How to help my dad save his health?

Posted by Both_Imagination3335@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 15 comments

My dad (59) recently had a health scare and had to be hospitalised. He is back home now but it has really given me a scare, although I was worried something like this would happen for a while now. He has been obese my whole life. His BMI is 38. He has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and last year he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He has tried a couple of times to lose weight but it never lasted more than a couple of months. He was always against weight loss jabs but I think his recent stint in hospital might have changed his mind. However I’m a bit worried that these aren’t necessarily a long term solution. He has a very sedentary lifestyle, office job, but will be retiring in a couple of months. The only exercise he does is going on a walk maybe twice a week. But in the winter he hasn’t really been going out that much due to bad weather. I guess I’m just asking for what maybe worked for other people similar to him? Maybe we could get him an exercise machine to use when the weather isn’t great? I think he could also do with socialising more - any recommendations for suitable activities where he could make friends while also getting more active?

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15 Comments

Tammer_Stern@reddit

Does he want to improve his health, to the extent that he will exercise or change his diet? I ask as 80% of people would, in reality, not change even if a doctor told them to exercise and diet (due to life threatening health problems).

Scottie99@reddit

If he doesn’t have the will to do it fir himself then sadly you are chasing a lost cause.

Go2Matt@reddit

Mounjuaro (i) helped brin my Blood sugar down very quickly, Combined with calorie deficit. and adding some exercise by bloods came back really good my Hba1C dropped from 78 to 44 and now 12 months later its 20'odd Combined with walking or weight training. 59 really isn't old, I'm 52 this year, And i still think i'm in my 30's, (20's) Which my weights in the gym say otherwise, I'll be coming off my BP meds soon as my BP is now in the normal range and dipping below everynow and then

Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit

He needs to change his entire lifestyle and attitude. Nothing worth doing is supposed to be easy. The quicker he accepts that the quicker he’ll get his life on track. I was hospitalised and diagnosed with Crohn’s disease a few years ago and I had to change almost everything about my life. I now eat clean and stay as active as my illness will allow me to. If I have a moment of weakness and eat something I shouldn’t then that’s quickly followed by a lot of pain and a lot of trips to the toilet where I crap blood until my flare passes. I now consider my health to be my wealth. Life is short so make the most of it.

waglomaom@reddit

Cardio - walking initially and then very light jogs once he loses weights and is able to. Diet (extremely important) - cut down processed and junk food/ sugary sh*t.

Mrthingymabob@reddit

Would he wear a smart watch? You can get a Google Pixel 3 45mm for about £120 on ebay. Good for step counting, heart rate monitoring etc. It can also do no pulse and fall detection. Weight loss jabs and fast walking will shed the weight.

Intu9999@reddit

GLPs or Weight Loss surgery. He’s probably not going to qualify for surgery yet which is to his credit, however he is an ideal candidate for the jab. Regardless of how people feel about them and any moronic ideas that excess weight is something to be shamed into overcoming - GLPs actually save lives. In many cases they enable people to actually start exercising. It goes without saying that being really big and having a bunch of things wrong is a huge amount of of strain before you even factor in movement. Let some of that be addressed first.

GLPs or Weight Loss surgery. He’s probably not going to qualify for surgery yet which is to his credit, however he is an ideal candidate for the jabs. I have no idea why people are so against a literal solution to a huge problem for so many people. Regardless of how people feel about them and any moronic ideas that excess weight is something to be shamed into overcoming - GLPs actually save lives. In many cases they enable people to actually start exercising. It goes without saying that being really big and having a bunch of things wrong is a huge amount of of strain before you even factor in movement. Let some of that be addressed first.

Used-Ad9589@reddit

In my 40s on they heavier side, crippled and lots of aches and pains. After talking to a doctor about feeling constantly tired especially in winter, he highlights Vitamin D is a real ISSUE in the UK especially during the long winters, not helped by my not going out much (wheelchairs suck), he recommended taking a Vitamin D3 1000iu tablet daily (cost me like 3.99 for a years worth from Amazon, 1 a day, not big either) and after a few weeks I felt a difference. the Dr explained it's not really spoke about in the UK but it is quite a common issue, and there is a LOAD of side effects from not having enough Vitamin D. Worth looking into as an EASY help for him, it also helps with mood. I am still crippled so struggle getting out and about but honestly it's made enough of a difference I am more willing to look to my diet and make some adjustments than I was prior. Exercise machines are super handy if you have the space as they don't tend to take up a massive amount, rowing machine or more popular a bike is a typically good option, especially after a recent scare he might be more inclined to give it a go (would recommend the Vitamin D too).

xxxxsteven@reddit

Walk more. Eat less. No alcohol or fizzy juice

MangoonianLord@reddit

Unfortunately it comes down to the individual. No one can force a lifestyle or habit change onto someone. I feel that you're worried for your dad's health though and it's understandable you want him to be as healthy as possible. Weight loss mostly comes down to dietary changes. Exercise is fantastic for health and should be paired with eating nutritious whole foods. He might enjoy lifting weights. The starting strength programme is quite good. At your dad's BMI, the weight should start coming off really quickly. He would notice a paid reduction while the body depletes water weight and glycogen levels but this would even out. This is when people can become unmotivated - when the scale doesn't move daily. GLPs can be good but they appear to be used consistently for the rest of your life to keep the effects. This might change in the future though, so GLPs alone cannot be relied on for weight loss. They should be combined with diet and exercise.

I completely missed the type 2 diabetes point. He should also contact his doctor about how to make life style changes. The NHS are quite good at this and, given his condition, a doctor should be consulted when making any kind of life style change like this. The doctor might be able to recommend a trainer/coach, but he would need a specialist due to diabetes.

Love_Sausage_2909@reddit

Walking. More of it and regular, aim for a mile or so at first then increase it. He needs easy slip on walking shoes and a decent jacket so there's no barrier to just popping out and doing it. If he likes books then a set of Bluetooth earplugs or headphones and audible subscription. He needs good habits and walking is by far the easiest and most accessible.

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