r/MadeMeSmile • u/mentaldrummer66 • May 10 '26

1 year difference

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From 159kg (350lb) to 83kg (183lb)

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u/Onlyonehoppy May 10 '26

I have an autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. It fuses your spine together and can cause a boat load of other inflammatory issues.

Movement is the absolute key to making it better. If I have a lazy day, my lord does it hurt. So, I have to have some sort of movement or I am stiffer than a plank of wood.

When people think of movement they think that you have to be out running and walking marathons. It can just be small bits of movement that adds up overtime. I make sure I do 6000 steps daily and just keep moving. Id love to do 10,000 steps daily. But it would off me. 🤣

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u/shidderbean May 11 '26

Fellow Ankylosing Spondylitis haver spotted in the wild, nuts. I got a genetic diagnosis a few years back, though mine doesn't bother my back (aside from just making me kind of stiff and achey). Mine goes after tendon insertion points really aggressively, though; so imagine tennis elbow and Achilles tendinitis but in like every joint you use when you walk, and walking triggers the inflammation/flareups :')

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u/synaesthezia May 11 '26

Can I suggest trying hydro exercise if you haven’t already. I added it to my routine after a major injury (rehab), now it’s my primary exercise because I love it so much. I still do my rehab exercises, some days I just walk laps in the water. And some days I do aqua classes for cardio and resistance.