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!

Did it in 2:33 today, without stopping . 2 days break did me some good I think, I got my 10k steps in still though. Hopefully I'll beat 2:20 this week.Di

Well done! You're doing so well xx

Well done @5foot418stone that is really impressive. It can be hard to take it a bit easier when you have a target in mind but it sounds like you are balancing it well. So pleased for you

2:31 today 🙂

Thanks again for all the kindness and support, I really appreciate it and it definitely helps me on days I'm flagging!

Wow! Well done, so great to see that you're sticking with it and even better that you're getting great results

8 weeks is a great target! Good luck!

Sorry, just realised you've come back to update. That's brilliant!

That's a fantastic improvement!!

Can you feel the improvement in your fitness, even in such a short space of time? Seems to be getting better and better really quickly.

@reprehensibleme Yeah, I think so! Like if I have to stop now it's because of the pain in my knees, not because I'm too out of breath. Still get majorly out of breath but it's not awful anymore, I can push through it. I'm recovering a bit quicker and I no longer have to stop for a break when I get to the top, I just keep walking. I also used to be dripping sweat by the time I got to the top, even on freezing cold days and now I don't. Although once it warms up some more I know I'll be back to sweating my hair off! I really hate sweating in public!

And that's in only 2 weeks - doesn't take long to start feeling the benefits

Was A struggle today. 2:30 with a brief pause 100 steps up because of the knee pain.

I'm worried about your knees, OP!

Me too! Took another break yesterday, focused on stretching and strengthening exercises instead. Feel good today so I'll be attempting the steps later.

Hopefully the pain will lessen as I lose more weight. I started this month at 117.9kg and weighed in at 106kg on the dot this morning.

That's amazing weight loss OP, well done! Just goes to show what someone can achieve if they put their mind to it!
I didn't do any running for 6 days as had had a very stressful time in work last weekend, made myself go for a run on Thursday, felt so much better.
Was out with my jogging group yesterday, did my longest run this year, sore today but glad I did it!
I agree with PP, watch your knees as you don't want to end up with a chronic injury.

That's great weightless OP! That's 11kg less that you have to carry up those steps.

You could vary the step workout - Go really hard once a week to get your best time, have a break the next day, take it moderately the next day where you're just getting up the steps as steadily as possible. Another day easy, the next day a bit harder, another day's break and a steady workout again before the next really hard day. That way you'd get a couple of days recovery, one day really hard,one day easy and the others moderate.

So Sunday hard, Monday off, Tuesday moderate, Wednesday easy, Thursday moderate, Friday off, Saturday moderate then hard again on Sunday.

It'll give your body a chance to recover and grow stronger.

Well done for restarting , good luck

You are amazing! I am pleased you are varying your workouts. Huge well done on your weight loss too. It takes time to really feel the difference of weight loss in my experience but you will soon feel like you have springs for legs on the steps!

Did it in 2:10 without stopping tonight

Thank you so much for all your advice and support 💜

Keep this up and you'll be past the 100 kg barrier end of the month! Note that there will be a decrease in your weight loss/time as you get lighter but don't let that put you off. Focus on how fitter you are and if there are non-scale victories (e.g easier to tie your shoes).

Ok, do you think this is "cheating" or does it count?

I did the steps in 1:59 without stopping BUT I took half the steps 2 at a time when I usually do every single step.

So I technically missed out a whole bunch of steps...

It's not cheating, the distance and height difference is still the same. You still had to get to the top.

When you finally run up the steps without stopping, I expect you to do a Rocky style punch at the top!