Hello I am the new guy. I am 517 now but have lowered my BP to the point I can exercise at the gym. (it a hospitial run gym with a great staff)

I am excited but they ask that I change shoes before I work out. Here in NH the sand and salt from the snow gunks up the floors and equiptment. I have hard enough time putting shoes on at home. I am embarrased to ask for help so I feel kinda stuck. Any Advice?

Thanks
Phil

Well done on the weight loss!

Could you manage some sort of slip on soft tennis shoe with a long shoe horn?

If youre doing weights and shoe support isnt vital, what about the croc type shoe with no back?

Or then bite the bullet and ask for a little help. Im sure they would discretly give you a hand and it would be worth it in the end. It wont be long before you need no help at all.

I have gained so much weight bending over to get my shoes on is horrible. I have a pair of shoes that are laced just loose enough to get my feet into them that they don't slip off either.

The other was recommended by my doctor when I had issues with my feet after a pair of name brand shoes messed up my toes, causing numbness, it was slip on tennis shoes.

But I just keep my laces a little loose, not dangerously so, but it keeps me able to slip them on and off. I walked hours all over Salem, Mass at Halloween and was fine, so maybe you could find that 'sweet' spot in your laces that let you slip in maybe?

Also, welcome! I am on here reading more than posting, but thought if I got back into posting it would keep this weight dropping thing in the front of my lobes!

Good luck!

Welcome Phil!

I can totally understand having issues getting your shoes on. One thing I looked into for you was shoe horns by (Dura Med (DMI) Shoe Horn 30"), which can help and you can also get shoe laces designed for people who have arthritis or low mobility. There are a few options out there for you for sure. I did a quick search on Google and found a few products, companies, and articles about the topic.

I can understand being embarrassed. Just remember, people are here to help you and we do understand.

Welcome!

If you can buy a new pair of shoes, I'd look for slip on styles of athletic shoes. My husband had a pair he wore to death that were actually designed for in/out of the water, and on the beach. The shoe was made of a spandexy material, but it had all the arch support of a normal athletic shoe.


We also have a yard long shoe horn (I don't remember where he found it - I want to say Fleet Farm or Farm and Fleet), that helps me alot (I can get my right shoe on easily, but many days I don't have the flexibility to get my left shoe on myself).

I do wear crocs alot. The clog style, in general works well for me. There's a clog style of tennis shoe I nearly bought that looks like a regular running shoe, but it's backless. The shoe gets tied up (and the shoe store owner told me you want it tied fairly snugly), but you slide your foot into it. There's a low back, so once you slip your foot into it, it actually feels fairly snug to the foot (doesn't feel like a flip-flop).

I should have bought them, but at the time, the only athletic shoe I trusted was New Balance (I believe New Balance may actually carry the style now, I really should look).

First off, please don't be embarrassed to ask for help with your shoes. Any decent person is not going to have a problem lending you a hand.

Second, you might look at footsmart.com. They have a wide selection of shoes, some that may be easier for you to get on than regular sneakers with laces.

I think it's great that you have gotten yourself to the point of being able to go to the gym. Don't let something like your shoes take away your sense of accomplishment!

I understand you feeling embarrassed but remember the staff is there to help.

You might also try velcro closure shoes. They'll be lose enough for you to slip your foot in and they'll be easier to close up than tying laces.

Good luck and don't give up!

Hello Phil,
Congrats on your loss and reading how you are working out in the hospital gym is quite inspirational. I have a pair of new balances that I keep laced up and though it took a few times to get it quite right, I'm able to slip in and out of them and still walk once I get them on. Being only 5 foot 2, I just about take myself out when I try bend over to tie them up. As far as being embarrassed asking the hospital staff for a helping hand, I can tell you that people who work in the medical field do it because they want to help people get and stay healthy. They would be more than happy to help you out and I'm sure they are cheering for your success as well as we are.
Don't forget to post your excercise minutes from the hospital gym on our excercise thread, my son would love to know he's not the only guy!! (He's Book Wyrm)

My suggestion would be to put on your work out shoes at home, and then cover them with hospital shoe covers to go inside. Those are easy to take off once you are at the gym. If they aren't tough enough for your climate (and they wouldn't be here), go by a bowling alley or golf course, and buy a set of shoe covers. Both sell these rubber/vinyl/plastic covers with elastic around the top for people to wear over their golf shoes or bowling shoes to and from.