Stop seeing morbid obesity as an obstacle. Weight loss is entirely possible with light exercise, healthy eating and the right support.
Severe obesity puts limits on your mobility. It keeps you confined to a chair or leaves you bed-ridden. It presents a real challenge for losing weight. Even those who can walk have a difficult time doing the movements in most workout videos.
There are some things that severely obese people can do to help their situation and lose weight though. You can lose weight despite obstacles.
The obesity solution depends on a complete lifestyle change. Obesity treatment must include healthy eating, portion control and increased activity. Exercise is key for the morbidly obese to regain their health and lose weight.
Exercise Tips for the Morbidly Obese
• Use your body to the best of your ability
• Stop using your weight as an excuse to not move
• Find chair and bed exercises you can do to increase your strength and flexibility
• Break workouts into several smaller periods per day. It doesn't have to be 30-60 minutes to count
• Start small and build up the length and intensity of your workouts over time
• If your knees are weak or painful, work your arm or other body parts
• There are a handful of seated exercise videos you can use to get started
Dieting for the Morbidly Obese
Dieting is a touchy subject for overweight and obese people. A morbidly obese person may not necessarily eat tons of food. They are more likely to be making the wrong food choices. Knowing what sugary and processed foods are doing to their body can help them open their minds to a healthier eating style. No one likes to think about the toxins we carry in our bodies. Thinking about the organisms living inside of you that are keeping you fat is gross. Yet it is the truth and eating fast foods and junk food contribute to that.
Diet Tips for the Morbidly Obese
• Cut back on your portion sizes
• Reduce your daily calories, but not to the point of starvation
• Swap processed foods for healthier options
• Swap sodas and other drinks for water; save yourself the calories and flush the toxins from your body
• Take a daily multivitamin to make sure you are nourishing your body correctly
• Consider taking supplements to help you lose weight naturally
Find support and realize that you don't have to struggle on your own. Losing weight can be tough, especially when you know you have a long journey ahead of you. It helps to have people on your side rooting for you when you do well and supporting you when you are having a hard time.
The copyright of the article Exercise for the Morbidly Obese in Weight Loss is owned by Tracy Rose. Permission to republish Exercise for the Morbidly Obese in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Thank you for mentioning that obese people don't necessairly eat too much.
I don't think that I do, but I know I do eat the wrong things. This article
was a helpful start to my research on how to lose the weight.
Oct 3, 2008 2:53 PM
lemming4life :
Many people who have never had a weight problem think that if you are
overweight you are lazy or stupid or greedy. Many think why don’t you just
stop eating? Lets face it if someone was an alcoholic or a drug user you
would say don’t drink alcohol or take drugs again avoid the alcohol &
drugs right, yes it takes will power but they do not need alcohol or drugs
to live! Someone with a food addiction has to face food on a daily basis.
Being overweight is not as simple as just don’t eat, not eating can cause
more problems and ultimately leads to a greater weight gain. So many people
do not realise that emotions are also involved with weight gain. Feelings
of guilt rejection self-loathing are just to name a few. It is hard to eat
sensibly, exercise, and loose weight when you feel so many negative
emotions. If someone wants to loose weight yes they need to exercise and
eat a healthy balanced diet, but they also need to explore the way they
feel, the way they respond or react to every day situations such as
loneliness, hurt, anger, boredom and more. It is easy to do something when
you are happy and motivated. How easy is it to do that same thing when you
are sad and depressed? Over eating can also be a reward. I feel good today,
I have had a good day at work, my favourite TV program is on etc. Let’s
treat myself! Once the treats are gone then come the self loathing and
hate that traps the overweight into the vicious cycle of weight gain. Some
times it is best not to judge, but to listen.
Oct 22, 2008 9:55 AM
Guest
:
I have been slowly gaining weight over the last 15 years. I went from
150 to 320. I also went from an Active job to a Sitdown at my desk
job. I didn't get nearly enough exercise, though I didn't change my
eating habits, so I packed on 10-15lbs a year. and before I knew it I
was obese. Now I have heart problems that make excersing a problem. Breathing is extremely difficult, I would love to find an excercize
routine for the Morbid obese.
