@indigo1015:

Wow, if you're getting that many steps in a day you're doing well. Part of the difficulty of exercising at this time is COVID, of course. Your gym is probably not open. Plus the hardship of everything being closed and boredom-eating at home.

I have trouble getting enough exercise too. I am quite weak from a Winter of depression (bipolar). It's this way every year. My mood goes up in the Spring and i start getting more active and discover how decrepit i am.

I gained so much COVID belly fat that i am now short-of-breath with the slightest exertion, even putting on my socks. I've been walking every morning with my neighbor as we both have dogs. At one point in our walk we have to go up a 100 meter ramp and it's no use, i can't speak during or for some time after we go up it.

I can't walk and talk at the same time. I'm sure it's because my enormous belly is putting pressure on my diaphragm which is struggling to expand and contract. We have to condition our muscles to accept oxygen so i allow myself to pant as vigorously as i want to try and improve my physical fitness. I am in a sorry state.

But with COVID raging, i can't race around the city like i usually do having adventures. That's how i usually get in shape quickly in the Spring. But there's no place to go and nothing to do so i just ate all Winter and was inert.

It's Day 11 of a new diet and things are going well so i feel some faint hope but it's going to be a long haul. I even have a referral in to my hospital's weight loss management clinic where they offer an aggressive weight loss programs putting clients in keto for six to twelve weeks by having them drink only Optifast protein shakes. It's a quick way of losing a great deal of weight and then for the balance of two years they teach you how to eat a moderate, home-cooked diet.

I just don't know if i am up for that kind of suffering tho. It sounds pretty intense. What do you think? But i am suffering as i am now for certain. It might be a good way to make some quick progress. Doing my own calorie-reduced diet according to The Canada Food guide on my doctors advice will take years. I'm about 100 pounds overweight and in menopause so losing weight is extremely difficult.

Well, hopefully i haven't scared you off and we can keep in touch and compare notes on our progress with our efforts to exercise. Sounds like you have a history of eating disorders; so do i. Weight is a struggle but if we support each other it can only be easier!