Need Exercise Advice...Torn ACL

[GeauxForIt 659]

I'll be 10 weeks post surgery on Monday. I'm unsure if the actual pounds lost to date as I shunned my scale, but I'm at least 2 sizes down on all of my clothes so I know I'm losing.

I've never exercised "formally" in my life as I abhor it. But...I know that in order to maximize my weight loss and be as healthy as possible, I MUST start.

I face several challenges in making time to exercise. First off, I have three small children; 2 in preschool, one in grade school. All three have homework which means Mommy & Daddy have homework!

Secondly, I commute about an hour and 20 minutes one way to work every day. I literally live on one side of town and work on the other side, and work 8:30-5.

Lastly, walking (the supposedly best way to ease into exercising) is off limits bc I have a completely torn ACL in my left knee. Physical therapist said no exercising that involves me picking up and putting down my foot!!

I'm not really in a financial position right now to join a gym, and I can't see having the time to go anyway. I have a wonderful husband who does more than his share but our daily lives are jammed full from start to finish, and we already don't get enough sleep!!

Help!!

[Tink22-sleeve 528]

Maybe try some mild arm exercise with hand weights- start with just 2-5lbs. Thas what I did after a total knee replacement. Good luck!

[johnlatte 1,232]

Resistance bands might help with strength and tone, but you have to do something to elevate your heart rate. Do you have any type of access to a pool? Swimming is good exercise and is not bad on the joints. Stationary or recumbent bike would be good to. You can search craigslist and probably pick up a used one pretty cheap this time of uear.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Recumbent stationary bike.

That said, I have 1 torn ACL and 2 torn meniscus and I jog regularly. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but the more I jog the better my knees feel. I have a DVD of a guy who had his femur shattered. You can see the indention under his skin where the ACL used to be, but it's gone now. That leg is 3" shorter than the other one, but he runs like a deer. It's all about technique.

[GeauxForIt 659]

Do to jog with a brace or anything?

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Do to jog with a brace or anything?

I read the book "Chi Running" plus several books about barefoot running. Once I adopted that running form I never had another knee pain because that running technique takes the impact off your joints and puts it on your muscles.

[GeauxForIt 659]

I read the book "Chi Running" plus several books about barefoot running. Once I adopted that running form I never had another knee pain because that running technique takes the impact off your joints and puts it on your muscles.

Good lord, I have a lot to learn. Who knew there were running styles!!??

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I know. It's funny. It's just a subtle change in technique that most people do not do naturally. Once I started doing it I suddenly felt 10 times better about running.