Well where do I start....I've always been chunky and never was taught how important it is to take of yourself. When I was younger, our mom left and I was left to be the "mom" of myself and three other siblings when I was just in 3rd grade. My dad always worked so my responsibility was to take care of the other kids. I was always worried about other people but never took the time to care for myself. When I went away to college I lost quite a bit of weight and remember at one point I was able to squeeze into a size 8 dress.....WOW....that was quite a moment. I felt so good. While I was in college I got into a really bad car accident....I hit a tree going around 70mph because I fell asleep driving. I didn't have devastating effects right away. However, I do now have back problems as a result of the accident. I have a partially herniated disc in my lower back that pinches my sciatic nerves at times. This is no excuse for my weight. I have contributed by not eating right and taking care of myself the way I should.

Here's where I have issues...every time I decide I need to do something about my weight and start working out and doing great I end up with really bad back pain. I get discouraged because I can barely move when my back bothers me. I always end up quitting or giving up. I know that as I lose weight the back pain will somewhat subside according to my doctor.

I have been checking out this forum for close to a year. I think everyone on here is so amazing and encouraging and so I finally decided maybe this will help. I've never had anyone to encourage me in my weight loss journeys and i'm hoping i'll find encouragement in all of you.

Also, because of my back pain I was hoping I could get suggestions on less strenuous activities (even just walking can kill me at times). I do swim as well. I also heard that some "diet" pills actually work. Is this true? I've had several people suggest this to me because they think I might need that extra little push due to my back issues. I'm not really sure, though.

Right now I am 29 years old and 5'5 and my weight is currently 226. I started at 233 a week ago. So far so good but I know I need help and i'm looking forward to the encouragement from all the wonderful people in this forum. Attached are pictures of me at 233. I made my face blank because at this point I am too ashamed to show it =(

Attached Images

	004.jpg (61.6 KB, 150 views)
	025.JPG (65.7 KB, 127 views)
	019.JPG (63.5 KB, 130 views)
	034.JPG (68.1 KB, 133 views)

I've known people with herniated discs and there are procedures they can do that can shrink them. You should talk to your doctor about it, or see a new one and get a second opinion if your current one says different.

I don't blame you for not wanting to work out while you're in pain. I've been there and I didn't either. Maybe try walking everyday if it doesn't bother you too much.

No diet pill works. And even if it did, it's bad for your body and you can't take them forever.

Changing your diet will completely change everything. Cut out the soda and try to stick with water or juices that aren't loaded with sugar. Read the threads and learn as much as you can. I really think you should see if they can do anything else for your back too. Until then, changing your diet and walking every day will show you a huge change.

Good luck!!

Welcome to the community

You've had quite the journey to get where you are today.

I'll start by saying you should be focusing on diet more than anything else. How much and what foods you're putting into your mouth should be your primary consideration.

On the exercise front, it sounds like you're very limited on what you can do. I'd definitely talk to a doc about what can be done to expand your abilities without experiencing back pain. What sort of doc have you been seeing for your back?

And yea, ditch the idea of pills giving you that added boost. They have nothing to do with your back.

Thanks for the advice so far. I have gone to more than one back specialist and because I only have a partial herniation nothing can be done about it unless it gets worse. I do have pain at almost all times but most of the time it's a dull pain that i'm basically used to. I know that I can exercise if I take it easy. My problem is that I want to work out so vigorously that I push my body way too hard and then pay the consequences when I'm stuck in bed because of my back. I need to learn to stop when my body tells me to.

I don't drink soda but I am a juice-a-holic and I love my chocolate milk with Ovaltine. I buy 2% milk. I have one glass of chocolate milk a day. I have slowly been cutting out the juices and trying to stick to just water. I've learned that the more water I drink the more I crave.

I've been trying to make wiser food choices. I'm an emotional eater and that's where I mess up. I know what I should and shouldn't eat. I think with me the biggest part is having the encouragement and motivation to do what's right for my body and my health. Since last week when I decided I was going to jump on the weight loss wagon again i've been keeping a diary. I think that this will help me in two ways. Number one, so far it as kept me from the emotional eating. Whenever something has happened that I normally would have turned to food for, I have instead written it down in the diary. I must say, so far, this has been really good for me. Secondly, I have recorded everything I eat each day in the diary and that's helping me look at what I put into my body.

the only kind of diet pill i use is vitamins. super B complex i take two a day. that helps convert food into energy instead of storing it, and heals you on a molecular lvl.. it's an activated ingredient along side vit C (so taking C and other vit is good).

you have to be consistent with it though and it isn't an instant thing. its definitely a lifestyle thing. if you take it everyday in about a month it will start to build in your system and you'll be able to "feel" the effects.. in some way i imagine. may work dif for people but me and my bf reacted the same. for me i notice it because after i started taking my B vit.. when i get hungry.. it buurns! it hurts when im hungry.. maybe thats not good for some but i've never had a problem with over-eating.. i just got lazy..

it isn't a crutch.. you must diet and be somewhat physical. but it helps. at least it helps me.

OK, I'm really getting upset here. There most certainly is something that can be done for a ruptured disk in the lower back. What part of the country do you live in? Perhaps the specialists in your area aren't all that special? I'm not trying to be an ass and I am certainly not a doctor but I've seen enough people with ruptured disks to know you have more than one option, especially if you are in that much pain. You can try physical therapy, you can get steroid injections or you can get a microdisectomy. My wife had a microdisectomy in December and my dad had one a month ago. They make a small incision in your lower back by the spine, cut a window out of your vertabrae and remove the part of the disk that is protruding. My wife and my dad are both doing gymnastics right now (not really but you get the point). My brother-in-law's mom and my cousin also had the same surgery and they have also been nearly pain free for several years now. Go see another doctor in another town or something. Ask about physical therapy or better yet, steroid injections. If it is a small rupture then hopefully one or both of those will take the pain away.

Sorry, I'm upset because I don't like to hear about people needlessly suffering. That's what modern medicine is for nowadays, improving people's quality of life by taking away pain.

Thanks, Derrick. I live in Central Florida and have seen a couple different doctors here. I did get the option of spinal injections but the doctor told me I could possibly gain weight from the steroids so I chose not to do that. I did go to physical therapy for a while but my insurance only allowed me so many visits per year. I did go to Physical Therapy about two weeks ago and let the therapist in on my situation and he gave me some worksheets with different moves I can do at home on my own that will help strengthen my back and east the tension. I have to admit that it's been working pretty good so far and i'm feeling some relief. Also, I have been doing alot of swimming and in the water excercising and that seems to be much easier on my back. I've been walking alot as well. I'd rather be running but I know my limits and have to be smart about this and stop when my body tells me to. This forum is great and I know I will find the encouragement I need in here. I've only lost 5 pounds so far in the last two weeks. I can't tell a difference really in my clothes but I can tell in how i'm feeling =)

Walking should help and so should your exercises the PT gave you. Ice and Advil can help a lot too. A small rupture can eventually get better as far as the pain goes. If it gets worse though, you may need a microdisectomy. Losing weight and getting frequent exercise will be the best thing for your back. You can do it if you really put your mind to it.