Please help me help my Mum

[JustinBoobie]

My Mum has very severe arthritis in both her knees and has struggled to get around for at least the last 15 years. Slowly getting worse year by year. Being very overweight her GP had ruled out knee replacement surgery, which is what she needs, until she looses weight... She's been told this over and over again.

Last year, something happened, and she finally decided that she would do something about the whole thing.

Amazingly, she has now lost about 4st - just by creating a food journal and having, on average, 1600 calories a day. She looks so much better and although she can't feel the difference (she is still in so much pain) mentally it's been a huge achievement for her. [Proud]

Here comes the problem - she's plateaued. She needs, and wants, to do some exercise. What can she do? She's embarrassed to go to our local pool, which is heart-breaking because she LOVES swimming, because of her weight. Is there anything else, perhaps at home, that doesn't envolve using her knees? I was thinking perhaps a 'body pump' style workout with some hand weights? Although she can't stand for long at all...

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.

oh encourage her to swim ,wrap a towel round herself and leave on the poolside .
Once she's in the water she won't feel so self conscious - and well done herfantastic achievment .

As gingerroots says, encourage her to swim, at least 3 days a week. She should not be embarrassed and deny herself the pleasure. She's as entitled to enter the pool as anyone, and hopefully, as your mum enjoys swimming, it will be getting her active in a relatively pain free way, and give her mood and confidence a boost. Could you go with her on the first ocassion?

Hi,

What about yoga or pilates? I got a pilates book and DVD for Christmas and it's really easy to pick up and mostly done on a mat on the floor. Very gentle but I could feel it the next day.

But I do agree with the others, swimming would be ideal but your Mum needs to feel comfortable. Perhaps you could take her to the pool for a little look so she can see that there are all age groups, shapes and sizes?

Why not call her local pool and see if they do women only sessions. I know ours do. Or has she a friend who'd go with her if you can't? Once she's gone a few times she'll realise there's all shapes and sizes in the pool and stop worrying about it.

A couple of ideas:

Find an exercise class where the instructor is trained in Extend (have a look at their website). The exercise routines are created specifically for older people and those with limited mobility.

Don't discount your Mum going to a gym. In the mornings at the (private) gym I attend about a third of the people are over 60 (some are over 80) and come in all shapes and sizes. Some have walking sticks and arrive on their mobility scooters! All very different to the body beautiful brigade that attend in the evenings.

See if she'll go to an Aquafit session - my mum loves hers, and they are full of ladies of all sizes and abilities. Mum has to get to hers on crutches as her mobility is so limited, but adores the freedom in the water.
It would be great for your mum as the gentle resistance will help build up the muscles in her legs to support her knees too

have you googled? there are lots of exercises using light dumb bells that can be used sitting down. or can she afford 2-3 sessions with a personal trainer, who is experienced in working with the elderly or cardio patients or anyone like your mum?

WOW! Thank you so much! Not had any internet, so apologies for not replying sooner.

Great idea about the yoga; I'd forgotten how good that can actually be and I will keep trying to get her into the pool. She does get tearful if I push her bloody minded moo she hates being rail roaded.

Extend, I'll look into that too. I know my Dad wont mind one bit collecting her or doing everything he can to help her, but she just doesn't like being a burden! ooooh, if I could just give her a shake!

Swimming is such a wonderful thing, we've always shared a love of the water. I might ring the pool and ask if there are some particularly quiet times she could attend and find out about the aqua - I'd hope they'd let me hop in the pool too for a bit of moral support!

I love my mum!