10 replies to this topic

[lolabee]

I have numerous degenative discs and of course having a hard time to even think of exercise. Wanted to try walking but now have developed one extremely painful bunion. Have any of you 50+ gals had success on the program without being able to walk or exercise like most?

[Blessed4Life2]

Have you tried swimming pool exercises? They are very gentle and effective.

[JoJoMac]

I have numerous degenative discs and of course having a hard time to even think of exercise. Wanted to try walking but now have developed one extremely painful bunion. Have any of you 50+ gals had success on the program without being able to walk or exercise like most?

Hi there! I am 33 and have degenerative disc disease in my L3-5 and my S1. I was hoping to have disc replacement surgery, but was told since I had c-sections that I don't qualify, and that I needed to loose as much weight as possible. So I turned to JC. I have been on bedrest since last October, and have limited mobility...very limited. However this week I walked a walk at home mile by Leslie Sansone twice. That's the most I have walked in over a year. I use a rolater walker and canes of course to get around. But I am going to try really hard to loose weight...hoping I may be able to have spine fusion surgery instead now. My goal is 50 pounds and I have lost 3 pounds in my first week. I wish you all the best of luck. Its very difficult, but my mom who is 63 just started walking with me and keeps me motivated...and laughing. I know that water aerobics are supposed to be very helpful according to my back doctor. So we are going to try and join the pool this summer and see if that will help me as well. I have been on unpaid medical leave from work since last fall. I am hoping to get in shape loose some weight and get back to work by next year.

[shannon cotsworth]

Hey guys,

Walmart has this thing
Gold's Gym Upper and Lower Body Cycle
You put it on the floor and its like biking or put it on a table and work it with your arms. Its really cool. I had a hard time with it at first cause it moved when I biked but I put my weights on it or I go to my deck and use my deck fence to hold it in place. When I'm outside I read my book, inside I watch tv or play my wii games.
Its great for quick easy workouts.

[Mermaid3011]

I am luckily able to move around and walk. But besides of swimming you could also try gymnastics that are following a concept especially for seniors who are sitting. Or just some resistance training with weights or a theraband - which is an expandable, elastic band that is used to exercise with resistance.

All the best for all of you!!!

[Meggiep]

I have numerous degenative discs and of course having a hard time to even think of exercise. Wanted to try walking but now have developed one extremely painful bunion. Have any of you 50+ gals had success on the program without being able to walk or exercise like most?

I am not 50+, actually I am 31 years old. However, I too suffer from the pain of degenative discs. The pain has made exercise difficult and at times impossible. I have found that JC is the only diet I have tried and been successful on even without exercise. I have lost 14.1 lbs in 5 weeks, simply by following the plan. I am scheduled for back fusion surgery in 3 days and am hoping to continue with JC as soon as I am out of the hospital. I want to lose 40 lbs, so I still have a long way to go. I love the JC food and don't ever feel like I am on a "diet". I believe you will be sucessful on JC even if you are not able to exercise. Good luck to you on your JC adventure!

[kd22]

I'm 35 and just found out I have degenerative disc disease today. I had a fusion of L4/L5 in 2004. Now, L3 is bulging on my sciatic nerve. So, I get to have the fabulous epidural steriod treatment starting Monday followed by physical therapy. I was on JC in 2006 and lost 60 without doing much exercise. I'm hoping the steroids don't inhibit my weight loss. I know the PT will help with some of it. Still, I know exactly what you're going through.

[RNStaceyB]

Though I'm not sure that this would help with the degenerative disc issues, I have to HIGHLY recommend MBT shoes. It was suggested I try them when I kept complaining that I couldn't MOVE after sitting down to go home after my 12 hour shift at the hospital. But, I was too cheap (they're over $200-unless you get them on eBay or Footwearetc.com).

So, when I graduated from nursing school, my boyfriend bought me a pair (I think he was hurting watching me trying to walk!). I LOVE them, have four pairs and, best of all....I HAVE HAD NO PAIN IN MY FEET (which were horrible before!), knees, legs, or back since the switch.

Check them out at mbt.com. I tried them on at a store that sold them, because they're sizing per style is difference, but then I buy them at the cheaper sites.

Some co-workers bought the Sketchers Shape-ups and now complain to me that they're having more troubles than they had before. But...I just remind them which shoe was around first (the MBTs) and that I never made them buy the imitations lol

[sarabeara]

Hi,

I'm 27, and I've had two back surgeries in the last year. I had a mircrodiscectomy first to shave down the bulging disk and relieve some of the pressure on my nerves, but 6 months later the pain was back full force and we started the process all over again with the cortisone injections and the medications, none of it worked so in March I had a spinal fusion (L4, L5, S1). The road to recovery from that is not easy, I was out of work for 6 months and I still have back pain, as well as permanent nerve damage down my right leg. I was doing physical therapy, and now I continue my exercises that my PT taught me as well as going for walks and swimming.

