hi from the wv hills
anyone around here with conditions aside from obesity that greatly affect mobility? beyond osteo arthritis.

all of us have challenges to successful wt. mgt be it stress on the job, home, low income, etc. i would like to hear from folks who have a very limiting or disabling condition (permanent) who are working to lose/maintain healthy wts.

my wt has been blamed for a lot of my conditions...'if only you would lose wt..." type of attitudes /med. pro comments.

i joined ww nov 11 couple of years ago. took off est. 93 #s (may2006) then by fall 06 started spiking w/wt.!
some days i can walk w cane or rollator/shopping carts distances... other days i can hardly turn to position in bed or reach for phone. very painful spasticity/fatigue,weakness, etc.
i can not do traditional workouts, as certain positons trigger increased jerking/pain ..wts are no-no due to aggravating conditions. dont know what to try that would be safe!
anyone try qi guong *sp?*...
a very gentle 'hca' type of yoga?

would like to have suggestions to build muscle w/o wt lifting.

sorry for the rambling ust frustrated...

Hi MEBELEAN . . . You have definitely taken a great first step on the long and winding road to better health and fitness by finding this site. Hope you will be visiting with us for a long time to come.

Although I know you will be welcomed with a great big wherever you may decide to pop-in for a visit, you might want to check out the DIETING WITH OBSTACLES forum . . . click here . . . I have arthritis, too and I'm also diabetic and I know it can really help to chat with others who are facing the same types of problems as you. Hopefully you'll find lots of great advice over there and, of course, elsewhere on the boards, too.

You have a great moving and shaking kind of day, girl. Just keep doing the good stuff as much as you possibly can and the rewards will be forthcoming.

Meowee is right mebelean that the dieting with obstacles forum should be able to give you advice. Although there are medical conditions that may limit you, you aren't alone and others may have similar issues to your own. I have moved your thread to dieting with obstacles so that hopefully someone can share with you their efforts.

Do you take prednisone? That can really affect your weight.

Hi! I have had scleroderma and fibromyalgia for about 12 years, and recently added OA. I understand your frustration. I'm doing okay right now, can do some walking and elliptical exercising, but I've definitely been through those times when I couldn't even get up. I started very slowly after my most recent flare - it's taken me 4 years to get where I am today and I'm still only walking slightly over a mile. Very strange for me since I was a runner before all this hit.

The best advice I can give is to start out slow and keep after it, with both activity and dietary changes. With all the complications as well as medications, it's tough, but even a little bit can help. If you're unsure about how to diet or exercise, ask that doc who tells you to lose weight for referrals to a nutritionist and a physical therapist (which s/he should have offered!) Channel your frustration into determination. You'll hit plateaus just like "normal" people, so don't get too discouraged when you can't seem to get a day where you can move or your eating plan falls apart. Resolve to try again tomorrow.

The Scleroderma Foundation has a great yoga tape that was developed just for patients - www.scleroderma.org - and the Arthritis Foundation has several programs depending onwhat your local chapter offers. In some areas they have water exercises, other have "dry" exercise classes, and some have had Tai Chi classes. Get on the web or phone and find the programs in your area.

I was the first to disbelieve that exercise would be of any help, but I'm a convert. With regular exercise, I really do have less joint pain. Work with your doc on finding a good med for your pain, too. You won't avoid pain with exercise, but after while it really makes a difference in your day-to-day aches.

Good luck!