I lost 110 pounds- now what?

[icydog]

I lost 110 lbs from Feb last year until now. I still need to lose another 10 lbs but I don't care about it.
My problem is I am so flabby since I lost the weight. There are wrinkles and skin under my chin where my two plus chins used to be. My stomach and legs look like puckered messes and I hate it. I am 56 YO and I don't exercise because I have a condition that causes me great pain in my feet. I know there are all sorts of exercise but I jsut cannot bring myself to do it. I have an aversion to working out and I don't know why since I do know it is good for me.
Do any of you suffer from not exercising and what do you do to overcome this attitude.
Marylyn

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Sorry I can't offer any advice I just have to say...

WOW!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

 

[karebear1]

I think the only way you're going to excercise is just to do it. I think if you continue to hang out on these boards and ask questions and make commenst like these on excercise, your attitude will start to change. There is a great group of very positive and persuasive people here- I think if you allow it to happen, you could be exercising soon!! Certainly once you get going on that you will see a new and firmer you! Building muscle will help with that.



CONGRATS ON LOSING ALL THAT WEIGHT!! That is definetly a WOWSER!!!!!!

 

[icydog]

Thanks, I can't believe there is a board to cheer you on to lose weight and exercise. I sure need a push!
Marylyn

 

[karebear1]

so Marylyn...... will you please tell us how you lost all that weight?

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Wow!!!!!! That is awesome! Way to go on the weight loss. That is truly amazing! I too would love to hear how you did it.

As to exercise, I agree, there isn't any magical advice, but as soon as you start, you might get addicted and not want to stop! I am sure it took a lot of courage and strength and determination to loose the weight, now turn that strength toward exercise. How about swimming or water aerobics? Sign up with a friend to make it more fun for you. Good luck!

 

[loisg1]

Marylyn -

Fabulous job on losing all of that weight. Have you ever tried Richard Simmons tapes? I seem to recall hearing that his exercises can be done sitting down, without stressing your body. Try talking to your doctor as well, for his/her suggestions on exercise.

Again, congratulations!!
Lois

 

[Beanie]

Way to go on an incredible weight loss!! Wow!! Congratulations!! You will love this board if you want support or encouragement!! This is definitely the right place!!

How did you lose that weight?? What plan or just eating sensibly?

 

[Jomrog]

Congrats on your phenominal weight loss.

I was going to recommend what Vija said, maybe water aerobics. Also, maybe just walk a little everyday & build up longer/further increments.

You should be proud!

 

[geetey]

Congrats on doing such an absolutley fantastic job!!!!!

Have you considered pilates? That is basically floor work and it is great for toning the body!

 

[icydog]

Boy, thanks for the encouragement. I thought only skinny chicks did pilates. No kidding I thought that. I used to exercise all the time, I quit when I got remarried, then I gained all the weight. Not specifficaly from not excerising but from eating everything I could hold in my hand. I was eating a Costco size bag of M&Ms every other day. I pretty much lived on sugary foods. I was going to have stomach stapling and I had to wait for several months until it was my turn to have the operation. I said rather off handly do you know of anybody who could help me lose a litttle weight before the operation, I was scared of him having complications cutting through the fat LOL. I didn't even care about my complications but I was worried the doc would have a hard time. Anyhow, he recommended a doctor near my home who specailizes in weight loss. I got on the scale and weighed 273, again I didn't even care about the number I just wanted to lose weight for the operation. She said the operation was a good idea but for the time being try this shake stuff and don't eat sugar and white flour. I tried the shake stuff and I couldn't stand it.YUCK!!I decided to try to have sugarfree instant breakfast each morning blended with frozen fruit. Now this I could sttand. I had this for breakfast and just cut out the sugar and flour and the weight came off. Now this may sound funny but beside the omission of sugar and flour I think the second thing that helped me was being weighed by a medical doctor every week. I liked that she encouraged me even though in fact I had to pay her to do it.(Maybe that's not fair, of course I had to pay her she is a doctor and has a business to run.) I just have trouble accepting people's help unless I think they get something out of it too. My self esteem was pretty low. We eat out almost every lunch so I had to find a way to do it. The strangest thing the place I did the very best was the buffet. I ate the baked chicken w/o skin and veggies and salad almost everyday. I even ate a dietetic dessert each day. That meal became my main meal and I ate very little for dinner most days.
That's how I lost the weight. I don't believe in "will power". I have learned from being a recovering alcoholic that there is no such thing as will power. I just have to let things happen in their own order and not question them.
I eat much more now. I eat mostly chicken, turkey and fish. I also eat veggies and potatoes. I include much more in my food choices than I used to. I have also added Breyers sugar free Ice cream to my life and I love it. I don't eat any red meat at all but I didn't eat red meat when I was fatter either so that is not a tip.

