Hypothyroidism & Losing Weight

What has worked for me is to not"exercise".I have an immune disorder that makes me feel more tired than other people. I just park futher away when I go to the store, for example and try to use stairs more.I also have done weight watchers microwave meals for lunch and dinner and get most of my calories/points in the morning.Try to not drink pop.I found if I exercise my hunger gets out of control so the traditional exercise will help you lose weight theory doesnt work for me at all!!! I was a size 18 and now am a 14!! woohooo!!!! good luck!!!!!!!!!!

S.,

My sis has the same back problems and Fibromyalgia...she was in so much pain she went to the ER asking for sugery. Her doc suggested Pilates to help strenghten her back mussles. She has only been doing it for a few days and already feels better. Water arobics might also ba a good option for you....it's easy on the joints.

Good Luck!
D.

Hi S., I have read all the responses and they are all very good. However, I think your main request was how to find and keep motivation. Like me you may already know what to do but you can't get motivated. You may feel overwhelmed with the task ahead and feel almost hopeless.

I think the best thing is to start in really small steps. Do something with which you are guaranteed to succeed. A very small step might be to add one piece of fruit to your diet daily. Or it might be walking to the end of the driveway once a day. Tiny steps that are easy and impossible to fail- after a while you will see that you have put together a number of small successes. Thats where your motivation comes from! At some point you will realize that you are ready for the next step which might be to implement your plan. You should have a plan written down that has all the components of a good lifestyle and weight loss plan. Here you can use all the good advice below like walking, counting and recording calories, eating high quality carbs, etc.

Now for my personal advice. With your history it sounds like you have constant inflammation which makes you hurt everywhere. Rheumatoid arthritis responds to high doses of fish oil and a clean, mostly raw diet. As soon as you have mastered the little steps and have found your hope and motivation, then begin adding some high quality supplements. A good progesterone cream is also very helpful. Forget about a recumbant bike. You'll probably herniate another disc simply moving it! Your doctor is quite wrong about walking. You can walk off the entire weight amount if you wish. However, the advice about weight training is right on! Muscle burns more calories. I have read that book Body for Life and it is great. I think he recommends way too much protein but that's my opinion. Another excellent program is Michael Furman's : "Six Week Body Makeover". www.provida.com/makeover It is unbelievable! The weight falls off like sheets of clothes. My only criticism was that the sodium was a tad low for me. Michael is the one who did the workout portion for Extreme Makeover. (not sure if that show is on anymore)

All these books can be found at the library. Another one to check out is Fat Flush Plan. It explains why your body wants to hang on to all that lard.

OK, thats about it. Work on your motivation first and start with small steps. Write down your plan so it will be ready when you are. And remember one pound of fat stores 3500 calories. Use this formula to calculate how just 500 extra calories a day for one week will cause you to gain a pound a week (for the rest of your life) or conversely: LOSE a pound a week. Good luck.

Your situation is frustrating for sure. Have you heard of Arbonne? They have a website www.gofigure8.com that has message boards (where you can find an accountability partner to help meet your goals together), sample menus, great shake recipes, and helpful hints for healthier living. I have lost almost 15 pounds just replacing my breakfast meal with a protein/fiber shake about 4 times a week and taking the hybrid vitamins from Arbonne, and I haven't felt this great in years! The protein is vegetable (not soy, which can cause hormone problems, or whey, which can cause stomach problems) and the fiber gives you 12 gm of fiber, which is half of what an adult needs in a day. They also give you extra vitamins & herbs to support your weight goals and they really stick with you.

I have more info & can help further if you would like! I am also a pharmacist, and hope I can help you! Check out my business listing here! The business may not be a fit for you, but it might & you can learn more to see how you can work around your family's schedule & make some extra money!
God bless,
A.
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Hi S.,

Good Morning!! Sorry to hear about your problems,but i'm in the same boat as you...I have a hernaited disk plus other problems plus I had a heart attack last november,and the doctor wanted me to walk...I started walking and it does help..Who ever told you that walking wouldn't help didn't know what they were talking about...I walk every day and it sure helps me...I was weighing 190 and i lost down to 171,and I'm not taking any diet stuff,plus I cut back on my eating...It will help my friend...I've been looking for a second hand excersice bike but haven't found one...an excersize bike will take the pounds off,seriously....Take care,and have a great day...

G.

