The topic I would like to discuss is Exercising at our weight.

Right now the issue at home has been that my husband's personal trainer, (it's our brother in law, so don't get too impressed! Has been bugging my DH to get me over there. He "Can't wait to get his hands on me."

DH thinks its because I don't particularly like him much. (a story for another day. My issue, he is actually a nice guy)

Hubby and I have just started agressively working on our weight issues, doing both South Beach and YMCA. Hubby has been doing more than I currently, but not for the lack of desire, I have been having going at a slower pace for the simple fact, we are not starting from the same point.

I weighed at the beginning of this over 100lbs more than him. Even though we both have been Overweight our whole lives, I'm sorry, he just doesn't and can't fully appreciate what it is like to be 360+.

I finally got through I think when, for the billionth time told him I was carrying another person around than him. Then I said, think, if you were to pick up your sister, and have to carry her around with you all day, eveything you do, everywhere you go. This is what I have to do. So when I walk, or work out on the eliptical trainer, go upstairs, clean the house, ect, It's that much harder for me.

I told him I have to start out smaller and work my way up and it will take time. I have to be able to MOVE before I can start going to a trainer.

Now, I swim 3 days a week at our local Ymca, I take my mother and we stay in the pool for anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. Not real heavy, mom is crippled so we walk in the shallow and slow swim and exercise in the deep. I also have added the water dumbbells for resistance. I have just added using the eliptical trainer when I can on the days that I am not with Mom, 1 or 2 days a week, I have worked up to 30 mins.

Sorry for carrying on so much, (should have saved this for the ranting and raving thread!!)

So, I thought we might share some of the stuff we do, I mean I would love to try Yoga, but right now, I can barely tie my sneaks, let alone touch my toes or stand on one leg!

Look forward to seeing what you think.

Evilyn.... Exercise... it is the dreaded E word for me. LOL
I used to love to work out. I used to love to walk.
But the older I get ...exercise now just means PAIN.
Plus procrastination.

I am best in the pool. Deep water exercising. I did it daily in the summer.. but not started a winter program yet. I plan to start again in January. Christmas is just toooooo busy to pay for a month and never go.

It sounds like you are on the right track with what you are doing.
I understand not wanting a BIL to be your trainer. I am sure he just wants to help you... but they don't realize how sensitive we are to our weight.
Of course .. not all overweight people are sensitive to it... so how can they tell which of us are and which aren't ? LOL

Just keep up the good work you are doing.

Evilyn:Sounds like you are doing all the right things! I could almsot be considered an exercise addict! I've tried it all (except yoga, no way I could ever get up once I got down on the floor). Water workouts is the way to go, at least to start out. At a weight like ours we need the properties of the water to support our joints while we learn to move them again.

As you get more flexible you can and should move on to other things. I don't know how it would be using your BIL as a personal trainer, but I have used one for a while and the things he taught me were very valuable. In fact he taught me how to get up from a sitting position with out pulling myself up by my hands! My DH uses one and has for about 2 years, and he will continue to use one forever because he has to have that nagging and pushing to keep him going. If he was on his own, he'd end up giving up. And that would be disasterous to his health! (also another story)

So to sum things up, you are doing great, just make sure you keep it up!

I can so relate, Evilyn. Friends are always wanting me to go to the on-campus rec center with them... where the 18-21-year-old college students work out! The only way exercise works for me is if I'm comfortable and can focus on what I'm doing, and that's not the case when surrounded by young thin people, exposing all my inabilities.

What's worked best for me is exercise bike on the lowest possible tension, so I can go pretty fast without hurting knees, etc. Burns some good calories, doesn't seem to injure anything, and I can do it in privacy. My own next step is to get me some full-body exercise clothes that'll let me feel comfortable at least doing that in gyms at hotels when I have to travel for work. I'd really like to be one of those people who doesn't miss a day exercising... but I'm not there yet.

Thanks for starting this thread... certainly something we all have to deal with.