Exercise options

[Hammer1]

I weigh 465 lbs and have bad knees. I need some advice on what exercises are good for me.

Hammer

[not2late]

How bad are your knees? That is can you walk? Can you pedal an exercise bike? Can you swim?

[Hammer1]

Originally Posted by not2late

How bad are your knees? That is can you walk? Can you pedal an exercise bike? Can you swim?

I have very little cartlidge left in my knees, so too much walking at my present weight is out of the question. I can ride an exercise bike and swim though. How about something for the abs?

[not2late]

Okay if you can ride or swim---do it. Both are great for cardio. It's the cardio that helps to burn the fat. Resistance training, like lifting weights, will burn some fat, but also tones individual muscle groups.

Arms and chest: free weights---use cans of food or telephone books or heavy paper weights: anything in fact.

Abds: to tone the muscles, you can do things like sit ups. Many people have found that a "stability ball" (also called "exercise ball") helps when they do these exercises. If you look through the Exercise Forum, you'll find threads about them.

You might want to ask the folks in the Exercise forum about "seated" exercises. IIRC, there is a seated exercise video or something of that nature.

[2big4mysize]

glad you are getting started. I got bad knees and can only walk even now at goal weight. Swimming is good cardio and there are wonderful water aerobic and resistance exercises you can do. see if your pool offers classes.