Need help to get motivated--I am disabled.

I was in a car accident 7 years ago which totally disabled me.  After 3 major brain/spinal surgeries, I have improved more than what the doctors thought that I would be able to do.  One doctor told me that it is a miracle that I am alive, not paralyzed, and able to walk a little bit on my own.

If I stand up for very long, my blood pressure drops too low, and I can faint.  The physical therapists said that the only safe place for me to exercise is while in bed--and mild exercises at that.

Due to my being basically bedbound for six of the seven years, on strong medications with side effects of weight gain, and using food as my place of comfort, I have gained over 100 pounds.  I was already overweight before my first brain surgery.  The steroids and other meds (including the ones I am on now for extreme nerve pain, have encouraged my weight gain.

I am homebound (24/7) except for going to my doctors appointments each month and to church -- usually once a month.

I sleep a lot due to the meds keeping me drowsy and extremely tired. 

I need motivation and accountability to help me eat right.  It is also difficult to lose weight when my amount to spend on groceries each week is about $25--and that includes items for personal needs.

Beans and starches are the cheapest way to go--but I am also PRE-DIABETIC now. 

Any encouragement would be appreciated.  I know that there is a pathway out of this condition.   Does anyone have any suggestions or help?

Thanks for listening to this long e-mail.

mrhutch1624

wow, thats quite a story, and my heart goes out to you. i really dont have any good ideas at the moment, but i'll try to think of some. this is a great site for motivation, encouragement, and accountability. welcome to c-c! hope you hang around for awhile. :)

Firstly - so sorry for all of your struggles!  I can't begin to imagine!!

Secondly - do you have a YMCA in your area...if so give them a call and tell them your dilemna - they may be able to help you - the Y is for everyone regardless of disability or income - they may even be able to get you there and back.  It's worth a shot - they can get you going - it sounds like you may be able to do some light water aerobics - no stress on the joints and it would also be relaxing and a social outlet for you.

As for food - you can only eat what you buy - try getting canned veges and fruits packed in water with no sugar added - lots of times canned goods go on sale. 

Buy lean meats like ground turkey breast and make a spaghetti sauce - then the next night turn it into a chili, then into a sloppy joe - that kind of thing.  Frozen veges are also cheap and can be added to these things as well.  

Hang in there - you can do this and be an ispiration to many people - it will take tenacity and determination on your part. I will say a prayer for you!! 

Take care!!

If you have Aldis in your area go there.  They have ground turkey for .69 per lb, canned veggies for 33 cents, pasta really cheap, soups for 39 cents, bags of lettuce for $1 and head lettuce for less.  A canister of oatmeal is 1.49 and will feed you for breakfast for at least 2 weeks. 

That's definitely a tough situation! Motivation and accountability are going  to be different for each person, but being pre-diabetic can be a very motivating issue -- weight loss may well help prevent getting the rest of the way there, right? Do you feel you need to be accountable to other people, or will being accountable to yourself work? If it will, the food and activity logs here are very useful for that -- you can see just how much you've eaten so far, in black and white, as it were. I know for me that's how I'm accountable to myself. If you need other people to be accountable to, the forums here aren't bad for that. You can join various challenges and groups and such.

I think, in your situation, you should probably concentrate on what you CAN do, and make small, gradual changes -- don't try to make a huge new lifestyle all at once. Since you see a doctor regularly, talk to her/him about it, and see if you can get a referral to a dietician who can help you work out a healthy, satisfying, and affordable eating plan. Ask your doctor about your medications -- are there any alternatives you could try that cause less drowsiness, or that don't cause weight gain? There may not be, of course, but it never hurts to ask. Ask your physical therapist for some exercises to do. Is it possible for you to get a wheelchair -- manual if you have the arm strength (very good exercise!), but electric if not? That would at least make it easier for you to get out of the house more often, and as you wouldn't be standing you ought not faint. Do you have friends or family in your area to spend time with? Any activity you can get into your life will help, and it doesn't have to be strenuous to be helpful. Even if you didn't get out of bed, just plain conversation (especially if they make you laugh!) is good for you!

It's good to be aware that you use food for comfort -- it makes it easier to avoid doing so. Think of other things to do when you feel the need to comfort-eat. At the same time... some people say to get rid of all 'bad' foods in the house, and if you're prone to binging that might be wise. If you're not, I personally find it better to keep a small store of my favourite "indulgence" foods around, and have some now and then. That keeps me from feeling too deprived. Also, do you have much fine motor control? If you do, video games might be both fun and very gentle exercise. Lots of hand movement, and arms (or more) if you're a full-body player like me, and an exciting game can get your heartrate up a bit as well. Systems and games are a bit expensive, but you can find used older models and games for much more reasonable prices (check things like craigslist).

With the limitations you're working within, you're not likely to lose weight quickly, which can be discouraging. Try to keep in mind it took 7 years to get to this place; it may take that long to get back. But even if you never lost a single ounce, exercise and healthy eating are good for you all by themselves.

I'm not a medical professional, and I can't guarantee I know what I'm talking about, but this is the best I can suggest from my personal knowledge and experience. I hope at least something in this mass of babble is helpful. :) Good luck! Please let us know how things go.

You are a hero.  I can walk a bit (about) 1 - 2 minutes at a time.  I think you will do very well if you can just keep motivated.  Every minute that you are able to sit up and work at the computer you are burning calories.  I think it's equal to sitting studing quietly.  So you are already doing more than you knew.

Keep up the good work and do try to keep foods that you like around you that are low fat, salt and calories.  That's what I do and I've lost a total of 30 lbs since I started.  Only 14 since I've been on this site actively though.  I'm 59 so if you are younger you will lose a little faster.

Bless you.  I'll keep you in my thoughts.

wow, lots of great input! how are you doing today mrhutch?

Thank you for all the great input.  I will reread the messages and take some notes.  I have struggled with weight problems most of my adult life--I lost weight easiest when I was able to walk 1-4 miles a day.  That is an impossibility now.

I do have some walking videos (1, 2, 3-mile) that someone from church gave me.  I've tried the 1 mile walk in the past but didn't get very far.  I am going to try that video again.  Even if I have to continue to start it and stop it several times a day, I can gradually try to work up to do a mile a day, even if it is only a minute or two at the time.

Having people to talk to about my daily struggles and successes will help.  It will take a while for me to learn how to use this site because I cannot read very much at a time.

Thank you again for all your suggestions.  For those of you who are ahead of me, you are able to help me through what you are learning.

mrhutch1624

mrhutch- your commitment despite all that youv'e been through is truly inspring.

 three years ago, i travelled overseas and contracted a rare virus that lasted only about three weeks but has left me with lasting severe joint and muscle pain. impact activities were out of the question, so i took up swimming. i did this mainly in order to lose weight and get in some excdersize but it had  awonderful side effect that i didnt expect at all. while in the water, the pained eased up immeasurably!! i do not know if water helps for nerve pain, which you said you are experiencing, but it has been great for joint and muscle pain.

in any case, it is wonderful that you have found this site, the people here are really warm and supportive, and if nothing else, its good company!!

thats sounds like a great idea - try out that walking video again. the important thing is to do what you can every day, but dont overdo it. baby steps are still steps, yes? good luck. let us know  how that is going.

you take care of yourself first and foremost!!!!!  Listen to your physical therapists!!!  This site is a great place for motivation!  Keep us posted!!