New to the forum and need some advice .....

[DiamondY]

I joined this forum awhile back and I have been reading it daily. There seems to be a lot of nice people here and a lot of great advice. I was really afraid to post because my situation is so different than many of yours and if you do not feel I should be here, please say so and it will not hurt my feelings at all, believe me I understand.

Here goes ....

I am 24 years old and I have a disability that has not allowed me to walk for almost 8 years. I have been going to physical therapy and I have been with a doctor who had a lot of faith in me. He was the one to get me into PT (physical therapy) and he got me into some leg braces that I can actually walk in. From going to my PT, my upper body is pretty strong. I have done some really good exercise in there. Now that I can walk, my goal is to do two things ...

1. I need to lose weight. I am 5'6 and 204lbs and most of it is from just sitting in my chair all the time. I started weight watchers but man, I am frustrated. I understand that this will be more of an issue of me controlling my will power than an issue that anyone can help me with.

2. I would like to strengthen my lower body while keeping my upper body strong too.

I guess what I am trying to ask is, do you all know of any supplements I could take to help out and basically where would you suggest I start as far as exercise etc.. ? Here at home we have a stationary bike and a machine weight thing. I will never have that perfect body that some of you have. I know that, it is not realistic to even think it. I would just like to get healthier. I feel if I can control my weight that it may help me to walk better as I won't be carrying so much weight and it may help my diabetes. I admire so many of you ladies who have done so much to keep your bodies in the shape they are. In fact I envy you. At one time, before I found my current doctor, I was ready to give up. I really got in that "I don't give a damn" mood and I did not care for my health the way I should have. Since I am now out of my chair, and up and walking, it seems like there is a fire that has been lit and I really want to do something with myself. I don't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself and let myself waist away.

As I said when I started this out, if this forum is not where I need to be, as I understand it is a body building forum, don't be afraid to tell me. I won't be upset at all.

Diamond

 

[Thandie]

I joined this forum awhile back and I have been reading it daily. There seems to be a lot of nice people here and a lot of great advice. I was really afraid to post because my situation is so different than many of yours and if you do not feel I should be here, please say so and it will not hurt my feelings at all, believe me I understand.

Here goes ....

I am 24 years old and I have a disability that has not allowed me to walk for almost 8 years. I have been going to physical therapy and I have been with a doctor who had a lot of faith in me. He was the one to get me into PT (physical therapy) and he got me into some leg braces that I can actually walk in. From going to my PT, my upper body is pretty strong. I have done some really good exercise in there. Now that I can walk, my goal is to do two things ...

1. I need to lose weight. I am 5'6 and 204lbs and most of it is from just sitting in my chair all the time. I started weight watchers but man, I am frustrated. I understand that this will be more of an issue of me controlling my will power than an issue that anyone can help me with.

2. I would like to strengthen my lower body while keeping my upper body strong too.

I guess what I am trying to ask is, do you all know of any supplements I could take to help out and basically where would you suggest I start as far as exercise etc.. ? Here at home we have a stationary bike and a machine weight thing. I will never have that perfect body that some of you have. I know that, it is not realistic to even think it. I would just like to get healthier. I feel if I can control my weight that it may help me to walk better as I won't be carrying so much weight and it may help my diabetes. I admire so many of you ladies who have done so much to keep your bodies in the shape they are. In fact I envy you. At one time, before I found my current doctor, I was ready to give up. I really got in that "I don't give a damn" mood and I did not care for my health the way I should have. Since I am now out of my chair, and up and walking, it seems like there is a fire that has been lit and I really want to do something with myself. I don't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself and let myself waist away.

As I said when I started this out, if this forum is not where I need to be, as I understand it is a body building forum, don't be afraid to tell me. I won't be upset at all.

Diamond

Hi Diamond and welcome!

We love to have you! There's no reason why we wouldn't.
First, I want to commend you for your courage and making an effort for taking care of yourself. Second, I congratulate you for walking again. Something we take for granted on a daily basis.

You are correct. Losing weight will help you walk better as you won't have to carry all the weight in addition to getting healthier. You don't have to have the perfect body; that's not the important thing we need, but being healthy and feeling better is.

I'd like you to post what you eat and drink on a regular basis. I will then give you a sample of a nutrition plan for you to lose weight and to aid with your diabetes.
Does the machine you have at home to workout can do all the compound movements, such as chest and shoulder press? Do you have any dumb bells?

I'm so glad you posted!

 

[needtogetaas]

I joined this forum awhile back and I have been reading it daily. There seems to be a lot of nice people here and a lot of great advice. I was really afraid to post because my situation is so different than many of yours and if you do not feel I should be here, please say so and it will not hurt my feelings at all, believe me I understand.