I am still plagued by insecurity because of my flabby body. I know I have to exercise> I just can't get started. I don't have any friends near me and the people home from work are really very old( I am on disability because of my miserable feet). I'm old too, as I said 56, but not that old.

I am sorry I went on so long with this. I don't even know if it is appropriate, It is the first time I wrote my story down and it feel good to get rid of it. I still see the doctor every 6 weeks or so and now my pants feel a little tight so I think I will call and set up an appointment for the near future.

Thanks for listening and write if you want.
Marylyn

 

[audflash]

Marylyn,

Thanks for telling your story! I know you will inspire lots of people with it. Way to go - you're awesome!

Swimming is great for firming up and very low impact, too. (Easy for me to say - I hate exercising!) I have heard that you can become addicted to exercise but I must not have tried it enough yet !

Congrats on the weight loss and good luck with the firming up stage!

 

[Kelsie]

WOW, what an accomplishment, Marylyn

And you are NOT old!! I hate to exercise also, but I know I need to. We can do this, together OK?

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by loisg1
Marylyn -

Fabulous job on losing all of that weight. Have you ever tried Richard Simmons tapes? I seem to recall hearing that his exercises can be done sitting down, without stressing your body. Try talking to your doctor as well, for his/her suggestions on exercise.

Again, congratulations!!
Lois

I bought the richard Simmons tapes from a phone number given on an infomercial, and I couldn't stand them. I paid a lot for them but they looked like they had been copied by a bootlegger. I could hardly make out the people, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it was bad.

I was very mad at RS for putting his infomercial together and suckering people like me into spending $65 to recieve his products. He should be ashamed. I really used to like him. I wonder, did he get greedy?

Sorry, I digress. I couldn't do the tapes they killed my feet and knees. I never thought of doing them sitting down though. I doubt this would do much to decrease my flab. Thanks anyway.

 

[karebear1]

Thank you for sharing your story! You never really said, so, did you end up having the surgery or did you just lose it by what you were eating?

I am not an exercise person at all, but today I tried the Walk Away the Pounds tapes by Leslie Sansone. I got 4 tapes for 38 dollars from QVC . The first tape Walk Away The Pounds tape1 was not difficult at all. If you can handle walking for about 20 mins. I would suggest you try this. I really enjoyed it and was half way through before I even knew it! I believe you can also get these at Target, only buying one tape at a time. Then your investment would only be less then 10.00! I know you said you can't really walk, but these seem to be pretty tame. Maybe you could give them a try.

 

[blanq]

Marylyn, I am so astounded at your weight loss success! You lost all that weight in just about a year! Wow! It is so encouraging to hear how you did it. It's sounds like you were so determined, and approached it in a very matter-of-fact way. Also, you started out making a few changes, and now, look, your eating habits have totally changed!

I wish I had an answer for you about the loose skin you are experiencing. I fear I might have some of this to deal with--especially in my tummy--when I am done with my weight loss. I do love to exercise though, so I am hoping that will help.

I am sorry you are having problems with your feet. Ya pretty much need your feet to exercise I guess! I think others made some good suggestions. Maybe even doing some light weights, where you could sit to do them, would help.

Keep your chin up! You have come so far, and there is bound to be a solution to the loose skin!

Linda

 

[CEDmom]

First, congratulations on your weight loss. You should be very proud of your accomplishment. As far as exercise goes have you considered getting a personal trainer? Many are qualified to provide physical therapy along with regular cardio/toning programs. I'm suggesting physicial therapy because it would address your feet and knee problems while giving you a good workout. I know it sounds like a lot of money but I think you would be happy with the results.