Dec 11, 2008 5:32 PM
Guest
:
im 5'6 and 325lbs. im FAT. i have started to eat salads a lot, every time i
go to a restaurant with friends i will order a Greek salad with grill
chicken. so the past week i have been eating nothing but salads with
sometimes beef on it or chicken ( never fried always grill ) i got more
hungry so i started to eat those healthy rice cakes about 40 calories. i
have been drinking lots of water. my exercise is work paint a lot up and
down on ladders sometimes and i move heavy things. after that i got home
and make a salad than later on a rice cake no more eating past 7pm. i have
a treadmill witch i am gonna start using LOL. im also thinking about buying
a StairMaster and a rowing machine. my idea is to do 15 min on each machine
maybe more on the treadmill than i will 30 min each after time. Now i need
help by you reading this , does this sound good am I doing the right thing?
any advise will help a lot. thank you
Dec 13, 2008 10:00 AM
Guest
:
Your diet plan sounds a lot similar to mine... How much have you lost
so far?
Dec 26, 2008 8:53 PM
Guest
:
"toxins" do not make you fat. excess calories make you fat. i
don't use my weight as an excuse not to move. i know i need to move. i
don't need to make any excuses. there are water aerobics and chair
exercises that are low impact and will work for those with painful joints.
is a salad better for your health than a cheeseburger? of course. but
ultimately, if you choose the cheeseburger and deduct those calories from
your allotted amount for the day, you will still lose weight. diet soda is
no different from water, by the way. it's nothing but water with some
carbonation and non-calorie sweetener. your body doesn't treat it any
differently.
yes, the basics always work. less calories, more
movement. but so many of these "expert" articles are written by
people who have no idea what it is like walking around with an extra 100 or
more pounds on your body. you have no idea how physically painful and
exhausting the things you take for granted can be for someone who is
morbidly obese.
did the fat person make themselves fat? are
they responsible for their own physical health and weight loss? yes. there
is more to it than just being some lazy retard who sticks a fridge in their
mouth, though.
there are psychological and emotional issues
underlying every inch of an obese person's body. many have been overweight
since infancy. it's not like we all start out as thin people and then just
let ourselves go. there are patterns and issues going back to our early
childhoods that ingrain these destructive behaviors in us.
and
as for exercise being necessary, many doctors want their patients to lose
some pounds first before starting the physical side because it can be
dangerous.
toxins...pffft. whatever. arsenic and cyanide
are toxins, not artificial sweeteners or colors.
Dec 30, 2008 5:48 PM
Guest
:
300+ I always get amused and sometimes mad when I read or hear a thin
person trying to explain why a fat person is fat. I have been fat all of my
life (since 3rd grade). I was an active youth. I played outside all the
time, basketball, hiking and on a softball team. We didn't eat out growing
up, maybe once every 6 months. When I got older and worked desk jobs, I
gained, so I did aerobics, and lost. I stopped aerobics, and gained. I did
Weight Watchers and lost, I got pregnant, and gained. Yo Yo all of my life.
The last time I did Weight Watchers, I lost 20 lbs. and plateued for a
year, so I quit. I went to Curves. The first 3 months I gained weight! Lost
a ton of inches, but your docter never asks how many inches you lose, now
does he?! The 4th month I lost 6 lbs, didn't make up for the 9 I had
already gained. I don't overinduldge much, binge only occasionally when
really depressed such as gaining 9 pounds after doing curves religiously
for 3 months! Losing weight has always been very, very, very hard for me. I
weighed 305 lbs at last weigh in and am 5'7" tall. While I am not
super active, I am not a complete couch potato either. I quit my doctor
because I couldn't go there without him pushing gasteric bypass surgery.
