how can a wheelchair user user lose weight?

[carrotcake121]

Hi just writing to see if there is any one with advise out there. I am a wheelchair user and have gained roughly two stones in weight because of this. Any advise on how to lose this excess weight?
Thanks all

Not easily. I've piled the weight on since being in mine and I'm very overweight. Any exercise is harmful.

Unfortunately, food seems to be the only pleasure I have in life any more.

Caledonian Queen I have autonomic issues when upright too. Tachycardia is exhausting. I'm trying to see the positives... is it giving me a 'good gym workout' ?

Good Luck with your vegan plan. It's been SO much easier to dress/undress now clothes are loser

And yes. I meant LOW CARB BOOT CAMP, NOT ANYTHING INVOLVING DASHING AROUND PARKS DOING MILITARY PULL-UPS!!!

And yes. I meant LOW CARB BOOT CAMP, NOT ANYTHING INVOLVING DASHING AROUND PARKS DOING MILITARY PULL-UPS!!!

It’s always sexyvyound men in wheelchairs playing the flash basketball, isn’t it? Never middle aged women. Why is that?

Battleax Good Point!

I'm probably out if the Basketball team due to my inability to catch more than anything

Of not if.

Cognitive dysfunction here too. Fuckers! (Missing brain cells that is)

Details, details

Oops X post. Yes mine too (brain cells)

Asking for specialist advice would be my best advice.
Depending on what you can do physically, someone who can guide you on what activities, if any, are recommended for you. It is true that some wheelchair users are competing in the Olympics more of less safely, there's such a wide range of medical issues.

Ask your GP to be referred to a nutritionist, again depending on your condition, a healthy adapted diet is recommended, but not some random weight watchers one.

Low carbs/ high protein diet. You don’t go hungry and no exercise needed.
There is a low carb boot camp just started last week on MN

By consuming less calories. That sucks :-(

A nutritionist? Gosh that would be lovely. I've found it near on impossible to get specialist support & advice with all aspects of life from the NHS.

There's talk.. but then.. cuts, underfunding, understaffing.

Problem is, I'm not dying Well, not visibly & urgently

by consuming fewer calories than they expend - it has been done. Sounds harsh but the science applies to everyone

I agree with a pp. Food can become your only source of pleasure in a diminishing world. I decided I had a right to treat myself & eat what I want. etc

Took me a long time to change that mindset. Now (nearly 2 stone down) I focus on other things around in my environment that I see as a treat. A posh bar of soap, a bird window feeder, a massage, new duvet, pretty postcard from a friend on wall, excellent quality colourful vegetables, leaning out the window for fresh air, chatting on MN etc

Weights! Upper body strength. If you have some mobility in your legs those exercise bands are worth a lot too.

I hear ya Freudian. Hair wash...or menu plan? Or cook something healthy and delicious! I really struggled juggling all this and my mobility decreased with the mental & physical effort.

I no longer cook. I can't. Money is tight, but I found someone online who comes in to rustle up high fat low carb dishes. Although her English is not so good, she understands the principles and follows them herself anyway. She knew what Keto was. Because of her I am able to stick to it better.

Any of this helping Op or have we scared you off? Good luck! Don't give yourself a hard time if you can't stick to it at first. This was my 3rd go!

I paid £70 to see a nutritionist privately. She taught at the university and worked in NHS for years. Worth every penny.

I think part of it is me being miserable and depressed and having only food as a comfort I understand the theory of eating fewer calories cutting out sugar and fatty foods. but to be quite honest I have lost all will power and was hoping for a magic wand!

If you can increase your muscle tone, even slightly, your calorie requirement will go up a bit too, because muscle burns calories even while it’s just sitting there.

So not a magic wand but there is a way of tipping things your way a bit.

Carrot, can you get out of the house? Would it help if you could spend time with more people?

Could you afford to go to a slimming club? Or to a swimming pool?

There may be exercise groups in your area for people with similar mobility issues, but you need to want to do that part.

carrot, if you’re feeling low would some kind of team wheelchair sport be an option, like Boccia? The social aspect could help with that too.

carrot I know. I've been there. It's so unfair isn't it?

Food ( &) has been my comfort throughout many difficult and challenging times of my life. I just could NOT see how I would let it go! Plus I had a sweet tooth. How else would I treat myself?

Thing is. My life was now out of my hands. I searched for and waited years for a magic wand. To get me out of bed. To get me out of a wheelchair. To get me out of the house. To make me fit into my clothes again. etc. I think I was in a spiral of misery (& poss self-pity)

At rock bottom, I had to start with Acceptance of this life and looking at the things I could change. I could not stand up, leave the house, get back to work etc but I COULD be kind to my body on the inside and treat it well. Eating daily chocolate, a packet of biscuits or crisps was empty calories and not helping my nutrition, waistline, teeth or self-esteem. I mean I was fat now too .

Taking control of my nutrition meant I felt more confident I could influence some things at least. When the weight started dropping off, I was doing this myself! At last. After years or promising. It gave me such a boost. If I could manage this, what else could I improve? By myself!

I have never had any willpower and I expected to fail. BUT once you get past 2 weeks and your taste buds change it is unlikely you will miss it. I've lost the taste for 'tasty stuff' now. I just see long lists of ingredients of god knows what. My health & energy has even improved. Who'd have thought

But, I do cheat. I still reward myself with food in a way. I always have a cup of tea in the afternoon with a little dark chocolate! Yum. Used to hate it, now love it. (Had a small Cadbury's easter egg back in April and it was sickly, cloying, over-sweet and stuck all over the inside of my mouth. Bleurgh.)

I'm sorry you're feeling so low carrot. It won't always feel like this. Look ahead. YOU can do this too. I agree with pp's. It helps if you have companionship and support whilst life is dealing you a crock of shit . Are there any support groups in the same situation as you? Either local or online. Sharing the shit stuff with someone who gets it is very therapeutic!

Wishing you all the best

gottaslowdown it's funny you should say that as my husband is often joking that it takes him going for a run/ jog to reach the heart rate that sitting up takes me to! I say that sitting up is my marathon! Unfortunately, the rest of my body has yet to catch up and give me a body like a marathon runner!

I hope the vegan diet helps, I actually didn't start the diet to lose weight, more that I have been going off meat for a while and after watching a video decided that vegan was for me. If I lose weight as a result, I will be delighted.

@gottaslowdown
Thanks for your long and well thought out message you hit the nail on the head I will take it one day at a time I have a very supportive husband but no friends since leaving my job due to my health. no helpful family.