 

[tlgoblue]

First off, let me be another in a long line of congratulators! What a fantastic job!

Now for the unpopular view. Some people never lose that flab. You may want to consider using the $$$ you were going to spend on stapling for for some cosmetic touch-up on that extra skin. I have a friend that had her stomache stapled (way back in 1978!). She lost 145 lbs. She had to have all that extra skin {15.5 lbs of it!!!!} removed surgically. She deserved it and she is living a very happy, healthy life, enjoying grandchildren and many other things she was told she'd never live to see if she didn't lose the weight. Just an idea.
In the mean time, this is a great place to stay motivated! 10 pounds to go! (i have yet to lose my first 10 lbs! ) Yeah, try pilates. There is not too much you do on your feet. I don't know how bad your feet are, but even a casual stroll could help. (not to mention, I always tell my DH that he can have the last 10 pounds of SKIN removed surgically! When you need to lose 100+ lbs, you can expect a bonus loss!) Good luck, whatever you decide!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I really wish I could help you with some ideas- but with inability to work out/exercise- I really can't figure out a way to lose extra skin/etc without doing it surgically. I did not have to lose as much as you nor have I even gotten to my goal weight yet- but already I am seeing "lumpiness" on my innerthighs and let's not even TALK about the hanging skin on my stomach (it was mega-stretched out from really huge pregnancies with polyhydramnios- too much fluids with my pregnancies that made me look and measure like someone full term with triplets- no lie.... that's exactly what my dr said as I measured 52 inches around at 27wks with my last child- and I'm only 5'2! I was practically as big around as I was tall! LOL) But anyway.... I have started to try to exercise lately with Walking Away the Pounds but I don't see how you could do that with the feet issue. I used to have bad knees but they don't hurt as much now that I have lost weight (or else something else happened coincidentally at the same time I lost the weight LOL) but they sometimes ache a bit after the 2 or 3 mile tape.
Pilates are HARD. I'm going to wait a bit before doing them again. They made me hurt so much that first night doing the EASIEST ONE (pilates for dummies. I'm not making that up! That's the actual name of the tape LOL) that I hurt for days and ended up not exercising at ALL for quite some time afterwards. So that will be for the future if I ever get in good enough shape for that. LOL

(but it is all things on the floor and not on your feet at all- so it might be good for you?)

I hope you figure something out. Because losing that much weight is AWESOME... a truly awesome feat you have accomplished and you deserve to have the body you desire- or atleast close to it- after doing that! It's not fair to have hanging skin and lumpiness/etc after doing that. I understand why it happens though- I just hope mine doesn't continue to get worse where I end up having to pay a fortune to fix it once I lose all the weight! I'm beginning to think my tummy is hopeless though. I'm losing inches there like crazy- but it hangs lower and lower also. I have had 2- sections and a hysterectomy though- so I'm sure that doesn't help at all with the muscles issue there. It will be hard to tone up all that loose skin on my tummy I bet.

Oh and btw- reading your post about what you did to lose the weight- I have to say that sounds a LOT like Atkins, even if you didn't know it. LOL If you took out the potato (atleast until in maintenance phase of Atkins) it is exactly Atkins. Cut out sugar, flour, eating meat/fish/chicken & veggies (but potatoes are a no-no for quite some time on Atkins LOL). Pretty cool! Congratulations on your weightloss!

 

[icydog]

I love this group. I just added the banner to the bottom like you all have.
I have thought about the surgery to remove the skin. The operation would have been covered by insurance since I was considered morbidly obese, but skin surgery wouldn't be. I will have to think about this.
No I did not ever get the stomach stapling surgery. By the time they called in September for my date for surgery I wa s down 70 lbs and no longer able to be a candidate. Boy was I relieved. I didn't want to go through it at all and I think I was saved the pain of the operation.
I can walk somewhat. After all I do Disney, albeit slowly. I jsut can't drive for long since the pedals kill my feet and conversly I can't walk for long since the ground kills mny feet as well. I will just have to find a way around this.

Thaks for all your support and suggestions. I will look for the wlking tapes at Target. I just have to get out there and do it.

I will talk to you all again. did I tell you I love this forum?????

Marylyn