Facing Frustrating Odds: How to lose weight with COPD?

@rjireland, perhaps check to see Chair Yoga is offered in your area. Chair Yoga can help with weight, mobility, balance, strengthening, etc. Also ask your mom’s doctor for suggestions AND assistance. If you have a local Community Center or Senior Center, contact them and see what options they can offer or suggest. Good luck, and God bless you for caring about your mother’s welfare.

@rjireland chair yoga is a great idea and there are also other exercises that can be done in a chair. Look for YouTube videos and also talk to her doctor for ideas. Perhaps she can do some physical therapy to help? Another idea would be some type of water exercise as that would keep the weight off her joints.
Blessings,
JoDee

Hi @rjireland and welcome to Connect. You may have noticed that I moved your post to the Caregivers group so that you can connect with others who are also caring for loved ones. Simply click VIEW AND REPLY in your email notification to be brought to your post.

I wanted to thank @capausz for responding to you, and also introduce you to @IndianaScott @rmftucker @harriethodgson1 and @jodeej as they can provide support as you continue to care for your mother.

In addition, here is a great discussion introducing other caregivers: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meet-fellow-caregivers-introduce-yourself/

Back to your mother, has your doctor suggested anything?

Also, how are you @rjireland doing and feeling while taking care of your mother?

@rjireland Good for you and your mother in trying to live your best lives. Since it seems your mother can sit, I suggest beginning with deep breathing exercises, correct posturing, consciously contracting and releasing muscles below the waist (isometric), and completing movements for upper body mobility and strength. This would include raising arms from lap to overhead while inhaling/lowering arms while exhaling. This movement alone can be repeated with the arms beginning at the sides. Perform arm curls (bend arm at the elbow bringing fist to shoulder) again with breathing. Exhale when constricting/inhale when extending. And then begin with hands at shoulders and press up as if lifting a bar (again include the breathing). These can be done in sets of 10 (or as many as possible) several times during the day. Once these movements become comfortable you may begin adding light weights (a can of peas or the broom stick). But please check with her physicians before beginning any exercise program. If at all possible I recommend Physical Therapy, as they will assess her abilities, needs and goals in cooperation with her doctor. You will need a referral from your doctor, but I have found it well worth the time and effort. Good luck.

Welcome to Mayo Connect, @rjireland

Thanks for your efforts to help your mom at this difficult time of life. As @jodeej and others have suggested try a YouTube search for "seated exercises for seniors." Here is a link with several programs on YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=seated+exercises+for+seniors
Here is another link for "wheelchair exercises."
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=exercises+done+in+a+wheelchair
There are several varieties of different types of exercise programs that can be done seated. They are usually short videos and your mom can stop when she begins to feel tired.

Will you post again and let us know how you and she are doing?

I have been a widower for a year and look back on all the "good and positive" attempts to help. I agree with all the suggestions given here. Just don't fall into the trap of saving the person from the inevitable. My wife did as much as she could, I did more than I should, and in the end what mattered was the love, respect, and recognition of the humanity of that person you love. I drove myself crazy postponing (or so I thought) what came at us. I know there are exceptional cases where the caregiver comes up with real enhancement. I like to believe I stretched out our time together, but who knows? When you can't make something happen or they won't or more likely can't do something it's a red flag for take some time and step back and weigh what the patient really needs vs what you can realistically can offer.

@jimwills Welcome to Mayo Connect. Your words of experience sound as though they were hard won. My condolences for your loss. You did the best with what you were faced with, and I don't know if we can ever fully understand the value or hindrances of helping the way you did. What brings you to Mayo Connect?
Ginger

I imagine what brings me here is the same thing that brings everyone. In those quiet moments we realize we are not alone. That there is an army of silent caregivers all around us. Quietly serving or trying to put life together again. When health was present we didn't know this job existed, when it came we slid into it before we knew it. I'm here to more fully join these unwanted, unasked for roles. My awareness of all of us gets larger every day. People who are caregivers are special, giving, unselfish humans. We'd rather not be here, but we are. Who wouldnt want to hang with these kind of people.

@jimwills We look forward to your continued participation. Feel free to look in to the other caregiver threads! Your wisdom and presence will be welcme!
Ginger

Right you are, @jimwills Caregivers are definitely a different breed of person! We have had a type of trial by fire that none of us were prepared for, trained for, nor asked for. As a result I believe we are part of a fraternity of sorts. The initiation is tough, but then again as I often said to my wife 'honey, I have the easy part. I just have to take care of you, while you are the one fighting the war!'

I hope your healing continues through the grief of your loss.

Stength, courage, and peace!