Cardio That's Easy on the Back

[TLaw]

Hey guys and gals,

Let me give you some background. I've been reading these forums for about a year now. That have helped me tremendously. In the last year and a half I have lost well over 100 pounds. I started off HERE about a year and a half ago, (All the way on the right, the whale lookin guy) and THIS at 180 pounds taken 3 months ago.

I've been very good about my cardio and lifting, and my diet. About 3 months ago I was in a car accident and jacked up my back pretty good. Now it's at the point where I can't walk 50 yards without having to get on my hands and knees and crawl home, down from 4 miles a day in just about a half an hour.

My question is, what kind of cardio/lifting can I do, that's going to be easy on my back because I'm steadily gaining weight not being able to be active. It's driving me nutty not being able to do anything.

Any help would be mucho appreciated.

Thanks,
Travis

[vogue]

hi bud i know how you feel
I hurt my lower back about 5 years ago, the pain was unbareble i used to have to craw to go to the toilet and even getting dress was a problem
I couldnt bare it any more i stuck it out for 2 years untill i had no choice but to have surgery not once but twice.
my weight was increasing every day untill i got up to 120kg and couldnt stand it no more.I started to walk every day and introduce weight training i got down to 81 kg
im 6 feet 1 that was a bit to low for my height so now i am 94 kg thanks to my bulking cycle

cheers
vogue

[TLaw]

Thanks for the encouragement. This experience has been rough on me. I worked my tail off to get my weight down. So to not be able to go out and exercise is like torture. One of the things about me, I was a big guy, always was. I have eating problems that I struggle with every day. I eat without even thinking about it. I will be in a conversation, and I'm eating while I'm talking without even realizing I'm doing it. The worst thing is some people talk in their sleep, or walk, I get up and eat without even waking up. I've kept it controlled the last year by working extra hard to keep my weight maintained. I need to get over that, just hard to stay motivated when you can't even take a simple walk.

I'm heading back to the back doctor today to see what else they can do for me. I bought a bike, and it seems a little easier on the back, just hard to get over that metal rod shoved up your ass feeling.

[fitjosh]

Hi Tlaw.

i would recommend you using a sitting bike , http://rehabworks.ksc.nasa.gov/image...mbantbike2.jpg , this should be quite easy on your back

[LongboardLuLu]

Yes recumbant bikes are very easy on the back. I had to use one during physical therapy (non-back related injury, but have prior back problems) and I felt no stress on my back at all.

As for the exercises, it's good that you're going to talk to your doctor first. You don't want to risk further injury/pain at this point.

[vassille]

You can also try the stepper machine, don't think is hard on the back

[TLaw]

Thanks everyone, you've been extremely helpful. I would hate all my hard work to go to waste. I earned the healthy weight, I want to keep it.

[fitjosh]

good luck , keep us posted