Good exercises for the morbidly obese??? *Help*

I joined the gym and hated it. I didn't have anyone make fun of me or anything. It was just a hassle to go. In January I bought a treadmill. I can do it when I want and wear what I want. That's what I like.
 
I am woman, hear me roar!

Morning,

I'd like to second whoever said Richard Simmons - I've found his workouts to be inspirational for many reasons! Not only does he exude support, but many of the folks on his videos are hugely overweight as well.

RS gave me the opportunity to dance for the first time in decades! They're really superb resources.

You can also visit his site at . My husband got me a membership for Valentine's Day last year - it's well worth it for the motivation factor alone.

Enjoy,

Barbara
 
It's easy enought to say, but please just ignore the people at the gym.
Some people dont realise how hard it can be stepping out in public and working out.

I found it hard when i started going, surrounded by people 20years older than me, out pacing me on the treadmill etc..

But keep at it and you'll come out on top. :)
 
Considering the fact that it's been almost a year since the original poster started this thread.... I doubt she'll be coming back for advice.
 
eh- just because the original poster was a one-post-wonder and it's a year old -doesn't make it any less of a valid question... Some other person might have the same question and doesn't want to ask...
 
Touché.

I just hate old threads.

My answer to what are some exercises for the morbidly obese:

Anything that they can stick with. Honestly, anything that increases activity on a consistent basis does the trick for them. The playing field is a bit different than that of their leaner counterparts.

I'm working with an obese woman right now.

She is doing daily walks. Working with resistance bands and dumbbells from home. Walking up and down her stairs a handful of times each day. Flexibility work a handful of times each week. A few yoga-esque type movements a couple of times per week. Some calisthenics.

Really, it's anything.

Curves might work for some. Not really a fan.... but if it works for you, have at it.
 
I just hate old threads.
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I'd rather see old threads ressurected rather than 15 new threads started asking the same thing over and over again :D Studies have shown, that searching forums actually burns calories and forces brain cells to actually work..
 
maleficent said:
I'd rather see old threads ressurected rather than 15 new threads started asking the same thing over and over again :D Studies have shown, that searching forums actually burns calories and forces brain cells to actually work..
Click to expand...

Meh...

Searching is one thing.

Thinking is something totally different.
 
Hi there

There are a lot of good ideas here. I'd agree that doing the bare minimum of walking, even if it's 5 minutes around the house or walking in place, is a great start to an exercise program. You might even try turning on the radio or putting on some music for 5 minutes and walking in place to that. Don't worry about the gyms, they aren't for everyone, and as much as we can try to avoid it, there can be a lot of social pressure there. Ick lol So yeah, doing it at home can be a more comfortable place. You can start doing a few minutes of walking in place for a week or two and after that you may find you can do a little bit more and a little bit more until you may find yourself walking 10 minutes outside without being out of breath.

I also wonder if maybe you're skipping breakfast. Skipping meals can make the body gain weight from the meals you eat later in the day (don't ask me how I know this, I learned it from a nutrition expert called Covert Bailey in the early 90's) So maybe you can try eating a good breakfast that consists of high fiber cereals, scrambled eggs, or whole wheat toast, and try supplementing it with fruit like an orange. Then at lunch you might want to have a glass of 100% fruit juice and a sandwich, and at dinner you can have
some meat and potatoes.

One of the girls here said to start investing in fruits and vegetables. This is a very good point. Many of us don't get enough of the servings that we need, and since fruits and vegetables provide a lot of health benefits, it's worthwhile considering. But don't try them if they're too bland for you. Get fresh fruits and veggies that are in season-they will taste a lot better. You can also try buying 100% fruit juices, such as pineapple, guava, and pomegranate. These are all very delicious and easy to get used to.

My website below talks about how I've been doing on the raw food diet, which is just a diet that consists of eating only fruits and vegetables, or else making your diet up of 70-80% fruits and vegetables. It is a bit of an extreme diet that one would have to start out gradually on, and I still often slip from increasing my fruits/vegetable intake (like this weekend I had visitors over and ate more junk food and very little fruits or veggies at all lol) But it has a lot of other very useful health tips for people who don't want to eat raw food but just want some tips for losing weight. So, it's there if you want to take a peek.

Other than that, just be easy on yourself. Try eating more healthy food more often, try finding healthy foods that don't sacrifice on taste, and do little bouts of walking exercise throughout the day. Best of luck :)
 
I would say just walking or you can look for an all women's gym and or invest in a trainer at whatever gym you join to help you feel less intimidated. THere are also gyms here that are 24/7 if you dont mind being a night owl they arent too busy. Good for you for taking the initiative
 
I can totally sympathize with the original poster and anyone else who doesn't feel comfortable at the gym. Even when I did have a gym I was comfortable with I found alot of excuses to not go and finally figured out I was just wasting my money. So, for me personally, I decided to be honest with myself and realize now matter what my intentions where, the gym at this point was not for me. I found that was better than setting myself up to fail and then beating myself up after.

