CHRONIC PAIN - Weight loss

[MedusasBadHairDay]

I thought this thread might be an idea, because there are considerations that we have to make, that someone without pain doesn't.

For example, increasing exercise is difficult if not impossible, especially if you struggle to do every day chores etc. You can't risk overdoing it.

Also, cooking. I have no doubt that cooking from scratch is healthier, but convenience did can be the difference between eating and not eating when you live with pain. Some days I'd rather not eat at all, rather than try to cook veg or stand and stir a pan of food. Plus sometimes comfort food is needed when you've had a tough day of it.

It's not surprising that so many disabled people tend to be larger, it is stacked against us. And doctors going on about it, or refusing to investigate or issues because they've decided they must be weight related doesn't help.

So here's a thread for us to discuss weight loss in a gentle, no pressure, no competition way.

Hello I'm in the same boat with chronic pain and difficulty exercising and weight gain.

I got to the point where I needed to lose at least 10 stone - I have lost 5-6 stone twice but never got near 10.

Last year I was really worried about Covid and obesity, never mind everything else, so I had weight loss surgery (a gastric sleeve). It has honestly been life changing and I've lost over 7 stone already.

I can now walk further than I could before- it is all so cumulative! I still have ++ pain because most of it is upper body for me, but I'm coping a lot better and my mental health is 100% better.

Hi @CoronaCurls wow that sounds promising that must have been hard work.
I’m glad it worked out for you. Did you decide that gastric op was only way because of pain and health?

yes - I have tried everything else and I just can't do enough exercise to make a difference to my weight.

Since my op, I (finally) listened to what the OT has been telling me for years about building up exercise really really slowly, by just walking one loop of our v small park each day, then 2 loops when I felt up to it, and have v gradually increased it from there.

Before, I always did too much, then spent a week in bed recovering and then said I couldn't exercise at all - but not being able to do much at all but having to keep moving post-op made me finally try the OT way and it has actually worked. Being so much lighter as well definitely makes a difference too - the lower back pain isn't so crippling.

Well done Coronacurls! I'm sure it wasn't easy.

Pacing and gradual incremental increase is so important. I'm slowly slowly building up each day.

I've had a treat today- I think you need to, to manage to stay on track.

I'm at the 3 stone off mark now, but with 5 still to go. I'd love to say I'm half way there... in a stone from now I'll feel really pleased with myself!

I am feeling better, my body feels more like a functional body! I can feel muscles working, for the first time in years.