May 17, Workshop on MI at West Virginia Obesity Conference, Charleston, WV
May 19: MI Workshop for Patients, Gaucher Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
May 30, June 12: MI Workshop for Cambridge Health Alliance, Malden, MA
July 6 and 7: Advanced MI Workshop, Medical Care Development, Augusta, ME
I remember seeing a show a long time ago where Richard Simmons (who has always been such a huge proponent of exercise) went to see a woman who was chair bound because of her size. He started her out with things like lifting her legs and arms every day, movements she could do while sitting. Over time, she got stronger and stronger and was ultimately able to be mobile again. She did happen to lose weight as well, but I remember thinking that just those little things and his unwavering encouragement were what helped to change her life and her health.
Whenever this subject is brought up, I think of that woman and I know that things can be done to help people get stronger and be as healthy as they can be. I bet she never got “skinny”, but she could walk eventually, which changed her life.
She changed her life and her self image as well. Small changes can = big results.
I love this post. The best part about HAES is that it is weight neutral. Putting weight loss on the back burner allows individual to find joy in their food and in their movement choices.
I’ve been trying to find an orthopedic surgeon to make a repair on my (replaced) knee. Apparently, at 450-475 pounds, it means I’m going to die on the operating table (j/k) but even my former surgeon doesn’t want to help me now. He said “You haven’t fulfilled our goal for you of weight loss” and I told him it must have been his goal for me but it wasn’t my goal for myself.
I work out in the pool three times a week and watch what I eat because I’m diabetic. I’m frustrated and pissed off. My healing was much better than expected – home in 2.5 weeks instead of the 6 I was told I’d be there for the replacements. (Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale).
My preference would be to stay in Portland OR but, believe it or not, I’ve been told by a local surgeon “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole” and no one else in Portland wants to assist me. Sigh.
Any idea where I can find a very good knee surgeon who isn’t afraid of supersize people?
I’m in Boston, so my knowledge of providers where you are is non-existent. This does sound frustrating and depressing! Does anyone else know a provider who could help Mara??
“In real life, there is no problem that people of higher weights have that people of lower weights do not, as far as I can see, except the way other people see them.”
If people learn nothing else from your wonderful post, let them remember this. Recently I was in a group exercise class where the smallest participant was the weakest and I was both the fattest and the strongest. Well, that’s because I’m a fitness trainer, and I do this stuff for a living; and the smallest participant was recovering from a serious illness which had caused her to become seriously underweight.
Being bedridden simply means that a person not have the muscular strength to move their bodies. This is the description for anyone who is bedridden, whether they are 75 pounds or 675. And both can improve their strength and mobility by exercising, not dieting.
Yes! What an excellent and insightful way to put this. It is possible, and even likely, that fat people can be fit, strong and healthy. Paying attention to one’s health and vitality is the way to do this.
Deb, Thank you for this brilliant post. This is going to be so helpful for people! I’m planning on sharing far and wide!
Jeanette
I don’t know of a surgeon who might be able to help Mara, but Mara, for general increase in mobility, and perhaps finding easier ways to work around the knee as it is, have you heard of or tried Feldenkrais? It’s known as “movement awareness/exploration.” It helps people discover the easiest ways to move that don’t cause pain for their particular body. It’s slow, gentle, and exploratory. There’s lots of info on the web, and sample Feldenkrais sessions on YouTube. Perhaps a Feldenkrais practitioner could come to your home, and make your life easier and restore some movement. It is quite ingenious and many people have avoided surgery, or wished they’d tried Feldenkrais before orthopedic surgery.
My best wishes to you, and bravo to you for working in the pool and being attentive about nutrition.
very good article, thank you for sharing. your sharing information is very useful for me, thank you!http://www.agenciasp.org
Thanks. Please let us know in what ways this will be helpful to you? Is this personal or professional? I’d love to get a dialogue going on this topic where people share their experiences and support each other.