New Guy

Hello everyone,

I had a really really really long story going but i've simplified it down to a slightly smaller description:

I'm a 210 lb 23 year old guy who just moved to DC where i've suddenly encountered a plethora of people living very healthy and active lifestyles. I really just can't sit back anymore and do nothing the rest of my life. I've been very unsatisfied with my weight for about 14 years. I've been dieting for the past 2 weeks and quit some of my major diet staples (Soda, fast food, etc). I've been exercising too, but that's really my biggest struggle.

Without over complicating things, I was born without my right hip socket (it's actually way more involved than that), i've had about 30 corrective surgeries and didn't learn how to walk without support until my junior year of high school (which was about 6 years ago). My "condition" has left me with severe arthritis in my hip, very little range of motion and little to no supportive strength in my right leg. I have never had any form of extensive physical therapy, usually only a few hours after any surgery... and they were usually more about moving with a crutch, walker or cane.

Despite all this, i'm pretty motivated and i've done some pretty cool stuff. I started my major act of weight loss by moving to Europe and backpacking through 17 countries during the summer. I only lost 30 pounds during this time and it was an exhausting and painful (but absolutely amazing and the best time I've ever had). Since moving back to the states i've gained about 10 of that weight back but moving to a city has re-motivated me to get back on the wagon.

I really really really want to be more active and i'd love to get my weight down to 180 or 170. I'm trying to be realistic with time cause i can't overexert myself or risk serious injury. Right now my exercise routine means about 45 minutes of biking (can't do hills though), i have a funny obsession with dance dance revolution... you'd think i wouldn't be able to do it but i give it my best ( i can beat most songs on standard mode) and it's rather fun but does my knees and ankles in sometimes, i keep this down to about 20 minutes three times a week. I just got the Wii Fit too and it's taught me a few exercises i didn't know that have been really helpful. I don't really know how to exercise, i never took gym in school cause ... well, that should be obvious. I wish i could afford a personal trainer or a physical therapist... but the wii fit will have to do for now.

I'm just hoping i can find some people to discuss this stuff with especially in a few weeks when i probably get too tired to continue.

It sounds like you are a very active person. I really don't like giving advice because I am not walking in your shoes. How about swimming or exercising in water?

I have a cousin that was born without both of her hip sockets. She works as a nurse now is on her feet all the time.

Hello and welcome! It sounds like you've got a GREAT handle on exercise. You've adopted a plan that keeps you active and works within your ability. Besides, weight loss is said to be 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Once you get the hang of counting calories and controlling portion sizes, you should be able to come up with a daily deficit that averages between 500-1000 calories. The exercise is a healthy boost, but it takes a lot of cardio to make a significant deficit in cals. So focus on nutritious, wholesome eating. Keep up the exercise because it sounds like you're doing great! Just be sure to challenge yourself and raise the bar every couple of weeks =) And try to incorporate strength training somehow, with free weights or making weights at home. You don't want to lose much muscle mass, so be sure to push your body. The fitness forum has a lot of information and ideas about that!

I love swimming... but i just don't feel confident enough in myself to go out and do it. It's one of my major catch 22s.

I always get those comments about people saying they know someone who was born without a hip socket or both. I always sound like a jerk when i say this stuff online and i mean it in all sincerity, but it's a bit more complicated than that being born without a hip socket. I'm not trying to get sympathy or anything, i'm waaay past that. But just for understanding purposes, it's just not as simple as that. It could take me hours to actually explain what was wrong... in fact, i don't even know half of it cause my parents won't tell me. (my roommate, who's a veterinarian still can't quite figure it out and my condition is actually more common in large dogs than in humans) But, yeah... it's weird.

It'd be great to learn some ways to work on my chest area that isn't like a push up. I can't support my lowerbody enough to do a proper push up. So i'll probably have to check the fitness area out.

You don't sound like a jerk! I just know how hard it is for her!

There are many, many different kinds of exercise. I just don't want to suggest something to easy or to difficult.

anything where you're lacking a major component of your skeleton has got to be difficult. I can't imagine running around as a nurse, haha. i'm a graphic designer, so i'm stuck to a computer or light desk all day. Plus i have a ton of respect from nurses as i was sort of raised by them. I just try to break myself from hip socket lackers sometimes cause all the ones i know, well i just don't fit in with their experiences. It's just great to hear of someone else with something at least similar living an active lifestyle.

I can relate to the backpacking weight loss. I was 190lbs before I went backpacking for 4 months through Europe, and came back about 30lbs lighter. I too decided to keep it off. It has been a bit of a yo-yo (ranging between 145-160), but I am certainly living a healthier life now.

Do you have a gym membership or access to free weights? Doing a chest press with a straight bar or dumb bells would work your chest. Or, you can do a reverse push up. Lying on the floor, with a bar above you, you pull yourself off the floor, but your feet stay on the floor for stability. (don't know if that made any sense....) You can also try standing push ups against the wall (less resistance as you are vertical, but it would engage the same muscles). Just google chest exercises and I am sure you will find a bunch.

Kudos on starting this healthy journey!! We are all here for you!!

i kind of like the reverse idea... lifting up. I wonder if could just lay underneath my desk and pull myself up from there... hrmmm

i was sort of disappointed that i only lost 30 pounds backpacking. I only had 15 euro a day budget for food, souvenirs and attractions. There were many days where i'd only eat a loaf of bread so i could afford to go to a museum or something like. I was very much unhealthily starving myself. But i had certain breaks where my budget wasn't as important and i was spoiled by my friends and piers (especially in England, Denmark, Estonia and Russia... oh boy did i eat well). But i had never really walked around so much in my life... plus i wanted to come home skinny... not just skinnier. But i'm working on it.

I had many days like that, especially in France. I'd buy a yummy fresh baguette, and a tub of nutella, and that would be my breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the day. SO YUMMY!!!

I did a lot of hiking when I was there, through italy, france, austria, and switzerland. Some of them were really challenging hikes (4 day, 3 night, hiking from mountain hut to mountain hut) and it was a blast. Plus, it powered though the flab. I ate whatever I wanted when I was away (within my budget) and still came home smaller.

Be proud of what you did accomplish while you were away, and know that you can still work on the rest of it now that you are home. :)