I don't know if this has been asked before or not, but since I'm in need of some advice, I figured I'd ask anyway!

Basically, I'm literally getting back on my feet when it comes to exercising, and I'm limited in what I'm allowed to do and what I'm able to do. I had two pins and a plate put in my ankle in July and finally began walking without help in November, so I have weight restrictions and restrictions for activities and time allowances. I am on my feet all the time at work, which leads to quite a bit of pain, and not a whole lot of motivation to exercise otherwise.

I really love my WATP video - the 1 mile one. I've never tried any of the others. Once upon a time, I also loved Sweating to the Oldies, though I doubt I can do much of it quite yet. So, here's my question.

What would you suggest in terms of getting in enough exercise? Videos? Any routines that would be good for someone who's still recuperating? What would you recommend for those who are in the "intermediate" zone? Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

Edited because, well, my grammar stinks :P

I have a staitionary bike I ride I at least ride it 2 miles I try for 4 miles!! I also do at least 25 situps and 20 leg lifts each leg!! ANy exercise is better than none!! Good Luck with your weight loss!

Hey!...well what I would suggest is doing anything that is low impact...the reason you need to "keep it easy" is because you can't put much tension on that ankle, right? I agree with sunshine...anything that is of low or no intensity, like a stationary bike, would be great. However, if you are like me and cannot stand them (due to their boring nature), I think walk away the pounds is GREAT. It's fun, easy to use, and is low intensity. I seriously do not know what I would do without Leslie Sansone, she has been an inspiration to me for many years now. She makes aerobics so easy. Also, I know this may sound weird but Jenny Craig has some really doable aerobics, they can be found on amazon..and they're like less than ten bucks each. Also, a good one is "Doing it Debbie's Way" - it's a tape with Debbie Reynolds...the music is cool, big band stuff so i love that one too. A bit outdated, but fun nonetheless. And she exercises with all these old stars from like the 40's and 50's.
Ok, i think i gave more than my two cents. good luck.

I suggested this in another thread but I think it applies here as well. If you are limited on you lower body mobility maybe this is a good time to work on the upper body with weights. Also doing just the arm portion of a workout video may be an idea. It may require a little bit of exta effort to get your heartrate up but like Sunshine says it's better than nothing.

Hope you get better soon
Hugs
Kisha

Yes the stationary bike is what most doc recommend. And yes it is boring, but bring along a good book, or put in a audio book, that takes away the boredom. BUT not being a doc and not knowing if the motion that the ankle takes when you do the bike, I would check with the doc before you start.

My other recommendations would be to get into some kind of water aerobics class. Most major cities have pools availabe, and the workouts are wonderful to get you moving and flexible. Then my all time favorite for people with limited mobility is Oxycise. Check it out on the web. I've used it and love it.

Check with your doctor first and see what he would recommend. But I like the stat. bike without resistance and swimming.

You folks will understand!

Last time I got on a bike it hurt my butt terribly! Any suggestions for making the ride a bit easier?

This answer may be a little late coming, but might help anyway StageBabe, you can buy a special wider seat for your bike that is designed for larger ladies. They are much wider, and padded to make the experience a little nicer

You might also want to check out the Hobson Easyseat. It has like two smaller seats, one for each cheek. I had one on an old exercise bike, and that will be the first thing that I will buy when I am small enough to get a bike. Each side rocks back and forth independently as you move your legs, and the two seats are adjustable for how wide your butt is. You can find one for less than $50. The cheapest I've found is at Camperworld. I guess they are popular with the RV crowd.