I know you're not in great shape medically, but how mobile are you? Because if you could manage it, setting aside 5-10 minutes (ideally 2-3 times a day) for some gentle physical activity, would also likely be useful. Doesn't really matter what kind of exercise you do, although it would be best to choose something that you think you'd be able to stick at.
I mean, I'm not suggesting you take up jogging or high-intensity aerobics or anything similarly sweaty
— but even something as simple as going for a short walk, maybe just around your building, or around your block, would provide some benefit. Or if joint-pains/impacts are an issue (or it's raining again!), maybe something even lower-impact than that (and indoors), like yoga/ Pilates/ t'ai chi (there's plenty of workout videos available on YouTube), or some time on the lowest resistance setting of an exercise-bike or rowing-machine (if you already have one).
It's pretty trash right now. For a long time I was put on a GET (Gradual Exercise Therapy) regimen but it became more and more difficult instead of easier. At this stage I am not 100% certain where my max limit lays in comparison to what I'm physically fit enough to do, and in comparison to my weight. I'm at least confident that my weight didn't make me worse in that regard (I reached this level of mobility issues
before the weight gain), but I'm very aware that it's an obstacle in doing anything about it.
Between 2014 and 2016 I went on a daily 40-50 minute walk that had an incline portion. This became more difficult as time went on, eventually getting to the point that I had to cut out the incline portion and then from there to reducing the length of time. It used to be that I could (reasonably) head outdoors for a couple hours and I wouldn't be in bad shape by the time I got home. Nowadays, the moment I step outdoors it's a ticking time bomb on when it'll start having long-term impacts. My walks now are absurdly short at 10 to 15 minutes; this limit prevents long-term effects. Usually any type of outing to, say, the doctor will result in me ending up in bed several hours earlier that day and I'll also likely feel worse for a couple days afterwards.
Eventually they released a study that GET is actually kind of bad for you for people like me. Instead it's recommended that you find a type of exercise that you're more "comfortable" with and then focus on that instead of adhering to a general physical fitness program. Problem here is that I don't know what that entails and the discovery process is very expensive. I got an exercise bike for my birthday in anticipation of this process and also because the summer usually traps me indoors (my heat comfort is at around 12 C with the sun shining, so the 30+ C months are... unenjoyable).
The results of that have not been great, I don't think. I max out at a mile (which is better than what I can do on foot) and I don't have any long-term impacts if I do it slow enough that I complete it in over 8 minutes. But that's not a great speed and it also didn't get easier. My innate frustration and impatience spurred me on to try and get faster and I did reach a 4-minute mile a couple times but this resulted in some pretty bad knee pain and a body that was very unhappy with the ordeal for five days afterwards. Since then I've been sticking to half-mile cycles but I don't have anything to show for it after three months.
I'm considering a switch over to stretches and self-body exercises (like squats). Or, well, I was back in late July. Then August happened and knocked me on my butt for a few weeks.
My squat limit is outrageously low at something like 3 squats per day, largely because of my left knee. But I did notice that doing squats reduced the pain in the long-term, so even if I don't switch it may be worth incorporating squats anyways since there's a noticeable positive impact (something I can't say for honestly most of the things I try).
Huh. This was a long reply. Sorry.
(Swimming is also great exercise for people with limited mobility — and being immersed in cool water stimulates the body to mobilise/burn additional calories for warmth — but obviously requires someone to have the ability/ time/ funds/ inclination to get to a pool in the first place.)
I would love to go swimming. Per the recommendation above, I hold a belief that it would be the best chance of finding an exercise that I would enjoy. I adored swimming when I was younger. I could swim for hours by myself contently. But as you mention, the overhead in swimming is pretty extensive. There is a pool
somewhat close to me but it's very crowded (it's the one they used in the Olympics, I believe) and from what I can tell there are no disability groups in the city that rent out portions of a pool for people who don't want to, or can't, deal with flailing limbs and hundreds of splashing bodies in close proximity. I'm not really sure what's going to happen on this front but it is a vague goal for the future.
just.. why? buy some onions, carrots, taters and root vegetables and put them in water. it's that easy. bullion is littered with salt/msg/stabilizers and loads of other things your body doesn't care for. I'm all for making stock in bulk, I literally collect vegetable trimmings, leftovers, skins and all that good stuff in ziplock bags instead of throwing it out, and after a week or two it's enough to make a pot of stock for free. only requirement is you eating a lot of fresh produce.
That requirement is something I can't do and I'm on a high sodium diet anyways.
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