Hi S.. First let me start with saying, I am 37 and have been where you are at when it comes to several medical conditions and weight gain--along with trying everything under the sun and it NOT WORKING to lose the weight! Then, I found Herbalife and it changed my life! Not only am I not on any of my prescription medications any longer, but in two months time, I lost 40 pounds and 55 inches and I have never, physically or mentally felt better in my life! I must tell you that the only reason I became involved in selling the product is because of what it did for me. I, too, had tried working out faithfully, personal trainers, Jenny Craig (which the food alone costs $125 per week) prescription diet pills (which made me cranky, shaky and rapid heart beat)all of this, to no avail..........I am only 4ft 11in and had never weighed over 115 lbs in my life, other than when I was pregnant, then I was only 150 pounds. My weight soared to a whopping 177 pounds! I have before/after pictures that will absolutely floor you! Anyway, there are women & men who take the Herbalife product line and have been able to stop taking prescription medication for fybromyalgia (something I had) high cholesterol (also something I had) high blood pressure, IBS (something I had) menopausal symptoms (something I'm starting to have! :))) thyroid problems (something I had), rheumatoid & osteo arthritis (something I had) and, of course, weight loss. Not only have I lost a TON of weight, but my energy level has shot through the roof and my mental clarity (concentration, etc) is better than it has ever been. This is an AMAZING product line and it has changed my life! If you are interested, please call me at ###-###-#### or ###-###-#### and we can discuss the product more in detail, along with my sucess story and what products you would need to be on with regard to how much weight you want to lose and any/all health issues at hand. You are free to talk to your doctor about the products before starting any of them. I have also heard testimonials of pregnant women who took the Herbalife products, rather than prenatal meds and, with their doctors approval, did wonderful as far as easy delivery and getting back to their "pre-baby weight"..........

Also, I noticed that you are a stay at home mom. You may also be interested in the money making possibilities within this company...............they are endless and you can start making income in a very, very short amount of time.....the product really sells itself. When your friends and family see how fast you shed the pounds and how much better you feel, they are going to WANT WHAT YOU HAVE! So, give me a call, let's chat and see if I can help you look better, feel better and maybe even put some cash in your pocket!

I look forward to hearing from you,

S.

I've found the book Body For Life to be helpful. You can get a copy from the library without spending any money. The key is that muscle burns more calories than fat (I've heard this other places, too), so you want to do strength training regularly. The program takes only 20 mins./day. You can benefit even if you don't follow it exactly. How quickly you want to look & feel better will determine how closely you follow the program. I can't do all the exercises given, and you don't have to. Just do the ones you can.

Check out the book "Lean, Long and Strong" by Wini Linguvic. She helped Montel Williams get back into shape after being diagnosed with MS. He actually wrote the forward for this book. All you need is a balance ball, yoga mat, and some hand weights. She recommends a certain cardio exercise, which is fabulous for those of us over 35, which can be done either walking/jogging or on a bike or eliptical machine. If you follow the book, it will change your body, but you have to be dedicated. It is not a diet program. My husband and I used the book until we needed more of a challenge. At 39, I am in the best shape I have been in since I was 30. Good luck.

hi
i don't have the thyroid problem but do have the disk probs. have a ruputred one and bulging one surgery soon. i took steriods went from 150 to 265 in 3 months so have the weight issues also. walking will help u is all i do n in the last 4 months have lost 45 lbs. u simply have to walk long enough to break a good sweat not so much fast as steady. no stopping to talk with neigbors and such just keep strolling. is what i was told by my dr. don't know whats with urs but walking helps alot. do what i do if u have a dog put it on a lease n go my dog has saved my life litterly as with the weight came diabetes n heart attacks if not for him i would not get out of the house. don't let that dr discourge u walking helps u lose weight. i walk once someties twice a daymostly once though about 15 mins n as i said 45 lbs is a serious amount to lose. also cut out ur soda n most breads not all as thats never gonna happen. i still have a soda now n again but not the 12 pk a day like b4. good luck hun n let me know what happens. i am hear if u just want to talk. feel free to e mail me or im as mine r the same ____@____.com again good luck n don't think u got to run in order to lose weight. oh another thing i can not ride the reg bikes either due to back n neck. let me know k

That doctor is full of bull. Walking is the best form of exercise. You don't have to go full speed. Just moving helps. Drink lots of water, cut back on portions, eat more vegetables and fruits. This is the rule I go by. Seperate your plate in three. 3/4 of your plate goes to fruits/vegetables and the other 1/4 your meal. Three to four ounces of meat with a 1/2 to cup of starches will do. And walking will help your pain in your joints, you will see when you start getting used to walking and losing a couple of pounds the joint pain will ease some. My mom changed her ways and has lost 25 pounds and she had joint pain, etc. That no longer is a problem. She feels and looks great!

