slighty O/T but need some advice...

Get yourself a slendertone flex belt.. You just put it around your waist & let the belt do the work for you. It works by sending little electrical impulses through the pads on the belt & this "exercises" your muscles hundreds of times per minute.

It does take a bit of getting used to & if you wack up the strength a bit much it gives you a bit of a jolt but I swear by it for toning muscles.

You can also get a set that looks like cycling shorts for your bum

Debbie

xx

Thanks Debbie,

I was considering the slendertone belt, but heard its had mixed reviews so was not sure about it. Does it actually work?

xxx

What sort of equipment do you have, and how much can you actually do with your back? I wouldn't like to suggest any exercises if your back causing you serious problems as you can easily make things worse. The best thing to do is get professional advice from someone who can show you what to do and make sure you have good technique. Can you ask your physio?

By the way, if you didn't have back problems, I'd suggest squats and lunges with extra weight for your legs and bum, and abs exercises like the plank and some others like the ones here:

http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/exercise/abs/390/153/abs_exercises_no_kit.html

http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/exercise/abs/390/150/abs_exercises_no_kit.html

Remember though that muscle is below the fat, so no amount of muscle building is going to make you look toned if you have much flab over the top. I know this very well as I have decent ab strength but annoyingly too much flab!

It works for me, I tend to use it about 2 months before my hols & I can really tell. I am a size 16 & can manage to get into a 14 bottoms for my hols if I use it.

Debbie

x

Whilst I would love to give you substantial advice, im very weary about giving exercise advice to those with back problems as it is such a sensitive area... I would recc going for a free trial at your local gym and having a chat with a trained professional there...

xx

HI,

I am on strong painkillers at the moment, but am constantly in pain with my (lower) back. I used to do sits up but even those hurt.

I'm really at a loss on what to do.

xxx

If situps hurt, then I have to say don't try and do any exercise until you have spoken to your physio or another professional. I know it's not what you want to hear, but you risk doing more harm than good.

Sorry, and hope you feel better soon - a bad back is horrible.

Walking up the stairs is fantastic for your bu, and thighs. For your tummy just holding your stomach in will work the muscles and help tone them x

I suffer with a bad back so i know how you feel.

Swimming is brilliant, its good for weight loss and toning muscles and doesnt put any pressure on your back.

Also... pilates is very good for strengthening your back and stomach muscles.

Good Luck! I know how tough it is.

:o)

Can I just share a story about back pain I had and recommend another type of treatment?

I suffered with sciatica a few years ago and couldn't move much at all. I went to physio for months and tbh they made it worse (no offence to any physios). I was off work for 4 months and my H finally made me an appt to see a osteomycologist and I swear he was a like a magician. I went from being unable to move (literally from my back down I was paralysed with pain) to being back at work within 2 weeks.

I still have little niggles but nothing that stops my everyday life. The day before I went to the magic man I had called the emergency doctor out at 3am as the muscles in my back went into severe spasm and I could hardly breath because the pain was so bad. It took about 7 days to feel a bit better and then every day I improved.

The information I got told was simply unbelievable. For example I used to sit on the couch on my left hand side and tuck my feet under H's bum to keep them warm! I had done this for about 2 years until my back was sore. At my appt I wasn't asked anything but from looking at me he could tell my pelvis was out of alignment and asked me why I always crossed my left leg over my feet and at this point I thought he was having a laugh and I was wasting money as I always cross right over left. When I said no he said that I have done something for years with my left leg crossed/bent/folded....obviously I had been! Then after massaging my back he asked if I kept having to pee (I had been to the doctor a few days before complaining on this exact thing and they didn't know why) and it was because I had so much inflammation it was pressing on my bladder.

Sorry for going on but I'm very passionate about my treatment because it really did work wonders and without it I actually fear I would still be in the same position. I only had one treatment which lasted an hour and cost £45 and it was the best £45 I’ve ever spent to get my life back.

If you google ‘osteomycologist’ you’ll be able to find practitioners in your area and read up on it more.

Might be worth a try as it sounds like nothing is working for you so far and being on strong painkillers isn’t ideal. I got dependant to Cocodamol because it was the only thing that worked to ease the pain slightly.

x

Thanks PurrfectGems,

i might give it a go. I would probably off work now if i could afford it and didnt have a wedding to pay for. Plus, i feel fine in myself so i dont see the point in staying at home moping around. If i had to drive to work, i would probably reconsider. But OH drives as we both work together. I'm currently on really strong co-codemol along with anti-inflamatries.

Thanks for the advice girls,

xxx