Since having my stroke and becoming very, very limited in the amount I can stand and walk I’ve put on lots of weight. I was very overweight anyway but a mix of peanut M&M’s ,biscuits and medication side effects hasn’t helped !!!
I’m on holiday this week so I’m making this the last week of indulgence before I start a more healthy diet and seated exercises.
Only I can do this and I’m going to give my best shot.
I can and will do this x
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Welcome to the forum, sorry you’ve had cause to join us.
Hopefully your mobility will improve - are you receiving any physiotherapy?
You could request a review of your meds from your gp or from your pharmacist.
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Do it Helen - Life is for living, and living is free (borrowed from one of my favourite songs) 
Don’t worry too much about weight but do think about being active. There are plenty of exercises you can do just sitting down in a chair, lying in bed or just standing.
Different types of exercises and movements e.g. yoga, pilates and tai chi. All these things will improve your health. There are many “overweight” people who are incredibly fit and healthy - it isn’t just about weight.
Have a lovely holiday.
You have made an excellent start by making this statement
So true!
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Have a lovely holiday @Helen-G & I really hope your weight loss journey goes well. You sound very determined so I am sure you will achieve it.
Look forward to hearing how you’re progressing.
Ann
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Hi @Helen-G Try not to worry too much about losing weight. In my experience, the more I worry about losing weight, the less likely it is to happen. 
Maybe think more about becoming more active and every little bit helps. There are lots of exercises on line that you can do while sitting down and I’m sure there is something out that that will suit your level of ability.
I would also suggest speaking to your GP or Pharmacist with regard to your medication causing your weight increase.
You sound like a very determined lady and I’m sure you will achieve your goals. Have a great holiday and let us know how your weight loss journey goes, hopefully you will have some useful tips to share with everyone here.
Regards Sue
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look up isometric exercises !!
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I think perhaps you are too modest
It is commendable of you to be so
I have a feeling you will be an inspiration to many on this forum as I am sure you are outside of this forum. We are lucky to have you join us
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Thank you. I’m receiving lots of physio etc I’ll have a chat about meds too with the pharmacist and see what he says
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I’ve been doing some online groups for chair exercise and various dancing more for enjoyment than anything but I may look into physical classes as well.i won’t know unless I try. I’ll do my best x
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My goal is to be healthier not just lighter. At the moment though being lighter will certainly help my poor Son to push me! I’ve decided not to be a slave to the scales (I have enough hospital visits so they can weigh me but not tell me)I’m going to go by my mobility, my clothes and how my bottom fits my wheelchair!..
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I’m certainly doing more walking than usual on this holiday as there’s areas of gravel that my wheelchair doesn’t like so I get up and walk (I can do 15-20 metres on a good day .. I’m also not devouring biscuits while I’m here! The aim for me is to be more hydrated, less focused on sweet treats and move more.. I’m well motivated and my family will help too
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I’ll have a Quick Look when’s it’s not2:30 am!
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All I can do is my best, I’ll do what I need to do for my healh
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Quite right to concentrate on health over weight. It’s natural for us to lose muscle as we get older, which increases risk of falls. Muscle stores energy, too (glucose converted to glycogen) so it’s important to maintain it. Understanding what you should eat is more important than restricting what you can eat, too, and it can be surprising to find that foods you thought were healthy aren’t great for you. It’s a puzzle to work it out, but quite enjoyable once you find the key pieces (for me, carbohydrate). We’ll all be rooting for you.
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@Helen-G Good luck with your lifestyle change 
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Thank you very much x
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Itll definitely be a learning curve but I’ve got a lot of life still to live and I need to be as healthy as possible to do it .
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You will do it @Helen-G I was in the same boat as you and I lost all my post stroke weight and more, 4 stone in total. It’s improved my energy and determination to exercise, I was blessed to meet Ingrid from the stroke association who introduced me to a gym who discounted their membership with the referral from the stroke association. Aquafit was my goto, I love water and exercising in water makes things much easier plus no one can see what you are doing and it helps with balance and you can do as much or as little as you want. Find something you enjoy doing and don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad food day just get back on it. Good luck x
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My local sports centre is really close so I may go and check their accessibility. I’m going to see my physio next week so I’ll check with him what’s on offer too. I think I’m ready for a new adventure x
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Yes! You can do this!
It takes effort and determination but it can be done. And you only have to take it one day at a time.
‘Start with the legs and the rest will follow’ is my motto😊
Strong legs means less sitting!
Less sitting means your body won’t go to seed.
Movement burns calories and strengethens muscles.
The stronger your muscles are, the longer your can go.
And the best place to start is with sit to stands. This is my all time favourite recommendation for anyone recovering from strokes. I’ve been there and done that, not just read about it in a book😉
You just sit down in a chair and stand up again. That’s all you’ve got to do!
Repeat that process 9 more times in succession and you’ll have done your first set of 10 reps.
Have a rest for a full minute then see if you can do another 10. And if you’re still feeling good, do a 3rd set of 10.
If 10 is too much yet, then aim for 3 to 5 reps per set, whatever suits your current level of ability. As the weeks go by, if your doing these daily, you will want to increase the number of repetitions anyway as they get easier.
Sit to stands are good for us recovering from stroke and having to learn to walk again. Because it is so simple and easy! But you get some so much more out of it than you’d imagine.
You are doing squats with the safety of a chair.
Your strengthening your legs, building the muscles back up to allow you to walk more easily.
The exercise will put a spring in your knees to power you up to standing.
That spring in your knees will take you so much further when you’re walking.
For some, it takes a great deal of effort just to push themselves to standing after their stroke, particularly with also only having the use of one arm. But all that effort is not wasted! You are giving yourself a full body workout just to achieve that. Working muscles, gradually building up strength in those muscles, so it will get easier over time. And it will take time, and effort, but the benefits are your reward for that effort.
And the biggest benefit of all deserves its own paragraph. Exercise gets the blood pumping, circulating faster throughout the body. Transporting food and, most importantly, oxygen, to the brain, where its needed most right now. Speeding up your recovery. Its a no brainer really.
Go for it Helen-G, you can do it when you B&Q it 
Take that leap of faith in yourself. Your body has given you a second chance to live, don’t let it down now 
Lorraine
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