I'm not ready for that and am not impressed with the results. I have had 3
friends get it and none of them ever got "skinny". One has gained
all of her weight back after 15 years plus some. Even at my most active, I
was never at my "ideal" weight. I think eventually someone will
realize that everyone is not supposed to weigh the same, just like we're
not all going to be models, rembrants, or Bill Gates. Everyone has their
own God given talent, style and features. Maybe I'm not supposed to be as
big as I am, but after 30 plus years of trying to be thin, I still look and
am shaped like all the old black and white pictures of my grandmothers,
great-grandmothers, my mother and my sister. Imagine that! Heridity does
play a certain part, otherwise we all would look alike either. However, I
am still trying to battle the bulge or at least get a little more active.
Would love to find a sensible plan that works for me, still looking though.
I don't eat sword fish, tofu, garbonzo beans or any other weird stuff like
that!
Jan 1, 2009 4:10 PM
Guest
:
To the guest who wrote on Dec 26, 2008 8:53 PM...You made many points, some
incorrect.
You stated "it's not like we all start out as
thin people and then just let ourselves go. there are patterns and issues
going back to our early childhoods that ingrain these destructive behaviors
in us."
Not always. I was thin almost all of my life. Then
I fell in love with a man who had emotional problems. He had affairs on me.
This is when my weight started to spiral out of control. Yes it is my fault
that I let it do that to me but easier said than done. I am the woman who
was thin all my life and then one day let myself go.
Jan 2, 2009 12:22 PM
Guest
:
I am 380lbs and I am so tired of it! I have 3 beautiful children who would
love me to be more active in their lives, but I can barely walk from my
room to the living room without getting winded. I have tons of thin
friends who think they have the answer to my problem, and have suggested
everything from surgery to going running. Yeah, me.....run? lol! I think
I would maybe get 10 feet, then drop. I have not always been this huge. I
used to be very active, even going from 365 to 260 in 7 months, just to
gain it back again in 3 months after I injured my hip and knee. Now I have
horrible pain in my back, and normal household chores like vacuuming and
washing dishes, are extremely taxing. I have sat down and wrote out tons
of diet plans, none of them worked. Now it is January 02, 2009. It is a
new year, and I figure, I got nothing to lose, but this fat, I am going to
get aggressive. I figure, if I can at least lose the weight, it will make
me able to be active, so I can keep the weight off. My main focus, though,
is losing this weight. So I am starting a slim fast only diet. Where I
will drink slim fast shakes, 1 for breakfast, 1 for lunch, and 1 for
dinner. I will drink 15-20 cups of water a day(I love water)and take a
multivitamin, and Japanese Linghzi to help me lose this weight. I figure I
can sacrifice eating solid foods for 6 months or more, because isn't that
what I would have to do if I got my stomach stapled anyway? So, I am not
going to eat another piece of solid food from January 6, 2009 until I drop
every single ounce of this weight. I will be starting a myspace page to
keep track of my progress, and I hope to actually be successful. Anyone
who wants to check up on me, or encourage me(which is desperately needed)
please feel free to check out my myspace page at
www.myspace.com/imperialbeachgirl or send me an email at
kristinabarker@yahoo.com. God bless you all and I hope you all reach your
weightloss goals. Happy New Year!
Jan 24, 2009 6:19 PM
Guest
:
I'm an emotional eater. I've lost and gained so much weight over the years
it's not funny. In my last relationship, my boyfriend was constantly
taking me out to eat, so I packed on almost 100 lbs. I lost 70 after I
broke up with him. I later met my husband and 2 kids later, have put it
all back on, plus a little. I don't have many friends where I live, in
fact I have none. I'm isolated and no one ever comes way out in the
boonies to see us. I have a 3 year old and a 8 month old. Taking them out
anywhere is a challenge. My 3 year old is over energetic, God love him, I
hope he hangs on to it. I'm worn down and exhausted every day. My last
doctor visit showed I weighed 304 lbs and I'm 5'7". I'm so
uncomfortable in my own skin it's horrible. My husband knows I'm unhappy
and I'm trying to change, but he still like his sweets and I've asked him
not to keep them in the house because of the temptation for me. I just
wanted to find an sensible exercise program I can do that's not so jarring
to my system, I'm too sore to pick up my children. I want to change, but
I'm not sure where to start. My doctor owns a gym and has never mentioned
surgery, I wouldn't get it if he did. I'm not comfortable going to a gym.
