Exercising

Mods -- this is a cross post of sorts please don't delete.

How do you manage to exercise and lose weight.  The osteo arthritis in my lower spine is being a pain in the butt -- literally of late.  I'm going to PT starting today but the PCP recommended losing weight would help to.  I walk every day and with it being summer I'm in the pool also.  But I don't know what else I can do physically to help.  My diet is a crap shoot day to day (pun intended).  One day veggies bother me the next no problem.  I think this is the hardest part of CD for me sometimes.  No matter what I do my weight seems to either stay the same or go up.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,

 

I'm in the same boat, although my weight is normal and I don't have any health concerns re:BMI. But as I head into menopause I clearly need to keep an eye on things. I used to run long distances, but those days ended due to sacroileitis and a related hamstring injury. After years of trying to build a habit of walking for fitness, I gave up and admitted to myself that I need to pay for the priviledge of regular exercise. I joined a boot camp program, where I can modify the exercises to fit my abilities, and I've really enjoyed it. I also do yoga once/week to maintain strength and flexibility.

I've been working hard on losing weight since January, and have lost around 30 lbs to bring my BMI safely into the healthy range. What's worked for me:
1. portion control - I weigh out my carbs in particular and it means I don't cook (and therefore eat) too much
2. snack control - I plan snacks and have them to hand so I'm not tempted by whatever junk is nearby
3. allowing myself treats - not every day, but a little bit of dessert a few times a week will stop you having cravings
4. food diary - to make myself think about what I eat
5. low impact cardio - I'm not really a huge exerciser & get really bored. Plus at the moment too ill to do much. So instead I do a lot of walking - it's very gentle but helps you stay healthy. If I need to go to the shops, or a friend's house, or into town, I'll either walk the whole way or get off the bus a stop or two early and walk halfway there.

Finally, don't be too hard on yourself! You'll have weeks where you slip up, but if you see it as a journey and don't beat yourself up too much you'll stay much more motivated. It's important to keep going even if you have 2 weeks where you don't lose anything and you really feel like its plateaued - just when you feel like giving up you'll lose another 2lbs and it'll be worth it!

lamb61...I am a fat crohnnie....yep lost all that weight 20 years ago when I ruptured, then gained most back, then met my now husband and took a particular birth control and had back surgery and my weight jumped higher than ever.  Darn my sis was right...every ten years you get older, it gets 20 times harder to lose the weight.

on a positive note...when i went through PT about 7 years ago when my back nerve pain was kicking up again, I lost 3 inches at the hip, 2 at the waist and some in my chest.  Since PT for back is usually focused on core training, it really took the inches there off.  I was only going twice a week for an hour too.

I would love to go back to them as a gym!  For now, I too try portion control...I use lunch size plates for my dinner and "graze" during the day instead of three major meals.  I also found the Wii Fit helpful...I found some fun things to keep me active without getting to far from the potty and not hurting my troubled lower back discs.  That swimming is great, but I still agree with most that say walking is the best thing for you....OK I promise to walk more if you do too!

Thank you for all your great ideas and support. I had my first PT session today for the lower lumbar pain and stiffness -- it was killer but I expect by next week I'll be able to do more. I swam tonight and walked in the pool to try and loosen things up.

Kazbern -- I completely understand the sacroilliac pain. I have disc issues in L5 S1 no fun what so ever and it acts up at the most inopportune times.

We have treadmills at work, I guess I'm going to start reserving one a couple days a week to start.

Thanks again!!