Eff em el

[Michael Jin]

Battling depression, anxiety, insomnia, and another herniated disc (had ER surgery for the first one back in '05 because I woke up and couldn't sit or stand). Gained 100lbs and despite feeling fat and ugly, haven't been able to lose it due to lack of motivation and also the fact that exercising seems to aggravate my back condition.

Currently drugged up the ass on Ambien, Ativan, Percocet, and Effexor (all legit prescriptions) and can barely function as a normal human being half the time. Yeah, I know... First world problems, but still.

**** my life...

(Just had to get that out there...)

[Ward Pike]

Hope you get well soon. Prayer & meditation help, as does walking. They seem like such obvious trivial things but they really help.

God bless you. We all go through hard stuff some times, you'll get through it.

[Sqye]

.

Yeah, dude. That SUCKS. Feel better soon!

.

[suedesound]

went through self induced health/mental problems myself in the last year. got rid of as much stress as possible, basically took a year off and tried to get back to enjoying life and i'm much happier now. things work out, hang in there. i would suggest getting off all that medication asap if you can and eat healthy and as suggested just go out for walks. small things can add up to alot.

[mingustoo]

If you can find a teacher, a tai chi/ chi gong exercise called 'zhan zhuang' could be just what you need. It is a standing exercise with zero movement done in a meditative state to provide a full psyche rinse at the same time.
But you are doing the right thing by getting your feelings 'out there'. Accept what you cannot change and work to change what you cannot accept.
Peace

[Smooth Apparatus]

Originally Posted by Michael Jin

Yeah, I know... First world problems, but still.

Pain is pain, relative as it may be, and yours is not any less valid. But see about easing (don't just stop abruptly) yourself off of those meds - at the very least, the sleep and pain one if you can. Lol and you ain't ugly, bro. I watched a couple of your youtubes and you're a good looking guy! In fact, I watched them specifically to ascertain that from your post; not to change the tube on a mic I don't even own (though it would have been quite helpful if I did). So you gained some weight? Ok, but got a cute face I'd do you if I was down like that (I ain't), and weight can always be lost. But seriously, that's way too much sh*t to be on, dude (not that you don't know that). As far as exercising and your back not being forgiving to it, the gentlemen above gave great advice; get out there and walk! Bring your iPod (it's garbage, I prefer the Cowon D2) and your in-ear-monitors (surely you don't waste time with ear buds). Daily long walks with your music in your ears are some of what you need. Walk? Hell; strut! You's a good looking guy! Simply being told that things could be worse has never helped me, but as the gentlemen above have said, the little things do add up and that ain't bullsh*t. Be well my friend.

(I'm playful though nonetheless genuine in what I said up there, which I get may have been better expressed with various emoticons. But I hate emoticons, and I also live by a specific "guy code" which prohibits the act of one guy sending (and/or intending for) another guy an emoticon).

[Fletcher]

Can you spare any of the perc's? They're a real favorite of mine!!

[jeremy.c.]

Hey Michael, that's a tough place to be and an even tougher place to pull yourself up from. The key here is as everyone says to get some exercise which should help with weight loss, pain, self esteem, etc., but getting motivated in the face of physical pain is really rough! It can be done and there are people out there doing it. The trick for me has always been to find that physical activity that you enjoy enough that it doesn't feel like work. I found that in walking my dogs and yoga (even really gentle yoga). My back was really jacked up for years and it wasn't until I found the morning dog walks that I got some relief.
Is there someone close to you that can help keep you motivated?

Originally Posted by Smooth Apparatus

Ok, but got a cute face I'd do you if I was down like that (I ain't), and weight can always be lost.

I hope you're at least laughing, if that doesn't cheer you up a bit...

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Can you spare any of the perc's? They're a real favorite of mine!!

Classy! If all else fails you can become a drug dealer to the stars of Gearslutz.com.

[idylldon]

I hear you on the back pain. I have a herniated disc and while the pain finally went away the possibility for a relapse is always there. Because so many types of exercise can adversely affect a bad back, I decided to start swimming a few years ago. I currently swim 1.5 miles three times a week and I'm in better shape than I've been since my late 30s (I'm 56 now). I've always been fit and never overweight, but swimming has really brought a lot of tone back to my muscles and has given me a steady boost in endorphins, which seems to help me a lot since I'm prone to be a glass-half-empty kind o' guy. I also haven't had a cold, the flu, or any kind of sickness since I started swimming, so it must be doing something for my immune system as well.

Anyway, try to find something to get you moving that you enjoy. It's a bitch getting started but once you do you'll notice the payoff and that should keep you going.

BTW, getting off of those drugs would be a great first step if you can deal with the pain. Drugs like those aren't really known for being strong motivators. :-) I understand you need them for pain, but that's quite a cocktail and if you could lose some of them it might help you get going in a better direction.

Cheers and good luck,
--
Don

[Mark D.]

Consider trying MSM. There's controversy over its effectiveness, but some swear by it. It's main indication is to relieve pain assocaited with bones, or cartilage. Many arthritis sufferers use it. It's safe to take, no side-effects. Trader Joe's has by far the best value in the most compact pill per dosage I've found. Other pills are usually lagrer. Try taking one of those 2X a day.

Consider time you have free to study, given not being able to get around a lot. Google 'Glycemic Load' and 'Glycemic Index' (the load is more important than index, enough study of it will explain to you why that is so). Consider adopting that into your lifestyle permanently, it's not a 'diet'. But it will be helpful in you gradually getting to a healthy weight which will help matters.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by Michael Jin

Gained 100lbs and despite feeling fat and ugly, haven't been able to lose it due to lack of motivation and also the fact that exercising seems to aggravate my back condition.

Get a recumbent exercise bike. You can get a good cardio workout without having to support your back.