Good luck.

Sincerely,
A.

Why don't you see if one of your doctors will refer you to a physical therapist to get you started on a program. They are the experts in exercising for people with medical problems, and most insurance will cover most of the cost. They may only be able to see you for a visit or two, but they should be able to get you started with some inexpensive home ideas. As a physical therapist myself, I'll tell you that you should be able to make a good start with walking (I disagree with the doctor on that point). For weight loss and health, it's important to add weight training though, and in a healthy way. You can buy very inexpensive weights and videos at Walmart or other big stores, but it's important to know how to use them safely. In the meantime, try to look carefully at your meal portion size and snack habits...that's the mistake most of us make. Try not to eat more than would fit in a coffee cup (not a tea cup) at a meal and only eat if you are TRULY hungry (ie. stomach growling). Also, try not to finish your child's meals, as this often adds lots of sneaky calories. Good luck.

Hi S.,
You talk about excercise, but you don't talk about your style of eating. The reason your doctor said you need so much exercise is because it takes so much to burn calories that if you aren't eating less you will never lose weight, an example it takes running the length of a football field 4 times to burn i think it was 11 M&M's which are my favorite by the way.
What you need to do is write down what you are eating for a couple of days then look at the calories you are taking in either get that from the packages, a calorie book or I use www.weightcommander.com I use this site for free i never joined it has the calories for a lot of fast food.
Then cut back too 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day. Stay closer to 1,200 but if you go up a day don't beat yourself up. A lot of people think calorie counting is hard but most people are creatures of habit and eat the same things and most products have the calories clearly marked now because so many people use them.
Don't think of this as a diet think of it as a life style change keep eating the things you like but in smaller portions so you don't feel deprived then add better things in and cut those bad things out. Also start exercising small when you are cooking dinner do side kicks or back kicks with your legs as you are walking from room to room do lungs as you can tolerate, do pushups against the wall. I am not sure if your back can handle this one but lay on your back with your knees bent and lift your butt up off the floor. See if you can get higher and higher as you can tolerate don't over do build up too it. More arm work you can extend your arms and start doing circles front way and back way. Another exercise is laying on your side and doing leg lifts.
But your main focus has to be what you are eating and the exercise you can tolerate second but also don't give up on the walking any movenment along with watching what you eat will help you lose weight.
Another big thing to watch out for is drinking your calories DON'T DRINK POP of any kind not even Diet, when you go to quit do it cold turkey and if you start to get a caffine headache drink just enough to get rid of it. DietPop can actually make you crave sweets.
Stay away from Low fat foods they make the body think sugar is coming and causes your body to react to that and then you over eat. EAt good fats from nuts, avacodos, olive oil MSN health is a great resource for menus. EAt brown rice, whole wheat or whole grain breads and pastas dont cut out your carbs just eat good carbs, lots of lean meats chicken and fish.
Add water at least 8-10 8oz glasses a day a lot of times when you feel hungery you are actually dehydrated which causes fatuige and several other problems
Also if you crave a lot of chocolate you could be Magnesium deficiant.
I did all of this and went from a 22-16.
I hope some or all of this helps
if you have any more questions just e-mail me.
Good Luck i know you can do this it will be tuff to start but once you do and the weight comes off you will feel healthier.
Another exercise i thought of is holding something and doing the ABC's you draw them in the air but you have to bend at the knees.

Hi S.,
I'm sorry to hear about your health issues. I pray things get better for you. Is there a Curves center in your area? I ask because I found once I made up my mind to live better, Curves was the first place I turned to. The workouts are as strenuous as you make them. I work out with women of all ages, sizes and varying ailments. I hear them say how much Curves has helped them, not only to lose weight and inches but has helped some of them with their health issues. If you live near one, it's worth checking into. If not, then try to find some type of support group (family, neighbors, church family, friends) where yall can come together and possibly do some appropriate exercises. A little bit goes a long way. Keep me posted.

