Morbidly obese - I want to walk up these steps...

[5foot418stone]

This is a really long post, sorry, but I'd appreciate any advice/encouragement!

TL;DR: I want to walk up some steps without dying. How long to accomplish this?

4 years ago I was almost done with an 8 stone weightloss. Then stuff happened and I've gained it all back over the past 2-3yrs.

Rather than hating myself and resigning myself to living like this forever, slowly eating myself to death, I'm starting to try again. I've put my fitbit back on, got my streak going on MFP, etc. I know how to lose weight but I do struggle with motivation.

So I've set myself a goal.

There are some steps near to where I live and I want to walk up them without stopping and then dying at the top. They are utterly horrible, torturous steps and I want to conquer them. Currently I plod up them slowly and I have to stop 2-3 times. It's really quite embarrassing.

I won't be able to walk them everyday, maybe 3 times a week. I don't want to push myself too hard to start with because it's a surefire way to make me give up. Do you think I'd be able to accomplish this goal in 8 weeks? Or is that too lax?

It's these steps in Saltburn if anyone knows the area!

46 000 steps is massive. I just went for a walk with my daughter and did 15 000 and that felt significant!

Well done! Your achievement and commitment is tremendous. It is about what you have achieved, the 3 seconds are nothing in comparisons. I missed the weight I wanted to be by a certain date by a few pounds and was so annoyed with myself, ignored the stones I had lost and focussed on the failing bit. I don’t think anyone looked at me that day and thought I looked 3 or 4 lb more than I should be! You did it twice! You have come a long way. I hope your back is okay and that you can celebrate your achievements and the difference you have made to your health and fitness.

Just seen your twice update , brilliant

Exercise with your weight loss will improve your health so much

@5foot418stone I found and read your whole thread the other day and am so chuffed to see how much you've progressed- you're doing brilliantly. I'm another member of your virtual fan club, cheering you on!

Thank you so much everyone. Your support and advice and encouragement have meant so much to me! I wouldn't have come so far if it wasn't for this thread.

I've only got 2 days left and I haven't done the steps at all yet this week and now I'm scared I won't get 1:50 or quicker. I've been focusing on my fundraiser (55 miles in 5 days so far!) and just plain forgot on Mon & Tues and was way too tired yesterday. oops.

My knees are bloody killing me so today I'm resting and focusing on yoga/stretching but I want to try and do them tonight once DH is home.

It's kind of bonkers how much my body has changed doing this, not just the weightloss but shape etc. My general fitness has improved a lot as well, I have a lot more stamina, don't get so out of breath when walking up the (many) hills here, I have a lot more energy!

Seems strange that 8 weeks ago I could barely get 10k steps a day and had to stop 3 times walking up the torture steps! The thought of walking up hills and through the woods used to fill me with dread and now I'm like the dog and can't wait to get out for a walk first thing in the morning before work!

Lovely update Op. focus on your achievements so far. You have done amazing.

That's the best update yet. Keep going OP. You will get to 1:50 and even if you never did, you are so much fitter in many ways that it doesn't really matter. Don't let a goal be the end of the process, see your fitness as something sustainable.

That is amazing OP, I am really impressed with your progress. It’s inspirational.

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

Very inspirational.

I'm not gonna lie, I have only read your posts, not those of the supporters so excuse me for inadvertently repeating something but... hill walking is hard on backs. Walking on the flat is much more gentle. That's the advice my osteo gave me when I was recovering from a back injury.

It sounds as though you live in a hilly place so perhaps this is an unhelpful post but just in case.

It's kind of bonkers how much my body has changed doing this, not just the weightloss but shape etc. My general fitness has improved a lot as well, I have a lot more stamina, don't get so out of breath when walking up the (many) hills here, I have a lot more energy!

I've been watching this thread (sorry, that sounds creepy ) and you are an inspiration, @5foot418stone

I really think walking is like general medicine for the body, and your progress to fitness really shows that.

Also, in training, we have good days & bad days. THink of the bad days like medicine - unpleasant, but necessary to make you well.

I still love your updates! Your achievement in 8 weeks is incredible, it would have been much easier to give up than keep going at least initially. You have battled injury and kept on going and adapted your training to look after yourself. I think you will make the 1.50 but even if you didn’t only you would know! The achievement here is the difference in your activity levels, your fundraising and your tenacity to keep at it. I am cheering you on!