Here goes ....

I am 24 years old and I have a disability that has not allowed me to walk for almost 8 years. I have been going to physical therapy and I have been with a doctor who had a lot of faith in me. He was the one to get me into PT (physical therapy) and he got me into some leg braces that I can actually walk in. From going to my PT, my upper body is pretty strong. I have done some really good exercise in there. Now that I can walk, my goal is to do two things ...

1. I need to lose weight. I am 5'6 and 204lbs and most of it is from just sitting in my chair all the time. I started weight watchers but man, I am frustrated. I understand that this will be more of an issue of me controlling my will power than an issue that anyone can help me with.

2. I would like to strengthen my lower body while keeping my upper body strong too.

I guess what I am trying to ask is, do you all know of any supplements I could take to help out and basically where would you suggest I start as far as exercise etc.. ? Here at home we have a stationary bike and a machine weight thing. I will never have that perfect body that some of you have. I know that, it is not realistic to even think it. I would just like to get healthier. I feel if I can control my weight that it may help me to walk better as I won't be carrying so much weight and it may help my diabetes. I admire so many of you ladies who have done so much to keep your bodies in the shape they are. In fact I envy you. At one time, before I found my current doctor, I was ready to give up. I really got in that "I don't give a damn" mood and I did not care for my health the way I should have. Since I am now out of my chair, and up and walking, it seems like there is a fire that has been lit and I really want to do something with myself. I don't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself and let myself waist away.

As I said when I started this out, if this forum is not where I need to be, as I understand it is a body building forum, don't be afraid to tell me. I won't be upset at all.

Diamond

First of welcome to the site. We been waiting for you Its good to have you and congratulations on your achievements. What you have accomplished so far is no small feet. You are an outstanding person with so much will power and drive. If have the people had what you had we would all be pro body builders.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. We all draw strength from it.

I have been working with a man in pm's for a a wile now. He is kind of in the the same spot you are. Only he has lost his legs for life. Will never have hope to get them back.. Still he drives on and is working out and doing a great diet.


I turned him on to these Bowflex® SelectTech® Dumbbells | Product Information

for some one who can not move around easy these are great. They allow you to have all the dumbbells you need all in one spot. They work great for him. I put together a whole work out for him using these dumbbells.

Maybe they can help you too.

 

[DiamondY]

Hi Diamond and welcome!

We love to have you! There's no reason why we wouldn't.
First, I want to commend you for your courage and making an effort for taking care of yourself. Second, I congratulate you for walking again. Something we take for granted on a daily basis.

You are correct. Losing weight will help you walk better as you won't have to carry all the weight in addition to getting healthier. You don't have to have the perfect body; that's not the important thing we need, but being healthy and feeling better is.

I'd like you to post what you eat and drink on a regular basis. I will then give you a sample of a nutrition plan for you to lose weight and to aid with your diabetes.
Does the machine you have at home to workout can do all the compound movements, such as chest and shoulder press? Do you have any dumb bells?

I'm so glad you posted!

Thanks so much for your help and support. Since I have started the weight watchers diet, I have changed my whole way of eating. I started the diet March 1 at 211 lbs and I am now down to 205 lbs. I started drinking about 3/4 of a gallon of water a day, I have started to eat mostly fruits and veggies. I get one meal a day that is meat, potatoes and some kind of veggie and that is my evening meal. My breakfast is usually a package of brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal and lunch is either a can of soup or a salad with low fat dressing. Because of my diabetes, I either drink sugar free kool aide or sprite zero. In between for snacks I eat fruits or chex mix. With weight watchers they have a point system and my goal is to stay around 26 points, not sure if you are familiar with it or not. I also have some dumb bells but they are really small, one set is 2lbs and the other is 5lbs. They are the ones you see in wal-mart that are soft feeling and come in different colors.

As far as the machine we have, yes it can do arms, legs, chest and shoulders, it has weights on it that you put a pin in and move it to whatever weight you would like to use. It is on a pully system and has alot of different exercises that can be done on it. Also, my dad (who I live with) got me a Wii that I originally started just bowling and playing some baseball on. Now I have Wii fit and I have been able to do some of the balance games on. I hope to get better on it. I try to do 30 minutes a day on there just to get up and moving. I tend to tire out on it but it has been a good thing over all.

I hope I have answered all your questions, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. If you need to know anything else, just ask.

 

[DiamondY]

First of welcome to the site. We been waiting for you Its good to have you and congratulations on your achievements. What you have accomplished so far is no small feet. You are an outstanding person with so much will power and drive. If have the people had what you had we would all be pro body builders.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. We all draw strength from it.

