Asking the right questions

[bcipam]

As another person who carries too much weight myself, I share your pain and anguish. But you probably already know this, there is no magic answer. Folks who use diet pills, go on medical diet (like Optifast), use diet programs (like nutrisystems or weight watchers) still have problems. In fact, most folks gain most of their weight back, if not more, once they stop the diet. Why? Because they have not learned what is proper to eat or not eat.

First thing I had to do was admit I am fat. I'm fat! Not big bones, fluffy, whatever, FAT - I eat too much. Not only do I eat too much I eat the wrong things. I admit this. I know I need to be more food concious like alot of the ladies on this forums. I need to eat small portions of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and stay away from the french fries and chocolate shakes, and Claim Jumper size portions, but I don't.

So where does that put me? Well at the point I have to acknowledge I have a problem and just how motivated I am to deal with the problem. There is no quick fix. It's a life long problem and my overeating needs to be controlled, every day, every hour, every minute. I am not so different than an alchoholic or drug user.

I like the AA model, take one day at a time. Praise God for each step in the right direction. Keep exercising. Keep moving. Cycling is really good for someone overweight as it is easy on the joints. You cannot lose weight unless you exercise and that means exercise for the rest of your life, not until you lose 50 lbs. FOREVER!

I'm hoping this does not sound harse. It's just I'm there too and I've learned to be realistic. I know what I am and what I need to do. I still respect myself as a person even though I am overweight. I don't expect others to respect me though just like I would not expect others to respect a drug user, but I know I am a good person and I am capable and worthy of acheiving my weight loss goal. One day, one hour, one minute at a time!

Keep at it. Let us know how you are doing. The women here are sooooooo supportive and caring.

[Duck on Wheels]

"I still hurt in my joints but continue to try to do some kind of exercise like pilates or something when I cannot ride my bike. That seems to help. I know when I ride, my wrist will kill me during the ride and I have to constantly stop and kind of losen them up."

Hmmm. How well does your bike fit you? The one time I had wrist and elbow pain while riding was on a rental bike that was a tad too big for me. I was overstretched reaching the handlebar and after a few miles my elbows were hurting, then after a few miles more my wrists. I had to sit up and ride one-handed, shaking my free arm loose, then switch hands, then get off and walk for a ways, then back on ... I finished the ride and was fine after lunch, had even had fun and was glad to have met lots of TE gals, but next time I'll get there early and test ride the bike if I'm renting.

[DDH]

No my bike fits me. My wrist hurt when I bend them and leave them in that position any length of time. Doesn't matter if I am riding or typing on the computer.
I don't mean that I actually stop, I meant that I change hands up and shake one or the other out as I switch.

My hurting in my joints is worse when I am still and don't exercise or move around. When I get up in the mornings I have to be really careful how I step down because I know I am fixing to try to walk on feet and ankles that don't want me to. Once I am up and around, and get things losened back up slowly then I am better. When I have been sitting in my chair watching the T.V. and go to get up to go to the bathroom or anything then it is the same thing. My left ankle is really bad and I think because of the pain I am compensating on the other foot which is causing my right foot to hurt too.
I know it sounds like I am a freaking mess. I make myself get up and get around and refuse to let this get me down. I watch my mother barely able to get around because she wants a pill to fix everything and it hurts to move so she doesn't and I won't become my mother.

[spokewench]

OK - Donna: Did you call you doctor three times yesterday? If not, do it TODAY!

Spoke Mom!

[DeniseGoldberg]

No my bike fits me. My wrist hurt when I bend them and leave them in that position any length of time. Doesn't matter if I am riding or typing on the computer.

But when you're riding your wrists shouldn't be bent - they should be straight. The only time I can imagine that your wrists would be bent is if you're riding with your hands on top of the bar and you are leaning (putting weight) on them. When my hands are on the drops or over the brake hoods my wrists are straight. And if they are on the bar in front of me and I'm riding well, they aren't bent then either.

Maybe Sheldon Brown's write-up on Bicycling and Pain might help identify something: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html

Here's another article from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin that might be helpful: http://www.bfw.org/articles/pinsand.php

--- Denise