I feel embarrassed to go much of any place. I'm becoming a bit scared by
how reclusive I'm beginning to feel. I don't want anyone to see me like
this, even though I've been like this my whole life. I'm only 50 lbs
heavier than I was my junior year of high school. I don't know what else
to do and could really use some support. My email is
mormongal29@gmail.com. I would appreciate any ideas anyone might have.
I'm aware I need to diet and exercise, so please don't send me a message
telling me what I already know. I need support, thanks.
Feb 12, 2009 12:15 PM
Guest
:
I recently had two knee replacements and was recommended by the doctor at
the hospital to have band surgery for weight loss.I have no experience with
this but have looked it up on the computer.I would much rather walk more
and eat less in a effort to lose weight.It is never that simple as there
are emotional elements involved.All I know for sure is it is scary to weigh
this much and feel like I don't know where to start.I wanted to reach out
to you all.
Feb 26, 2009 9:00 PM
Guest
:
Hi.My name is Lisa and I don't even know how much I weigh. I don;t want to
know, I would guess it's over 300. When I became pregnant at 18, I weighed
118 lbs. and wore a size 5.Now I am 40,17 years into my second marriage,I
have 4 children and 3 grandchildren and am so FAT that I can't even play
with these beautiful children.It is so discouraging to not be able to lose
this weight.My problem was putting on 80 lbs every time I got pregnant and
then never quite losing it all,and then doing it all again.I want very much
to try power 90 but would like to hear from someone who actually did it
first.
Mar 15, 2009 10:44 PM
Guest
:
I cried as I read everyone's comments. Strange as it is, I didn't think
that there were people that really understood. My friends have always been
uber thin and beautiful, and we never really talked about my weight. Truth
is, I have always been overweight, even as a child. When I was in grade 3,
I had my tonsils removed, and i guess whatever the diet was that followed
allowed me to shed those pounds. My father had been away, living in Mexico,
he returned to see his little girl 15lbs lighter. his comment, "Wow,
now if only you lose a few more pounds and keep it off, you'll be beautiful
just like everyone else." And so commenced my years of yoyo dieting...
9 years old and i was dieting. No matter what i ate in solid food, i
continued to gain weight, by the time I was in grade 8, I was my heaviest
at a size 26, weighing a little over 300, when a professor told me that I
was morbidly obese, and that i should try and weigh 170. High school rolled
around, and I had stopped eating almost completely, because of my gym class
I began to lose weight. I shrunk down to a size 15, but was still not
satisfied, in fact at that point in my life I was convinced I was still
that size 26. I joined a bunch of sports teams under the coaching of a
concerned professor. I finally gave into depression, and ate a little more
here and there. I went to my doctor about a year ago, as I was desperate
not to reach size 26 again, and wanted him to see if it was something
physically wrong with me, like my thyroid. I figured he would call me fat,
most do. What did he do? after coming prepared with an 800 calorie a day
journal that I had been keeping for months, he put me on a 600 calorie
diet, told me that i was a really big girl, and that I was like my mother,
if i looked at food, it ended up on my hips. 600 was just too little, and
here I am a year later, and still slowly gaining weight, im confused,
terrified and don;t know where to turn. I started plus size pilates a few
months ago, its wonderful, but i don't really feel like its doing much, and
I still eat 800 calories a day. I guess what this massive comment is trying
to get across is, that I'm glad that there are people that understand, but
what happens when the above doesn't seem to be working either? I just
turned 23, and I don't want to spend "the best years of my life"
avoiding public places because I can't stand to hear the comments, even at
work, people don't take me seriously because of my weight. good luck
everyone. <3
Mar 23, 2009 12:26 PM
Guest
:
