"A couple of months ago, I had foot surgery. Slowly but surely it has been healing - I can wear a pair of real shoes now! Anyway, my doctor told me that I was not to think about running, power walking aerobics, etc. for at least 6 months as the bones in my foot are "soft" - due to being immobile and bound for 3 months. So, I've managed to not gain any weight but I sure would like to take some off. My legs got a little buff by wearing braces and dealing with crutches. The rest of me is starting to feel like a marshmellow. Any sit-down type exercises you could suggest?"
[Signed: Dough-girl]

Does the name Dr. "House" mean anything to you? He should scare you into self-healing. Time, exercise, and common sense - use them all wisely.

The irony in the US today is that there are thousands of diets and exercise programs available, billions of dollars spent on both. And yet, the USA has 60% of the population clinically obese..hmmmmmm. OK, needed to get that off my chest! I do know that there are all kinds of exercises you can do sitting down. Exercise for Dummies has a section on office exercise, airplane exercise and of course, a variety of simple stretches. In the vast outland of the internet, there are numerous places to check. Physical therapy is all about muscle tone, and that's a good source. In any case, I love that you are on the case...me? It's sweat, grunts, groans and limiting my diet. Good luck.

This sounds like a job for an exercise physiologist! Ask your doctor for a referral to either a practitioner or to a good "how-to" book on appropriate exercises. There may be some isometric routines you can do that would take a lot of exertion, but would target some specific areas of your body to improve muscle tone. Good luck!

Not being a medical doctor or sports medicine expert, I am not sure which exercises to have you do. My recommendation is that you look to these professionals for advice, especially the later. Just thinking of the beating that athletes take in professional sports, your injury will be like a "walk in the park" for them!

Get yourself a cheap set of dumbbells and a book on weight training. If you do weight training intensely enough, you can get a good aerobic workout as well. Most exercises can be down sitting down or on a bench. If you can't afford to buy a weight training bench, ask a male friend in your life to make you one. It's incredibly simple. Women tend to let their upper bodies go to hell. Your recovery is a perfect time to learn how to build those muscles (thus increasing your metabolism). You can also use tubing to do muscle building. Get yourself to your local fitness store and check stuff out. By the way, if there is a "Y" near you with a pool, you can get great aerobic exercise that way.