I have been working with a man in pm's for a a wile now. He is kind of in the the same spot you are. Only he has lost his legs for life. Will never have hope to get them back.. Still he drives on and is working out and doing a great diet.


I turned him on to these Bowflex® SelectTech® Dumbbells | Product Information

for some one who can not move around easy these are great. They allow you to have all the dumbbells you need all in one spot. They work great for him. I put together a whole work out for him using these dumbbells.

Maybe they can help you too.

First of all, I would like to publicly thank you for the gift of the seven day platinum membership. What a nice surprise this morning!

Thank you also for your kind comments.

I checked out the site you mentioned and wow, those are some expensive dumb bells. For the heck of it I filled out the credit application and it said I was approved for $4000 WOW, that was pretty amazing since I literally have no credit history. I have really never had to purchase anything on credit so it was pretty amazing that they just approved it like that. I however need to speak to my dad about this first to make sure we would have the money to pay for these. The last thing I need to do is get in over my head and not be able to make the payment on something.

I will talk to him today and let you know. Thanks again for your reply.

 

[Thandie]

Thanks so much for your help and support. Since I have started the weight watchers diet, I have changed my whole way of eating. I started the diet March 1 at 211 lbs and I am now down to 205 lbs. I started drinking about 3/4 of a gallon of water a day, I have started to eat mostly fruits and veggies. I get one meal a day that is meat, potatoes and some kind of veggie and that is my evening meal. My breakfast is usually a package of brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal and lunch is either a can of soup or a salad with low fat dressing. Because of my diabetes, I either drink sugar free kool aide or sprite zero. In between for snacks I eat fruits or chex mix. With weight watchers they have a point system and my goal is to stay around 26 points, not sure if you are familiar with it or not. I also have some dumb bells but they are really small, one set is 2lbs and the other is 5lbs. They are the ones you see in wal-mart that are soft feeling and come in different colors.

As far as the machine we have, yes it can do arms, legs, chest and shoulders, it has weights on it that you put a pin in and move it to whatever weight you would like to use. It is on a pully system and has alot of different exercises that can be done on it. Also, my dad (who I live with) got me a Wii that I originally started just bowling and playing some baseball on. Now I have Wii fit and I have been able to do some of the balance games on. I hope to get better on it. I try to do 30 minutes a day on there just to get up and moving. I tend to tire out on it but it has been a good thing over all.

I hope I have answered all your questions, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. If you need to know anything else, just ask.

These are the things you should be eating with an issue of diabetes:
You should have about 5 small meals a day.
Some fruit, but not a lot because of the sugar in it.
Green vegetables.
Sweet potato
Whole grains.
Beans.
Egg whites.
Stevia, rather then sugar.
Lean protein
Fish.
Make your own dressing with valsamic or other vinegar & olive oil, however only use 1 teaspoon of the mix.
3/4 of a gallon of water is great

Are you seeing a Dr for your diabetes? You should be having more frequent small meals.

DO NOT eat: sugar free anything, processed foods, white potato,etc.

 

[DiamondY]

Yes I am under a doctors care for it. My pancreas no longer functions ( I have 5% function of it) and I am on an insulin pump 24/7.

 

[Tatyana]

Wow!

I am impressed and humbled.

Hello and welcome.

Has the physio given you any exercises for your lower body?

Do you have a regular cardio routine on your bike?

Have you tried Wii yoga?

 

[DiamondY]

Hi Tatyana!

I do have some exercises for my lower body to do. Most of them are done right now with a rubber band like thing that they gave me. Last month my SSI went up and I lost my medicaid due to that so I can no longer go to physical therapy so I am on my own with a lot of things. I tried to do the leg extensions with the machine we have here but I only get about 4 in before I wear out. I am not going to give up on it and I know if I keep going I will do better and better at it. The bike I do about once a week. I know, I need to do more. I do about 5 minutes on it right now. As far as my Wii, I have tried some of the yoga that comes with the Wii fit. Alot of them require alot of balance and they have been interesting to say the least. I really like doing them and there are a few that I could not do when I first got it but now I am getting better at them and able to tolerate them longer and longer. I enjoy trying even if I don't succeed. I tend to be competetive and it gives me something to work towards.

 

[Tatyana]

That is amazing progress.

What is an SSI?

Besides diet, one of the keys to losing fat is creating a calorie deficit.

The higher your bodyfat, the more of a calorie deficit you can have, but it isn't always all that much fun.

It often works better to create a calorie deficit with cardio, so increasing how many times you get on your bike each week will help.

It will also help to build up your leg muscles.