My advice is to buy a stationary bike and start out with that at home and make sure to listen to some music with a good beat while you do it. What's great about that is you can usually find them used and for alot less money than a treadmill. I have a treadmill now but my husband insisted I didn't need both and I let him convince me to get rid of the bike. I regret it now because I'm starting back up my exercise program and the bike is alot easier on larger people like me. Especially considering I injured my leg and knee in a car accident some time back and on days it hurts too much to walk I could still get on the bike. I also like the fact that on the bike you can close your eyes while you listen to music...try that on the treadmill and you fly right off, lol. Don't get me wrong, I love my treadmill, but I miss having both and as soon as we move in a few weeks I think I'll get another one :).

So that's my two cents worth. If you don't feel comfortable at the gym then find some used exercise equipment or try aerobic tapes at home, whatever works. Richard Simmons still seems to be the only one with tapes that have modification for large people but I don't mind those and they don't cost alot starting out. It's still a decision to do it but the great thing about exercising at home is the privacy and also not having to actually waste time dressing decent and driving somewhere when you're busy. I also like that I can do 15 minutes and quit when my leg starts hurting and come back later and do another 15 later on in the day.
 
happy_squid said:
It's difficult I'm sure. I've never had to go through what you have, but have helped to coach some people through it! Going to Curves, or a gym in the off hours, or one that just has a women only section, is always a good idea. Although women can stare sometimes too, so yes, you have to just block them out!
Now the next suggestion I'm going to make will sound prepostorous, but trust me!!! Here it is:
WATER AEROBICS
Yes the thought of a swimsuit is the last thing you want. But: most aquarobics classes are filled with women only. Most of the women are overweight and have chosen it because it is very low to zero impact. ALL of the women are in the water, where nobody can really tell their size or shape. It is an excellent workout and you only have to worry about the walk on the pool deck for 5 seconds. Besides, hardly anyone likes how they look in a swimsuit, so they aren't going to hang around on deck judging you!

Best of Luck!!! You can do it!!!
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Water areobics would be a good idea as it helps reduce the impact on your knees, a friend of mine damaged his knees in a car accident and to loose weight did that.
 
Never Quit

Serenity I have never been in your condition but I am aware of some of the challenges you are facing. The gym is a good place to go but it has to be a place you enjoy going to, are comfortable with, and are getting the help you need whether it be Curves, Golds Gym, or wherever.
Here are some tips. Start out slow by increasing your physical activity. You need to exercises that are not going to put undue stress on your joints such as jogging, high impact aerobics, etc. Walking is a great way to start trying for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. If you can only do 10 start there and slowly increase your time. You should be at a pace where you are breathing a bit hard but still able to carry on a conversation.
Notice I said 30 minutes a day. You still get benefits if you do two 15 min. sessions per day or three 10 min. sessions spread out throughout the day. As you progress slowly increase your time. You can also do exercises in your own home using light dumbells or resistance bands doing arm curls, shoulder presses, etc. These can even be done while sitting in a chair.
The biggest thing is to stay motivated and have patience. The condition you are in did not happen overnight, and it will take time to get in shape, but it WILL happen. You have to be motivated to make this a lifestyle change and a permanent one. You can't work out for a couple weeks or until you lose the weight and then stop. This is a lifetime challenge for most people to stay in shape and take a lifelong concious effort.
As far as nutrition, try to make healthy choices and eat smaller portions. Consult your physician before beginnign if you haven't already, or a nutritionist. Every journey begins with a single step and the ones who succeed are those that refuse to quit. You may stumble and fall but just get back on track. Many people lose and regain their weight several times before it comes off and stays off. You can do it, so don't quit! I hope I have been some help and feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
 
KPTrainer said:
Serenity I have never been in your condition but I am aware of some of the challenges you are facing. The gym is a good place to go but it has to be a place you enjoy going to, are comfortable with, and are getting the help you need whether it be Curves, Golds Gym, or wherever.
Here are some tips. Start out slow by increasing your physical activity. You need to exercises that are not going to put undue stress on your joints such as jogging, high impact aerobics, etc. Walking is a great way to start trying for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. If you can only do 10 start there and slowly increase your time. You should be at a pace where you are breathing a bit hard but still able to carry on a conversation.
Notice I said 30 minutes a day. You still get benefits if you do two 15 min. sessions per day or three 10 min. sessions spread out throughout the day. As you progress slowly increase your time. You can also do exercises in your own home using light dumbells or resistance bands doing arm curls, shoulder presses, etc. These can even be done while sitting in a chair.
The biggest thing is to stay motivated and have patience. The condition you are in did not happen overnight, and it will take time to get in shape, but it WILL happen. You have to be motivated to make this a lifestyle change and a permanent one. You can't work out for a couple weeks or until you lose the weight and then stop. This is a lifetime challenge for most people to stay in shape and take a lifelong concious effort.
As far as nutrition, try to make healthy choices and eat smaller portions. Consult your physician before beginnign if you haven't already, or a nutritionist. Every journey begins with a single step and the ones who succeed are those that refuse to quit. You may stumble and fall but just get back on track. Many people lose and regain their weight several times before it comes off and stays off. You can do it, so don't quit! I hope I have been some help and feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
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You realize she posted that in 2006, right?
 
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