eat sensibly within your allowance, drink lots of water and up your exercise/steps a little maybe get a fitness tracker to help. Write down all calories daily and weigh in when it suits you best. No pressure, ŷou have the rest of your life to loose it and feeling and being fitter is the main thing.
Good luck I would try the swimming even if you just float about for a while take it gently.
Hello Ian, i have fibromyalgia and ME and i understand your frustration because i feel it too. It can be an uphill battle certainly. They do say diet is 90% of weightloss, but i think if you cant exercise it can really make things alot harder. Im losing v slowly, although atleast its going in the right direction now, i guess. I am starting gentle yoga lessons next month though so hopefully that will help with motivation and wellbeing. ☺
Well done for losing 7.5 lbs that is really an achievement.
Thanks for your comments, I haven't tried yoga but I have tried meditation. I found it most relaxing which helped. maybe I'll try yoga after I've lost a bit more weight.
Some people find Meditation impossible, and if it's not for you, no good beating yourself up about it. yoga is a good start as long as you are comfortable and ease youself into it so you don't hurt yourself. the positions will come later. I take my hat off to you for trying. I look forward to hearing how you get on.
Hi, Ian and welcome to the forum. I'm 76 with breathing problems, COPD, and like you find it difficult to exercise. I just concentrate building up steps and keeping on the move as much as possible i.e. Marching on the spot while on the phone or waiting for something to come to the boil. It's amazing how many steps you can manage that way. Good luck!
I just made myself some air popped popcorn without any additions and it makes a fab snack for very few calories and have discovered I like black tea without milk or sugar which is a big help.
I have tried aquatherapy and it is good to move. My only bugbear is that changing clothes is hard work. Mine only had a communal changing room. If you could find a class local to you it might be useful.
aquatherapy is something I haven't considered. thanks for that I'll look into it and see if there is a class nearby. apart from helping me lose weight it would benefit my mental welfare by getting me out of the house. look forward to hear how you progress
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