BL, my body started acting up on me when I turned 50. I also can't seem to lose weight, despite all my efforts. I know what you're talking about.
I used to run and loved racquetball, but I tore the cartilege in my right knee and damaged it even more by continuing to run anyway, taking shots to relieve the pain. Finally, I had to have surgery to remove all the cartilege. The doctor warned me never again to run, jog, do racquetball, tennis, NOTHING, no impact or load-bearing at all -- EVER. (I only have scar tissue as cushioning in my knee, between my bones, no cartilege at all.)
I took up rowing. There is no impact on my knee or my feet at all; all my weight is on my butt during the entire workout. Same would be true for cycling. I can bike ride with no problems.
It sounds like cycling might be too painful for your feet, but I doubt that rowing would. Can you invest in a rowing machine? I row with only a pair of socks on.
Alternatively, have you considered pilates? It's practically all floor work, and it's a helluva workout!
BL, please don't let this get you down. I know how you feel, because I've been there. I still miss my running, and when my friend tells me about her racquetball tournaments, it hurts. But I discovered rowing, which I enjoy even more than either of those sports. You can do the same, you just have to keep at it. You might discover pilates and become really great at it -- or (even better) I might convince you to get into rowing, which is a LOT of fun. I row to a videotape of an eight on the Charles River, and it feels like I'm right in that boat, rowing with the other 7 Olympic champions -- the exercise is over before I realize it, and when I climb off the rowing machine, I discover I'm dripping in sweat. Then, when I get on the water for real, it's fantastic.
Don't give up! Keep researching; you'll find a sport you like even more than walking and weight-lifting. I promise.
Bev
-------------------- <img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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