How to overcome the disappointment in myself for my weight gain following not being able to keep fit?
This is being asked on behalf of a community member. They state they gained a lot of weight over the last year, and struggling to shift it due to fear of their mobility and fear of hurting themselves. Can you help answer this question?
This is one of those things that each and every one of us struggles with; finding the right balance between staying fit, and staying pain free. Some of us, admittedly, aren't very good at finding that balance. Be honest with yourself, and take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. If it is within your budget, hire a personal trainer. If it is not, then look online for community sponsored programs and/or classes where you live. These are great for helping to ease you back into physical activities because you're often doing the classes with others at your ability level. And it's a great social interaction event. As for fear of hurting yourself, that's what your doctors are for. Sit down with your primary, or get a referral to rehabilitative medicine (preferred) and have them help you work out an exercise plan that is within your limitations, but still challenging enough to keep you fit. But, you will always have days that you just feel you can't do it; days you feel like you've been beaten with a hammer. And on those days, it's okay to simply stay home and exercise your mind instead of your body. Don't beat yourself up about not feeling well enough to do the kinds of things you were once able to do.
I can only echo both what you are feeling and the journey you are about to begin. I’m in exactly the same boat, trying to pick my way through this complex disease and how it smacks you hard when you go too hard. I have started with a rehab physio who is taking more time to address my mental state than my physical. The primary lesson she is trying to teach me is to do a little. Just to get used to moving again. The issue I’ve always had is trying to ‘beat’ what I did last time. So try and find something that is within your range and for now just do that. Find a baseline and don’t strive to constantly increase that. The most important thing to remember is you are not alone. We are all here with you.
I agree, I have been trying to loose weight, but tend to overdo. I am now learning there are days I can do some exercises while there are days that I just have to remember to relax. I now have an exercise bike on our patio that I can use on good days. I just remember to start slow and work my way up slowly.
2 days exercise, 1 day rest. Unless I'm having a crippling flare. For me, my flares that drop me occur in my S/Is and hips. They typically last a week or more and during those I can't even stand straight let alone walk and exercise. Then I just go with it in pain management and rehab focused body treatment, i.e. massage and float therapy, heat, rest, until it resolves. Then its back to square 1. Always something. But something is better than nothing. Something leads to something more eventually. Nothing leads to more of nothing, no way to live. 
That's great,
! I'm so glad that you've been so proactive in exercising! It's so important to keep exercising consistent and being on top of it. Like you said, nothing leads to more of nothing, and that's no way to live.
I'm sorry that your flares tend to occur in you S/I's and hips, I can't imagine how painful that must be for you, my heart goes out to you💗 But it's wonderful that you have plan for whenever you are in a flare!!
Thank you so much for sharing, Amore! I hope this exercise routine continues to do well for you!💓 I'm wishing you a peaceful week✨ - Abigail, Team Member
Just try to get walking. I find hiking poles very helpful. However, even using my poles at the proper angle I had discomfort and pain in my hands and wrists. To overcome that I put on Copper Fit gentle compression gloves. Very helpful. Walking with poles helps me maintain stability with my sacroiliitis, torn hip labrums, plantar fasciitis and inflamed Achilles. If you can walk to your mailbox, try to go just a little bit further, like to in front of the neighbor's house. Do that every day for a week, the next week try for 2 houses for a week, and increase by only that little bit for at least a week at a time. Patience is key to not overdoing. Don't worry about what you were able to do in the past. That's the past. Set your mind on the now and tomorrow. Don't be down on yourself if you're doing something. Anything is better than nothing at all. Each day of any amount of physical activity, no matter how seemingly small, is a triumph to celebrate.
