Getting professional help

Maria finds it difficult at times to regulate her emotions, keep focused on her goals of losing weight, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with all that entails, and managing her pain. So, she decides she needs some professional help. 

Her physiotherapist friend had already said something to that end when they met at a party. She said that when it comes to exercising correctly and according to someone's particular needs and limitations, it's always a good idea to have a personal trainer helping you. He or she will make a plan according to your physical condition and to your limitations. 

In the case of Maria, her knee OA is something to take into consideration and avoid vigorous intensity activities such high impact aerobics, heavy weight lifting etc. Her trainer can make some proposals and Maria is the one to decide according to what her preferences are. The same goes for her dietary habits. She loves eating sweets but needs to cut down on her excessive intake of sugar. She needs to drink more water and eat and cook in a healthier way. So a nutritionist can help her out, make her make a dietary plan and stick to it. 

Maria sometimes has the motivation to do all this, she feels excited when she realizes that whatever she is doing has a positive outcome. On the other hand, there come times that she feels frustrated, unmotivated and depressed, because of her pain and because things are not progressing very quickly. At that point she is thinking of giving up. Her friends tell her not to give up and to try a bit more.