Thanks so much everyone! Thanks for sticking with me and for being so positive!

I did not make it up in 1:50, unfortunately! 1:52 is my quickest time so I'm so close! I'm gonna keep doing the steps because I need to beat them but I do have other goals I want to focus on now. I've found a steep hill that I need to take down...
My fundraiser is going so well, 111 miles walked in 10 days! I don't know if I could have managed that when I lost the weight before.

I started this thing at 117.9kg and today I weighed in at 97.4kg; gone from a size 22/24 to a size 18, lost a lot of inches and gained some muscle! I only have 2 chins now . Best of all is I can feel myself getting fitter and stronger and it feels amazing! I might even try couch to 5k once I'm under 90kg if my knees can take it.

Oh, I need to get my 50k steps in a day on fitbit! & I want to work on my pace while walking as well, my best is 1 mile in 18 minutes 45 seconds but I want to do that consistently. Good thing I bloody love walking. :D

This is brilliant and so so inspiring! Hats off to you OP.

Wow! that is amazing. More strength to your quads & glutes, and your clever feet!

Congratulations to you! Nobody else in the world would notice the 2 seconds but I bet you are walking with much more confidence now. Well done on your fantastic achievements for yourself and for others with your fundraising. Keep us updated on your progress, I have found your commitment helps me keep going too.

That's a fantastic weight loss, bloody well done! You sound very fit. Do look after your knees and back though, won't you?!

Have you noticed that your mood has changed and if so can you please tell me about that?

I’ve been following your posts and cheering you on from afar. Well done.

I've loved following your thread and have just charged up my step counter ready to follow in your footsteps!

I am (still) in awe of you! I posted earlier that i did just under 30k steps in a day which I thought was impressive 🤣

you are so committed because I genuinely wouldn't make the time to do what you are doing!

Well done 🥇🏆

Thank you so much everyone, you are all so kind and I really appreciate it.

@Tambourinetunes Thank you for all of your advice and support :) more confidence for sure. I feel like my goals are achievable even though I have such a long way to go! Good luck achieving your goals too!

@ForwardRanger Definitely not fit... yet! I'll get there, I know it. I won't ever be running marathons but maybe a 5k very slowly
Mood wise, I feel more positive, if that's what you mean? I struggle with severe depression but I've definitely been having more good days and I'm sure that's to do with getting out and about every day, especially after a rubbish day at work! Rain (most days lately!) or shine, I make sure to walk. It's hard to get going some days but I find that once I've got my boots I realise that I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm also a bit kinder to myself, not just by eating sensibly and trying to control my binge eating, but I talk about myself a bit more kindly too.

Some things have taken a hit, like my husband has picked up a lot of my share of the chores these past few weeks because I'm so focused on this but he is so encouraging and happy to do it because he knows this is so important to me.

I have a lot of days where I battle with myself, even when it's a good day, to not give in to the urge to stay in bed or binge on chocolate. I'm determined that I will never, ever, see 18 stone on the scale ever again!

@someonelockthefridgealready That's brilliant! Good luck and I hope you enjoy it, perfect time to get started with the nicer weather coming!

@SquashMinusIsShit 30k is impressive! I have to really push myself if I want to get over 30k. I've not achieved 50k yet, but it's going to be about 8 solid hours of walking. Ahh, my knees hurt thinking about it, haha! I was about falling down after 46k

Keep going. You're amazing.

What a lovely thread! I've just read it from beginning to end and I'm really impressed, first that you decided to challenge yourself like this and you've kept it up, even through some setbacks, and second that step climbing turns out to be such an effective form of exercise for weight loss and better stamina. It's not something I'd ever thought about doing as an activity in itself, although there are steps and steep hills on some of my favourite coastal walks (I live by the sea too, but SW not NE), and I definitely notice the difference in how easily I get up them when I'm fitter.

Please keep us informed on how it goes from here. It's lovely to read (and is making me think about what unusual fitness challenge I could come up with...)

Been reading from the start and so impressed at your determination. I read bits out to my husband to try and motivate him but it didn't work! Hope you're having a good week despite the weather. Xx

Hey thanks 😊

Learning to ride a bike this week! Bought some rollerblades too 😱