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Original poster

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

351 replies

5foot418stone · 07/03/2021 21:29

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!

Morbidly obese - I want to walk up these steps...
OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
JayAlfredPrufrock · 07/03/2021 21:58

You go girl.

HelloThereMeHearties · 07/03/2021 22:00

You can do it OP!

Just take it one step at a time... Wink

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 07/03/2021 22:03

If I was anywhere near I'd be there to cheer you on, but I'm not, I'm almost 300 miles away & I'll be spending the day ferrying kids to school for LFT 🙄I'd rather be at seaside!!

From another short, fat, beetroot x

Are you doing ok with the 'stuff that happened' ?

TierFourTears · 07/03/2021 22:04

If the kids are at SPS, can you walk from school?

FlatteredFool · 07/03/2021 22:09

Oooph those look tough. I'm pretty fit but would find those a challenge but if you've done them before then you'll do them again. My legs and lungs would scream at me but what a great work out! Go for it!

PickAChew · 07/03/2021 22:10

Oh, yes, I did those steps a couple of years ago. I'm reasonably fit but have hypermobility syndrome and did have to stop to take in the view before I reached the top as my knees were quite unhappy and the sun decided to come out just before we reached them.

Etinox · 07/03/2021 22:10

👊🏽 You can do it!
🏅

Labobo · 07/03/2021 22:13

@SwedishEdith

I just looked and found this on TripAdvisor

"And without it, it's a long walk (183 or 177 steps, your choice of two paths) up to the town - pretty arduous for everyone, never mind elderly people."

For comparison, i looked up Covent Garden tube and that has 193 steps. I was knackered walking up them. I don't think stopping 2 or 3 times is that bad.

I walked up Covent Garden steps before Christmas. I'm in my mid-fifties and was just one flight in when there was a tannoy announcement that people were not encouraged to use the steps as they were very hard work, especially for the elderly. I'm sure they saw me on CCTV. That made me keep going without stopping even though I was gasping by the final flight.

OP, it's a great goal. As a PP said, I'd just aim to be one or two steps further on before you pause each time you do it. I can't believe you say you struggle with motivation. You lost 8 stone before. No one could achieve that without serious self-discipline and motivation.

Mylittlesandwich · 07/03/2021 22:14

You can do this! I walked up I think 4 flights today to deliver to a top floor flat and shocked myself with how unfit I am. I'm going to exercise at home though. Not brave enough for the outside yet.

Libraryghost · 07/03/2021 22:15

I walked up these steps with my husband in 2018! First time I visited Saltburn since I was a child, it’s beautiful and yes those steps are torturous! Rooting for you. You have done it before, you can do it again. X

Perlea · 07/03/2021 22:17

Ah I was at Saltburn just last week, I live not too far away! What a great goal, I'm sure that one day you will walk up those steps and wonder how you ever struggled!

Original poster
5foot418stone · 07/03/2021 22:19

I want to reply to people but the quote button won't quote.

I so want to do a rocky impression in 8 weeks!

There are 3 flat areas on the way up that I stop at and pretend I'm admiring the view while my heart tries to pound it's way out of my chest and my lungs are on fire.

There's a fish & chip shop at the bottom so probably better if I didn't turn around and go back towards temptation, haha.

I'm counting calories again as well, so I'm not gonna head to cooplands for a chocolate eclair once I get to the top either!

Tomorrow will be 14 days since I started tracking my calories again and it's getting easier but I know if I focus on that too much I'll just give up so I've set myself this goal because it feels achievable and I'm pretty sure I won't obsess over it when I feel my progress isn't quick enough.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 07/03/2021 22:21

@SwedishEdith

I just looked and found this on TripAdvisor

"And without it, it's a long walk (183 or 177 steps, your choice of two paths) up to the town - pretty arduous for everyone, never mind elderly people."

For comparison, i looked up Covent Garden tube and that has 193 steps. I was knackered walking up them. I don't think stopping 2 or 3 times is that bad.

193 steps or packed lift. I chose the steps every time I visited, even when I was quite unfit.
braceletsandbangles · 07/03/2021 22:25

I just want to tell you how amazing you are Flowers

LouLou789 · 07/03/2021 22:32

Oh wow! That is so amazing. Even doing them with breaks is brilliant, especially if you’ve regained some weight. Slow and steady wins the race 👍

Original poster
5foot418stone · 07/03/2021 22:36

I'll be walking from home to the steps and back, so the round trip is about 3.5 miles which means I'll get my 10,000 steps in no problem! I often walk to the beach but I admit that I get the bus back home most of the time! Tomorrow I'm going to walk back home too and see how I feel. I hate the walk back home so I'm worried that knowing I've got to do it might put me off going out in the first place... Which is ridiculous but that's how bad I am!

I do worry a LOT about people laughing at me, being disgusted when they see how sweaty and out of breath I am. Especially in a busy place like the beach. But I'm just telling myself that my health and my goal is more important.

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 07/03/2021 22:38

I had to look up where this is, it's beautiful OP. I think you know you'll do this again, because you can. You've done it before and also achieved tremendous weight loss... there's pretty much nothing that you can't do if you really want to, you've proved it.

I'd like to trundle up them myself. I'd love to run them but I know I'd trip on step 3 or 4 and that wouldn't be a good look. I could pretend I was planning to run them all though... but for the trip.

Good luck, you can definitely do this!

Humberbear · 07/03/2021 22:39

Could you use your stairs at home to practise on as well?

tiredmum2468 · 07/03/2021 22:39

Wow well done you for setting the challenge
You can and will do this

💪

Nancydrawn · 07/03/2021 22:40

On Team You!

The only thing is: don't try to do it overnight. Remember what worked last time, and do it again. Remember what didn't work after, and try to avoid.

Wishing you the absolute best.

Defender90 · 07/03/2021 22:48

Wooohooooo!

Keep at it.

When you need to stop, enjoy the view take a moment to note the gorgeous scenery and then a side eye to the step a couple down you had to stop at yesterday. 8 - 10 weeks you'll be bouncing up them.

10-12 you'll be jogging and dpi be a Rocky movie style punchy thing!

You. Got. This.

Incogweeto · 07/03/2021 23:36

Ahhhh I know these steps well and they are a bloody killer. I'm fairly fit (but a bit fat) and still have the heart pounding out of my chest feeling! I think a lot of us 'look at the view' on those steps, don't worry. But saying that, it's a fantastic goal. If I see you I'm going to smile and you'll know I'm smiling cos I know you off Mumsnet.

Cavagirl · 07/03/2021 23:45

Good luck OP!

I do worry a LOT about people laughing at me, being disgusted when they see how sweaty and out of breath I am. Especially in a busy place like the beach. But I'm just telling myself that my health and my goal is more important

People give far fewer fucks about others than you imagine. Stand tall, own it, and keep your eyes on the prize and you won't even notice others. If you encounter some sniggering kids halfway up then remember your final sentence above. And honestly who cares? If they're than interested in you they must have boring lives.

Get out there and smash it!!

MixedUpFiles · 07/03/2021 23:51

I have fantasized more than once in my life about tackling a challenge like this. I’ve always either been too embarrassed or had too many excuses. I hope you succeed.

I don’t have an obvious one near me anymore, but you are inspiring me to try to come up with a challenge for myself and actually follow through this time.

Apileofballyhoo · 07/03/2021 23:59

If I see somebody out exercising I just think they're great to do it. Your idea for this as a goal is brilliant. Really rooting for you.

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