The best thing my PT taught me was how to strengthen my core muscles to support my back (I have degenerative disc disease so my chance of having future issues with my back is very high). We did this with pilates exercises, we used a balance ball and stability exercises, and planks. The first exercises she had me do were Kegels, strengthening my pelvic floor=strengthening my core. I was doing these right away after my surgery, they cause no pain and require little effort (but your abs/core will be sore the next day let me tell you). I also lost 3 inches off my waist just from doing this and other simple stretches.

Another easy exercise is to just get one of those big balance balls and sit on it with your feet flat on the floor and your back straight, tummy tight (neutral spine) and use this instead of a chair while you're watching tv or reading. This will force your core muscles to work to stablize your body. I love it. And you can use the ball for other exercises as well.

Because of my back issues I'm not allowed to do any heavy lifting (because of the surgery I'm currently limited to 10lbs) but you can get around that doing exercises with resistance bands to tone. They come in various strengths and you can wrap them around a doorknob and sit and do rows and curls.

As I mentioned before I have nerve damage in my right leg, I have very little feeling in it and I also cannot flatten the foot (it looks like I'm walking on tippy toe on just the one side), unfortunately this is also causing issues with my knee and ankle and my PT says if I don't lose weight that I may end up requiring knee surgery.
I've seen enough of the OR for a few years so I'm trying to avoid that.

I dieted on my own after my surgery and lost 26lbs before I plateaued. So now I'm doing JC. I just completed my first week and lost 5.6lbs and I'm already feeling better. I used the stairs today at the train station instead of the escalator like everyone else.

This is an extra challenge that we have to face but the payoff will be worth it if we can get our mobility back.

I was a double varsity athlete in high school, I want that back.

I hope this helped at least a little. I'd be happy to offer more help if I can. I can even see about uploading the images of the exercises I do.

Take care

[weightlossordie]

Hi All!! I am 38 years old and in 2008 I broke both bones above my ankle and tore all ligaments, tendons, and have had 9 re constructive surgeries on it. I still can't stand for more than about 10 minutes without it hurting. Because of this injury I have hip and lower back problems because I limp. I have also collected about 80 pounds during the 18 months of laying around. I am hoping with the limited activity that I will loose weight with this program. I know this program works, but I also know that exercise is also key to loosing it and keeping it off. Any suggestions on activity would be greatly appreciated.

[kd22]

Hi,

I'm 27, and I've had two back surgeries in the last year. I had a mircrodiscectomy first to shave down the bulging disk and relieve some of the pressure on my nerves, but 6 months later the pain was back full force and we started the process all over again with the cortisone injections and the medications, none of it worked so in March I had a spinal fusion (L4, L5, S1). The road to recovery from that is not easy, I was out of work for 6 months and I still have back pain, as well as permanent nerve damage down my right leg. I was doing physical therapy, and now I continue my exercises that my PT taught me as well as going for walks and swimming.

The best thing my PT taught me was how to strengthen my core muscles to support my back (I have degenerative disc disease so my chance of having future issues with my back is very high). We did this with pilates exercises, we used a balance ball and stability exercises, and planks. The first exercises she had me do were Kegels, strengthening my pelvic floor=strengthening my core. I was doing these right away after my surgery, they cause no pain and require little effort (but your abs/core will be sore the next day let me tell you). I also lost 3 inches off my waist just from doing this and other simple stretches.

Another easy exercise is to just get one of those big balance balls and sit on it with your feet flat on the floor and your back straight, tummy tight (neutral spine) and use this instead of a chair while you're watching tv or reading. This will force your core muscles to work to stablize your body. I love it. And you can use the ball for other exercises as well.

Because of my back issues I'm not allowed to do any heavy lifting (because of the surgery I'm currently limited to 10lbs) but you can get around that doing exercises with resistance bands to tone. They come in various strengths and you can wrap them around a doorknob and sit and do rows and curls.

As I mentioned before I have nerve damage in my right leg, I have very little feeling in it and I also cannot flatten the foot (it looks like I'm walking on tippy toe on just the one side), unfortunately this is also causing issues with my knee and ankle and my PT says if I don't lose weight that I may end up requiring knee surgery.
I've seen enough of the OR for a few years so I'm trying to avoid that.

I dieted on my own after my surgery and lost 26lbs before I plateaued. So now I'm doing JC. I just completed my first week and lost 5.6lbs and I'm already feeling better. I used the stairs today at the train station instead of the escalator like everyone else.

This is an extra challenge that we have to face but the payoff will be worth it if we can get our mobility back.

I was a double varsity athlete in high school, I want that back.

I hope this helped at least a little. I'd be happy to offer more help if I can. I can even see about uploading the images of the exercises I do.

Take care

I can completely relate. I've had two back surgeries and have degenerative discs as well. I'm going to PT now, because the L3( I had L4 and L5 fused) is now bulging. It totally sucks, but I'm still losing inches and pounds dispite all the meds. Hang in there!!!