I have always been overweight.... I believe that I was a normal size
up to grade 1....then I started to balloon.... I totally loath who I
am...I suffer from depression, and no I am not using that as a crutch it is
the truth when I am depressed I binge...I hate the comments I get when I am
going into a store..."whoa look at her, holy I have never seen anyone
so fat..." Or the whole "holy earthquake..." Highschool was hell for me...constantly being made fun of I have tried
several things to loose weight even the not good things like not eating at
all. I am 24 now and I believe I likely weigh over 400 pounds...I am really
tall...over 6 feet...but it is hard I hate who I am I was working out at
Curves and felt so much better about myself and then got into a car
accident and screwing up my back...I can't even walk now since the car
accident without it hurting and feeling like my legs are numb...so working
out is hard...I can't really. So all the progress I made is gone....I
just feel hopeless...here I am on a Monday afternoon looking on the net for
the best ways to loose weight...I hate who I am. I hate that I can't
be normal, all my friends don't understand me...they are all thin and have
never struggled with their weight. They all have suggestions and ideas
on how to loose the weight but it isn't that easy. I am currently
going to a dietitian and she is nice, however it is hard to follow this
meal plan when I get really depressed and it is like I can't control myself
and binge... I really wish I was thin...a healthy weight because then
maybe my dad would actually care...maybe he would think I was worth
something...instead of just a waste of space.... I totally feel alone
all the time. I had so many dreams even when I was a teenager....I just
wish I could follow them, I have no ambition.... I know if I was to loose
the weight I would feel alot better....It is very hard, my doctor wants me
to have Gastric Bypass...but I know people who have had it and they have
told me the horror stories...I don't know good luck to all of you, I wanted
to let you know that I am just one more person who is in the same situation
and I can totally understand how you all feel. ?
Mar 29, 2009 11:07 AM
Guest
:
I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I try to explain this to
doctors all the time to let them know how painful it really is, but they
just tell me it's all because I'm fat. One doctor actually told me to
"put down the fork and you'll be fine." I was humiliated.
People just can't look past weight problems. I'm in pain because I'm fat,
and I'm fat because I'm in pain. Jamie
Apr 23, 2009 9:07 AM
Guest
:
well honestly i was odese and now that i exercised and eat healthy im not
im very average and look great. i have an obese step mom, she doesnt do
anything to help her self and it discusts me when i see over weight peopel
complaining and not doing anything about it. sorry. just my opinion.
May 2, 2009 1:25 AM
Guest
:
To the person who said she was "odese" and now she isn't, and
that these people discust her - grow up, get a life! You'd be happier and
less judgemental if you did!
May 2, 2009 1:28 AM
Guest
:
Great article! I'm obese and miserable! I'm at my highest weight now. I'm
only 5'3", and have had a sudden weight gain (20 pounds in a couple
weeks!), went from an already high weight to 326 pounds. If anyone would be
interested in having a "fitness buddy" to email or myspace and
share the struggles along the way, email me. anewme2008@gmail.com
May 9, 2009 12:10 AM
Guest
:
I would love to lose weight. I do not eat huge amounts of food, but I eat
once per day and go to bed I am so exhausted from work. Yes, I have a desk
job. I have always been heavy, then obese, but I became morbidly obese
after suffering through years of stress at work. I had a whacko boss, I did
not sleep for years. I threw up every day all day. I was a nervous wreck. I
talked to my doctor about cortisol as a possible reason for the large
amounts of belly fat I have gained during this time. But he blew me off. I
have one question - why are so many pilates and other workout equipment
usually only supportup to 300 lbs? This is a major issue if you are
suffering from mobility issues.
