I'll add my own story.
It's not the same success stories I just comment on.
I'm 5'6" 185lb currently.
I've got a pretty stocky frame.
My physical activity the past year has been severely limited.
that whole two steps forward - three steps back, well that's me.
August I went bowling with my wife and daughter. Letting go of ball I felt a pop.
I thought I nutted myself. Well, I woke up the next morning at 5am to run to work and could barely get down the stairs.
I thought I had a hernia. Turns out bursitis. Kind of better, but still painful as all hell and left me unable to do ANYTHING for a month. That includes going for any length of walk.
Once it reached a tolerable point and was able to start walking I injured my knee. Inflammation under the knee cap, which made, again, any form of walking painful.
FML
I know you're thinking, hey... you can still exercise your upper body. Well... I've been on a wait-list for surgery on both my shoulders - for 2 1/2 years now. Calcium deposits in one, osteoarthritis in the other. I did V-sits last night and needed Advil after to deal with left shoulder pain. I can't do push-ups or planks. The pain after will last for days. I was expecting a call from the surgeon right when COVID hit.
I'm 41. Dealing with all of thees ailments over the past few years (I completely ruptured my left quad tendon & required surgery & 6mths recovery/physio to walk again without a significant limp in 2015) & especially the last few months. It's really put a lot of pressure on my mental state. I've battled depression over it. My mental health has suffered. And when I say battle. I literally mean standing up from the couch at 5:30pm to keep myself awake.
I'm a balls to the wall kind of guy. So this has been infuriating to no end. In January, I made a decision. 2020 was going to be a selfish - Luca first year.
I've been re-habing my knee, groin, back (more stress pain than injury related). All year.
I've was going to a nutritionist to discuss diet.
My knee has finally subsided enough that I can get out hiking again and enter back into some form of moderate exercise. I can't do weights (shoulders).
But. I've lost 10lbs in the past month. It's been such a mental strain to make changes within my physical limits. Mine is really a mental battle against a body that doesn't want to co-operate.
I started doing stairs because it's a great cardio work-out and my knee seems to be able to handle the impact.
I actually do my physio homework. It makes such a huge difference.
I've made subtle changes in my diet. I avoid my 'trigger' foods. I did the food sensitivity testing & now avoid (mostly) the foods that my body has the hardest time digesting.
I've always been a fruits, veggies & meats guy - so I've just re-upped that focus on whole foods.
I now I have another 20lbs or so to go.
I'm not as much concerned about the weight loss as much as how my body feels when I've lost it.
I really pay attention to my body whenever I do something now. If I eat something and feel massively bloated. I take note and will avoid moving forward.
I can't go balls-to-the-wall right now. it's hard. I'll have moments of motivational overload and then reality check hits me. I can't go smash a medicine ball in the garage. I'll regret it.
I share mainly to add an extra layer of accountability to myself.
I've let my body affect my mindset for too long. I've started reading wellness books as an added layer because I know mine is as much a mental battle as it is physical. Knowing I have so many ways to control my health on top of exercise has been a game changer for me.
Exercise, eating right are super important... but please, take care of your mental health as well.
Being healthy between the ears makes everything else so much easier.