Hi,
I'm a Genetic Key Lifestyle coach -- which means I help people with weight and diet issues like a personal trainer helps with exercise. Good news! There is hope, for your weight issues, thyroid issues, and even rheumatoid arthritis. I can't talk about helpful supplements here because of the rules, but I will give you a few things that are free. The easiest and healthiest weight loss plan is the low glycemic plan. Put simply it's this: Weight has a lot to do with two hormones. Insulin is the "bad guy" hormone that tells your body, "Store up fat, winter is on the way." Very helpful in times of famine, etc., but not so good for those of us trying to lose weight. Foods that digest quickly and turn into sugar in the bloodstream stimulate the release of insulin. So don't eat sugar, refined flour, etc. Instead eat fruits and vegetables, raw if possible, protein, and other foods that don't cause an insulin response. Google "low glycemic diet" or something similar and you will find more info. Glucagon is the "good guy" hormone that says, "spend the fat!" Exercise releases Glucagon. So -- regardless of what your doctor said, you CAN lose that weight and become healthier by eating low glycemically (NOT low fat or low calorie) and by stepping up the exercise. Walking is a great way to do that! Out of time and space, but feel free to contact me if you would like more help.
S. B.

Hi, I have a mild case of Hypo. I have achy joints to but I remembered that taking Flaxseed oil or fish oil capsules will help; plus, MSM and it really has helped.

Motivation is hard to come by with hypo. I would say, focus on what you can do and do that. Something is better than nothing.

I found some short-cuts with dieting. Instead of fried french fries, bake them. Do you know ketchup has a lot less calories than Rancy dressing? Sherbert has a lot less calories than yogurt. Pretzels is better than chips. 3 Musketeers is better than a Snickers. You can cut your calories in half by taking short cuts. When I crave junk food, instead of going to a fast food store, I will fix chicken nuggets and baked fries.

I live in New Orleans, when I crave a beignet, I fix my homemade waffles with 1/2 wheat flour, egg white, skim milk, and lite syrup!

Now that it is summer, maybe you can find a place to swim- that's a great way to get weigh off.

With three children, get out and play outside with them. Play kickball and dodge ball - they will love it!

Hi S.: My name is A.. I have the solution to your problems. I am a weight loss and health and wellness coach. We have a product called Suddenly Slim. It is not a diet, it is a reprogramming of your body. It takes your body from fat storing to fat burning. I PROMISE it will work for you. You need to cleanse your system and that is what our products will do for you. The average weight loss for a woman is 8 to 10 pounds in the first 10 days. It will get you motivated to lose your weight and you will start feeling better immediately.

We also have a product called Rejuvacel which is for your rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other health products.

Please visit my website at www.firstfitness.com/aleader and/or call me at ###-###-####.

Looking foward to hearing from you.
A.

I know your pain , I too have a bad back in fact I am hold together by rods etc.I use yo do a excrise show call Sat and Be Fit. I am now in class when it is on.Also swimming and water arbrocies in good for us.

Sounds like you have your hands full. Is it possible to try and find a used recumbent bike? There are stores that sell used equipment or maybe though the newspaper. Or, what about a swim class at the ymca? Maybe they have some swim classes for arthritic people. That would be non-impact. It is possible if you have insurance, that they may pay for a recumbent bike or swim classes if you Dr. writes you a prescription. Even on state insurance, a possibility. Worth checking out. If you do go back to school, they may have a gym you can use for free. Your Dr. may know of some resources that could help financially with medical equipment. Ask your Dr. for some exercises that you can do at home that may work for you. He or she even may be able to get you some physical therapy to work with a therapist that specializes in working with people with arthritis. It could greatly improve your mobility and flexibility. Best of luck.

Is your Dr saying your thyroid is being replaced so it is staying in the normal range, now? Some of us do better in the higher end of the normal range to have enough energy to loose weight. And, since you are going to an endo. I assume he or she is checking the T4 as well as the T3. If they are not both right, you will still feel tired and you will not be able to loose weight. I know they often say your body will make it yourself, but mine does not do a very good job of it so I need to take 2 kinds of pills. I wonder if your Dr knows your thyroid replacement is not enough and that is why he/she is saying you need to do major exercise to loose weight. For diet and exercise, if you are eating and drinking less calories than you use, you should loose weight even if you do not exercise. Maybe you need to find a doctor who will give you what your body needs. But if you really want to exercise, have you tried swimming? The water helps to take the stress off of your bones; it can be a real workout, and it's fun, too. Some pools even have classes for people who need to do gentle exercise and nobody worries about what they look like in a swimsuit, there.