May 9, 2009 8:19 PM
Guest
:
I have found in my struggle in weightloss that it is about the mindset you
have. You have to want to change, and you have to begin where you are most
comfortable. Find something you enjoy doing and you will most likely stick
to it. Anyone wanting an fitness buddy, encouragement, or to share stories,
feel free to email me at: divinest_sense@yahoo.com
May 30, 2009 5:48 PM
Guest
:
Hello and you can call me 400 plus.that's how i feel everyday and that who
i am. My name is nikki and i have struggled with weight since 5th grade. I
can remember being sick all the time and not having a enough energy to do
anything. I'm a chronic ashmatic and have allergies to a few things.I was
in class in grammar school on this particular day my button popped off my
jeans. My teacher asked if she can help so i let her, After that she made a
rude remark saying that if i continue to get fat everyone would make fun of
me and call me fat.So about 6thgrade i started trying to eat less,however
my mom lost her job and all we had was a toaster and bread and butter. So you can tell what happened next,by the time i was in highschool i was
over 3001bs. and i cried everyday i was teasesd people through things at
me. For about the first 2 years then after that i prayed and asked god to
forgive those kids who did not understand and also i prayed that god give
me the strengh to overcome every rhing that was going wrong in my life. God
and the support of my family has brought me along way.I believe in myself
more now than i ever did and i also believe that God will not put more on
us than he put within us.So no i have not lost the weight yet but i'm going
continue to try and do what ever i can. Sometimes i feel as if i am wearing
a fat suit and some people see me for who i'm and some people don not. I
would like to unzip the fat suit and walk out the way God wants to be. I
hope that all the people on here gets their miracle too. If you want talk
or be buddies <nbworld2@hotmail.com>
Jun 13, 2009 8:59 PM
Guest
:
I am 5'6" tall and weigh 463 lbs. I don't know what to do. I have
tried them all and then some. Atkins works short term but who can eat only
meat forever. Low fat gives me hypoglycemia. I tried one well balanced meal
a day and gained weight on it. I went on a water fast for three days and
still didn't lose any body weight. I have tried all the pills, some legal
and some not, no results. I hired a personal trainer who took a grand from
me, worked me until near death just to have me go up a pants size. I can't
commit suicide because of my religion. I have given up.
Jun 15, 2009 8:42 PM
Guest
:
300+... I hurt.....physically. Even when i dont move....I lost 100lbs
almost 2 years ago but was hit by a drunk driver and gained it all back
with all the problems im having....i know its no excuse.... I have a
problem with food I love to eat and cant seem to stop...can anyone give me
some advice?
Jun 23, 2009 10:53 PM
Guest
:
I am a lot like the march 15 guest. Im only 23 and I have been over weight
all my life. There was never a time as a small child that I was thin. It
also didnt help that as I got older I was taller than most kids in my
grade, so being big and tall was grounds for teasing. The teasing didnt
stop until high school, but recently some of my friends went to the beach
for Spring Break and a random car passed by and someone yelled "I love
you shamu". I froze, no one had ever made me feel so horrible. I was
with my friends whom are all skinny. No one said anything. Its not like i
didnt try to lose weight because I have always loved swimming and have
since I was young. I hit a triple digit when I hit high school and got to
300lbs. I joined color guard and swimming and lost about 30lbs. I was still
big and I never noticed the weight dropping because i was so big. It never
stopped me from being a normal girl, just made me feel that there was more
for me to experience. I got into swimming and maintained my weight, untill
i graduated and gained 50lbs in college. Now im 330+lbs last time I went to
the Dr. This was a shock to me and no one knows this(till now). I havent
been back in a long time, so I dont know if its changed. Im trying now to
exercise a lot this summer because im not working or going to school. I
have been doing pretty good with dancing or boxing outside for about an
hour, I just know I need to do more. I have so much to lose I feel
sometimes that I cant do this on my own. I realize this is the summer I'm
going to change my life and find my happiness, eventually. I want a better
life and I wish for support from anyone who reads this to give me it and
ill give it back, email me at strangeone18@aol.com. Thanks and good luck to
all.
Jun 30, 2009 2:35 AM
Guest
:
Hiring a compassionate knowledgeable Personal Trainer would be a great
start on your quest for a healthier lifestyle. If you can not afford to
join a gym or hire a PT, invest in some light dumbbells or exercise bands
and begin a strength training program. I am a Certified PT and NPC
Competitor with over 27 years of experience. I work with people who are
very overweight. We work on strength training and cardio conditioning as
well as nutrition. Eating once a day will only slow down your metabolism.
Eating 5 or 6 small meals will rev up your metabolism and keep your blood
sugar stable. iamgymrat@yahoo.com(Sheri)