Exercise recommendations for my bad back!
To avoid hurting yourself, I suggest getting a referral for physical therapy from your PCP. They can evaluate you and see what you can and can't do and help you to safely strengthen your weak areas. Coming from a history of back problems, I definitely know you don't want to anger the back pain gods! :D
Let us know how it goes!
Jen
I second what Jen said.
I have back issues but not knee problems. I personally like yoga, but I have been doing it for as while now and even now - some poses or even teacher (trying to be supportive) may make me hurt and be "out" for a week or 2.
Water - in the pool - exercise, is suppose to be good for knees and back. (I hate chlorine)
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
I was so thrilled when I got to my goal weight and could jog like I used to in college. That is until my back started to protest and I had to stop. Apparently losing weight made my back worse, not better... who knew... something about shifting centers of gravity, etc, yadda, yadda.
In any case, I started biking with my boyfriend, something I had tried before but hadn't put much serious effort into up until that point. It was magic. I've been doing it for more than a year now. My back loves it (as long as my pedals and saddle are adjusted correctly), my knees don't mind as long as I avoid too many hills... you get the idea.
So yea. Bike. That would be my enthusiastic advice. Any bike shop worth their salt would have gobs of advice and help for you to get started.
Audrey
Highest weight: 340
Surgery weight: 313
Surgery date: 10/24/11
Current weight 170... 170 pounds lost!!!!
I am not a doctor, but I play one at work.
Not sure exactly what your back issues are but I have degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis and what was recommended by my doctor on days that my back is really bad is to do pool exercises like pool walking, water aerobics anything in a warm water pool, on my better days he says low impacy exercises like elliptical or a recombent bike, He also advised me to work on developing my core muscles because they help support the back and that can be done through yoga. I have started doing yoga like 3 weeks ago now and the pain in my back has reduced. I do agree with the other recommendation though of checking with a PT becuase depending on what exactly is wrong with your back may limit what you can do.
I'd like to add to the physical therapy bandwagon. You can get a prescription from your PCP and your therapist can then give you great exercises to strengthen your core for the back issues and help with the muscles around your knees. And she can also give you a plan for outside of therapy!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
I have spinal stenosis, and arthritis everywhere, plus weakness in my right leg from the stenosis, so I am currently in a wheelchair. However, there are seated yoga and pilates DVDs you can get. (Look on Amazon.com, they are quite inexpensive). The Pilates DVD uses the resistance bands and Pilates is even better than yoga at building your core, which helps strengthen your back and stretch your spine. But, I do not recommend doing any exercises before checking with your ortho first. I also recommend the water walking or deep water aerobics.