Those stabilizer muscles respond really well to PT. Have her see an orthopedist ASAP to get set up with that. If she's never been in any kind of organized sports with a decent coach (i.e., learned how to exercise properly) she shouldn't be winging it. Anyone can seriously injure themselves if they don't know what they're doing and extra weight increases the chances considerably. Yes, this involves a bunch of research and grabbing free advice from wherever you can. (Like the PT who'll be working on her knees — I had a shoulder injury a while back and befriended my PT. He wound up giving me thousands in free training advice that had little or nothing to do with my shoulder.) I saw what you said about her being impatient, but her impulsivity is gonna put her out of the game long-term, or even permanently. Do what you have to do to get this into her head. You said she was smart and self-motivated so that's a good thing. Forget personal trainers though, as most are not professionals. By which I mean their certificates are bullshit, there's no regulation by any medical authority. I could get one no questions asked by the end of the week. There are exceptions but the really good trainers charge as much as a freelance physical therapist so if you've got that kind of cash hire one of them. The good news is that regular exercise boosts appetite and all things equal she won't lose much weight, and her curves will look better with some muscle underneath.

>>79398 She sounds like she is in a pretty similar situation to my wife. When we met, she was 295 lbs. Throughout our relationship and marriage, she got up to about 375 at her highest (never got to the 400+ I always dreamed of). Then she started having issues with her knees as well, and her blood sugar started getting too high, so she took tirzepatide (sp?). That has helped her numbers get to a good level, but unfortunately it has also suppressed her appetite a bit and she is down to somewhere in the 330s (she doesn't tell me and, and call me chicken, but I know better than to ask as it will lead to a discussion I don't want to have). It's why part of me would like to see her slide off her diet/exercise regimen and start gaining again (I think she has kinda plateaued, but not entirely sure), as I loved it more when she was fatter and enjoyed eating, and kinda not see that happen, as I fear if she gained too much back she might try more drastic measures. She also had some balance issues related to the stabilizer muscles around her knee - she fell twice in 2024-25, once on a cruise ship and once on our driveway. Those were what really got her started getting in shape. (Like your wife, she can be very focused on achieving an objective - the kind way of putting it, unfortunately the less kind, and more honest frankly, way of putting this trait of hers is that she is pig-headed and will not be able to see any other perspective except through he lens she sees things through). So she has been doing a modest exercise routine to work on her knees, and it seems to have worked. While I did enjoy her more limited mobility - we're not talking someone who could not walk more than 100 feet without needing to take a break (but oh, I wish she had gotten that big), but at lest one who you had to take into account her limitations when planning trips (e.g., take a bus tour instead of a walking tour). So that is kind of good (nice to have her join me in more activities when we are travelling), kind of bad (miss her being limited by her weight, esp. when she was gaining). She saw a physiotherapist for a while (as long as our insurance would pay) and she watches some on YouTube (like Bob & Brad) for the exercises she practices. And she sees a doctor for the occasional steroid shot for her knee (I think it's an orthopedic specialist - she did something to it this weekend and she is pretty sure she tore her meniscus, so is thinking about going in - dirty mind that I have, I am here wishing it would lay her up and she would be eating a lot and fatten back up, but I fear that ship has sailed). And together, these all work. So your wife will definitely be able to get herself back on track, with a little professional help, she'll get her knees back in shape. I just hope for you that she doesn't take it too far and lose more than she really needs. And be ready to mourn what was and will never come back. As a middle-aged dude, that to me is the worst of middle-age: things don't always get better, and I feel like my best days are behind me now. (Wow, what a depressing note to end on. :D)