Hey S.. I too was unhappy after having my 7th child and weighing 280 pounds (I am 5'6"). I used a cocktail of diet tricks and exercise and within months I was back to my "happy" place. I used Herbalife- all natural ingreidents(my mom is a diabetic and when she used Herbalife she didn't even have to take insulin). I walked 3 times a day(short walks) and I did yoga as well as low cardio and I bought those $2 dumb bells you can get from WalMart and used those during the day for my arms. Do not overdo yourself only what feels good and by taking Herbalife I was able to boost my metabolism, not worry about my blood pressure and lose weight by "my" standards of exercise. I hope this helps. PS You can find ____@____.com

Hi S.,

I have similar health issues and weight problems. I have tired diet after diet, exercise program after exercise program and supplements galore. I either couldn't/didn't stick with them or they didn't work. However, walking has been the most help...don't believe the doctor when he says it doesn't. Start out slow and short then increase your speed and length of your walk as you can. Just remember to push yourself a little more each time.

Having said that I must add this, I am at my last resort and am having the lap band surgery. At least I hope I am. I am going through the process of qualify for the surgery...it takes gathering information and pulmonary, psychiatrc and cardiac evaluations. It also takes a record of up to 6 months (different length of time for each insurance company and doctor) of your weekly weigh ins and record of some sort of exercice program. Personally I have a weekly appointment with a dietician to check my weight and get diet advice plus I joined curves. I know this sounds lengthy but the process is supposed to be worth it. You will lose a considerable amount of weight, it can reverse type 2 diabetes and stave off other health issues. Just a thought that you might look into it...I googled lap band and then found someone in my area who does it. You also might want to check with your insurance first to see if the surgery is covered.

Surgery may not be an option for you but I thought I'd throw out the possibility. I'd be interested in what you decide to do. Feel free to pm me at any time. Good luck.

W. Q

Hi!
I also have arthritis, at 45 I was told I had the arthritis of a 80 year old. I have suffered with this any many other conditions since my accident 21 years ago. In December of 2007, my doctor introduced me to a product made from the mangosteen fruit. I drink it 3 times a day. I am excited to say that I no longer take percocet, flexeril, lyrica, cymbalta and many other prescription. My pain is now a 2. It was a 8 or 9 every day.This is based on a 1 to 10 pain scale.
My inflammation is 90 % gone. I can walk without a cane or walker.I am now exercising everyday for the first time in 21 years and losing weight. I never could before I started the juice.
According to Dr.Finand from his book The Mangosteen Reference:
He states that this is not only a thyriod condition, but also a condition that is caused by a breakdown in the viablilty of the gut mucosa. Mangosteen juice heal the gut and should also cause beneficial effects on the thyroid. In the past 21 or 22 months this doctor has been using this juice with patients, he says that he has seen thyroid conditions improve dramatically. The doctor continues and says that many people will not longer need thyroid medications because the underlying cause is healed which causes thyroiditis.
Check out my website: www.kar.gomangosteen.com
Good luck,
Keep in touch, Let me know what you think!
____@____.com

Hi S..

I can sympathize with you. I was diagnosed with it a few years ago. But don't blame the weight on your thyroid. It accounds for only a pound or two. Any more weight gain is most likely due to lack of exercise and too many calories! I would like to shed about 10 pounds myself. I am 55 and it is a lot harder to shed those last few pounds at my age.

As for what kind of exercise you can do, I am at a loss, due to your other medical problems. If you drink soda, stop! Even diet soda is bad, if not worse, because of the artificial sweeteners. When I stopped drinking caffeine-free diet Dr Pepper, I lost 12 pounds in two weeks! Sodas are the worst drinks out there! The carbination is not good for you, either. I wish you lots of luck and hope other mothers have more advise!

