Facing a new battle.

[georgia-kate]

Hello....

I am new to this forum world but have turned to it in hope of overcoming my weight loss battle.

I am 23 and currently 11st7 (size 12), the heaviest I have ever been. I have generally over the years maintained my weight to between 10-11st and been happy but over the past year I developed a problem with my right knee which I have been for physio for.

I have never been a 'gym goer' and normally when I felt like my weight was creeping up I would increase going running to combat it which was always successful. However with the issue with my knee I have been unable to run at all, in fact after an intense day at work I struggle to get up my stairs at home without help from my partner.

I work long, unsociable hours which never seem to coincide with the local and even non local swimming pools which make exercise a struggle without doing damage.

My diet isn't great and that is what I am tackling first, however I really don't know where to start in terms of exercise. A day at twycross zoo today has left me hobbling around my house!

Any suggestions/hints and tips would be wonderful.

Thanks

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello georgia-kate

I feel for you, but well done on tackling this issue now 😊 I also have joint problems which excaxerbated weight problems.

You are right in tackling your diet first, calorie counting works for most 😊 Portion size is the key for me.

With regards to exercise gently gently is the answer. keep up the Physio and maybe add some chair based aerobics (google it!) you could also look up the NHS Strength and Flex videos online and adapt to suit you. As you probably know it is a balancing act with joint pain between movement and rest. Healing will happen! Good luck 😊

[georgia-kate in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Hi Anna61.

Thanks so much for your response.

I'll definitely Google it!

Yeah it is such a difficult balancing act, I've finished my physio, it's improved but seems to be slipping back.

But hey day 3, I'm sore but it's a start!

[Hidden]

You must get that knee sorted! Don't leave it, keep going back until it really is 100% again. It sounds really limiting and frustrating for you, and a life without full mobility is not what you want if at all avoidable.

Diet matters more than exercise for weight loss, so check out the NHS 12 week plan and stick with it, see how you get on and keep trying to find ways you can exercise. Swimming would help your knee too I guess, so if you can, fit it in when possible - even if that's once a fortnight.

Best of luck 😀

[georgia-kate in reply to Hidden]

Hey,

Thanks. Trying to get it sorted, they suspect it's loose cartilage on the knee combined with stressed muscles. The next option is keyhole surgery but I am a firm believer thar invasive procedures should be last resort. On day 3 of 12 week plan!

Hopefully I'll find exercises that work!

Thanks for your support!

[Hidden in reply to georgia-kate]

Good for you Best of luck with it!

[Roberta43]

It is hard to exercise when you are injured and when time is an issue. You are still very young, so hopefully it will not be long before you are better and able to exercise more. Have you tried cycling? It is less taxing on the knees and joints than running is and you will not be dependent on anybody's opening hours. It sounds like you won't be able to do it at the moment with your knee but once you start getting better it could be a gentler way back into exercise. Shame the swimming is not an option as that would be even gentler! Diet is more important than exercise when it comes so weight loss though ( as others have pointed out!) so you could start off tracking calories and portion sizes for now. Best of luck!

[georgia-kate in reply to Roberta43]

Yes I had tried cycling, any repetitive movements set it off.

So frustrating!

Counting those calories at the moment and walking where possible.

Thanks for all your support! X

[skinnylizzie]

I had knee problem for 3 years after lifting heavy crate of books ,I had keyhole surgery for cartilage problems this was not successful had 3 lots of different physios nothing worked until I lost weight, I had gradually gained 3.5 st which I have now lost and this has made a major difference, I went swimming but was advised not to do breast stroke so I swam one length crawl and breast stroke with my bad leg straight! I had steroid injections but they only lasted about 4 months and not advised to have more than 2 a year. so that is my motivation to keep the weight off, If you fill a milk bottle with the weight you lose in water it will make you realise how much strain is on your knee. It s still not easy to keep it off but I weigh every day so that I can do something about it when it goes up also count calories of everything you eat. Don't have an op if you can avoid it by losing weight. I really hope your knee gets better x