Does anyone know how to exercise and lose weight with RA?

So what's going on with my ra buddy, Becky Sue? I know exactly the frustrations that come from wanting to move followed by the risk of feeling worse. I have found the only exercise that I can tolerate is just walking. Even then I sometimes flare. But if you make your goals very attainable, say, walking one block for a week then maybe one and a half the next week, you may be able to slowly work up to more. Remember that anything you do can be exercise: working in the yard, vacuuming, that kind of thing. Try to have several small meals instead of three large ones. And try really hard not to eat after dark. You have every right to feel sad and sorry for yourself. You have a systemic issue that effects your life. You have been a source of comfort to me with my ra issues and I so appreciate you. ---Amy

Just a thought....I heard Water Aerobics are wonderful for those of us who aren't able to do all the exercises that we used to.  And what someone said earlier is very true.  Short amounts of exercise a couple times a day are just as good as a 45-60 minute session.

Good Luck and God Bless!

I find RA a very hard disease, although I guess any disease is hard!  I too used to be very fit and active, and boy do I ever miss being able to work and play all day.  I am still trying to figure out the exercise thing.  I do my best to protect my joints by really paying attention to form and posture and by being very aware of how I'm moving.  And then its a matter of how much I can safely do - I've learned to go very slowly in terms of increasing exercise time.  Its frustrating to have to go so slowly, but overdoing and injuring myself is worse.

I lost the weight that I gained during my first year with RA (I was on a lot of prednisone and very inactive) by following the advice Dr. Joel Fuhrman gives in Eat to Live.  Basically its eating lots and lots of veggies, legumes and rice.  I always rinse the legumes realy well after the first boil to reduce the lignans, which some authors have linked with inflammation.  I have also gone back to occasional free-range chicken, although Fuhrman's approach is very close to vegan. Anyway, reducing the simple carbs and avoiding processed foods seemed to be what helped me lose the weight.

I also try not to think about what I used to be able to do, because that makes me pretty blue.  Instead I do my best to focus on each day as it comes, and I try to always have something planned in my day that is fun and that I can look forward to.  Corny old advice I know, but it does help.  You will figure it out, it just takes time.    

It is HAAAAAARRRD to lose those post baby pounds and no getting around it!!  Consider how much energy you expend when you are chasing kids around, nursing, and trying to keep the homestead from being condemned by the health department.  I swear I had days where I was dang proud to have taken a shower, let alone gotten in a workout. Now add the RA factor in there on top of it?!

First things first, be kind to yourself.  Please.  Good lord, you just got done making an entire human being!  Personally I really despise all those celebrities that flaunt their post baby bodies at us considering they have nannies, cooks, personal shoppers, assistants  and professional trainers.  The result is we mere mortals then get their bikini clad glossy pics thrown in our faces and feel like crap.  Not fair, and not a realistic expectation.

Next, if you focus on the "big" number you will stinkin' lose your mind.  I had 50 lbs to lose after my daughter was born.  I would feel all proud about having dropped 3, then do the math and figure out how much was left and......nothing makes me feel better or faster than a handful of oreos.  MMMMmmmm......oreos.  So seriously....start small.  Frankly anything more than a pound a week is considered unhealthy anyway.  Set a goal somewhere in that neighborhood (or even less) and celebrate the victories!  If you fall off the bandwagon, don't sweat it.  Perfection is boring.

Lastly small changes, small changes, small changes.  I was shocked at how far I got from eliminating soda from my diet and not eating past 8pm.  You've already gotten some good exercise advice from some other folks so I won't be repetitive.  Only one other thing I've found is that my Nintendo Wii Fit makes me go Wheeeeee!

Be kind to yourself.  Allow mistakes and let your on-line community help you out.  Having a support system goes a very long way be it with RA or weight loss.  Keep us posted, k?

I have had RA since I was 16.  I am turning 50 this summer.  You do have to keep moving, even when it is hard.  I sometimes I have to take a hot shower so I can move, do 30 minutes on my elliptical, and then shower again to get the sweat off. If you don't use it, you will lose it.  If the RA is too bad, and you can get physical therapy with your insurance, then use it when needed.

Swimming is great exercise as well.  The weight from steroids will go away.  Make sure that you have your thyroid checked as well.  Many with RA seem to have hypo-thyroid as well.

You may want to try using extra fish oil or krill oil as well.  Not only does it help the joints, but it is a natural mood elevator!! If you can keep a positive attitude that is half the battle in dealing with RA.