Hi. I know a little about hypothyrodism as I am a nursing student and happen to enjoy reading on edocrine disorders. As you probably already know the hypothyrodism is what is making the weight stick. Walk!!! This is the best excercise and will strengthen your muscles and also eventually help to give you the energy that you are lacking due to the disorder. I am not sure if you have a joint disease but if they are hurting you try a little tylenol about 30 minutes before working out to help relieve the pain that you may experience with the walking. Put some up beat music on to help get you going. Eat healthier foods like grilled chicken breast and fresh fruits and vegetables. You may not see a large change in weight but you will be building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat so even if you do not lose alot of weight you will be changing what your body is composed of. I do not know what other family conditions you are wanting to prevent but a size 6 that does not excercise is in worse shape than a size 16 that does. Try not to concentrate on the weight as much as the health of what you will be doing. Hypothyrodism slows everything down even your energy but the walking should help to boost that some. Even if you cannot walk 30 straight minutes on some days do 10 minutes 3 times a day when you have a busy day and this is just as good as a 30 minute session. Good luck and hang in there.

Check into intervals and check out Leanne Ely *the Saving dinner diva). She has a wonderful show on blogtalkradio.com (Wed. at 11 usually). She frequently speaks about her thyroid problems and how she lost 65 lbs. She knows tons about the right food, vitamins and exercise to take off thyroid weight. You can even call in and ask her and she'll run you through what she does. She's great. Her site is savingdinner.com and her show is on blogtalkradio. I love it and it's helped me eat better and get motivated to take care of myself! Don't be shy to call and tyalk to her - it's like talking to your sister.

Hi S., good on you for taking the first step toward a better life. It took having cancer for me to realize how terrible Western culture's eating habits are. I've always had a horrible diet, but not a weight problem. I gained 40 lbs while I was on chemotherapy (they overdosed me on steroids, it was a nightmare). It was during this time that I did a lot of research and realized how to eat right. Its not a diet, but a lifestyle change - you have to think of it that way. Most fast foods - even the higher end restaurant chains - use a food additive called MSG. It works on a neurological level to enhance taste. Unfortunately its highly addictive, and it happens to be the same chemical scientists use to fatten their rats for obesity studies (google "MSG fast food" for more info). They also use it in just about every processed food you find at the store. It gives a whole new meaning to "you cant eat just one"! and is why Hot Pockets taste so darn good even tho you know they shouldn't. Try eliminating this chemical and its kind from your diet - and your children's, it is possibly the culprit for the host of childhood neurological disorders like ADHD, Autism, etc. as well as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - its in just about everything we eat, even so-called "health foods". Refer to the above google for all the names it can hide under. This alone should help you see a difference. Then start really kicking up your veggie intake. I started thinking of meat as a side to our vegetables, and it really helps - I can use 1/2 lb of meat in a stir fry and feed my family of 4 - with leftovers. All the money I save on the meat goes to more fresh fruits and veg. We've been eating healthy for about 3 years now and the best side effect (other than my dropping a pound a week, all without exercising - all 40 lbs!) is that I was able to take my youngest off her allergy meds. My girls have only been sick once or twice since, and when everyone else was dealing with the stomach flu for weeks, they were ill for a day or 2. Dont get me wrong, we still love our ice cream and brownies, but I shop smart or make items from scratch rather than box mixes. If you need some help figuring out what to buy or how to get started, please contact me. I've helped several other young women cancer survivors in my support group and they all swear by it. (one of these days, I'll get around to that cheaters' cookbook I've been promising to everyone - how to make everything from Hamburger Helper to Hidden Vally Ranch - oh yes, your salad dressing is the BIGGEST culprit of all) Your body needs all the nutrients that can only be found in natural foods for proper cell growth. You might even find that it helps solve your thyroid problem too. Sadly enough, doctors don't tell their patients that a simple change in diet can solve most of their complaints, leading to fewer visits to the doctor. If you are interested, you can check out my photos at myspace.com/_rebus_ to see the weight - and lifestyle -difference it made for me. I hope I can help :}

Doctors are probably right to tell you that in general need to exercise to lose the weight as it will help your metabolism, esp building up some muscle. Need to start by making sure that your thyroid is under good control, if you have RA then have your rheumatolgist review your meds as some, like prednisone, can make you retain water. Watch the salt. Then I would suggest that you try to find somewhere to swim if you can - apartment complex/YMCA as even walking in a pool is good exercise since the water provides resistance and it's pretty easy on the joints. I find that there are all kinds of crazy things on Craig's list - there is a bike section and you could post a wanted ad for free. Uphill battle, I know, but keep your chin up. Good luck.