injury & weight

[Miranda]

Since my crash, I have not been able to do any exercise. Besides affecting many other things in my life, it's also affecting my weight. About 5 pounds gain in the last few weeks.

Especially with age (40yo, btw), it is almost impossible to maintain or lose weight without regular exercise, IME/O.

Exercise also improves my mood. When I'm depressed, I find myself just eating more and more "comfort" junk that I know I should not. And can not eat without exercise to burn those calories up.

Without exercise, starving is about the only other thing I know to do. Anyone whose done that knows it's not fun.

Any thoughts or tips on how to survive in the meantime?

Btw, pending a doc's follow-up appointment next week, I might also need surgery on part of my injury. Thus, it might be a while before I am well again to work out... plus, doc sent me to PT--att, we could not brainstorm a solution.

TYIA,
Miranda

[tctrek]

Yep -- you probably need to drop your calories a bit. Try logging what you eat so that you can "see" it. Cycling does allow (and require) us to eat additional calories to stay fueled, but unless you have a super metabolism you can't eat like that without riding.

When you are hungry for comfort food, try an apple or an orange... it's the best food for you, low in calories, etc. Also try green tea to help curb your appetite and lots of water... that helps me to feel full and water can actually help you to lose weight.

My doctor also told me that Alli really works and that I could safely take it to lose weight. Unfortunately, I don't eat enough fat for Alli to do anything for me... but if you are eating a higher fat percentage. you could try Alli and that will back it down for you -- be sure to read the warning about "incidents".

[Selkie]

You might want to focus more on recovering and eating healthy than on gaining a couple pounds. Unless you're eating like a linebacker, I bet that 5lbs in mostly water weight. You're allowed to walk, no? Take a walk if you need activity. Once you are healed and are active again, you will drop any weight that you might gain during your enforced time off. This is from someone who was sidelined with a broken clav and a broken elbow (different times)--I had the OK to walk during both recoveries and did so. The broken elbow happened when I was 40.

[malkin]

During PT for a back injury (when I was 40) they put me on a Total Gym. I'd never heard of it and thought it was some strange device for PT only.

Years later I saw Chuck Norris & Christie Brinkley pitching them on infomercials, and then found one for sale in the local classifieds. It's low/no impact, and can be configured a number of different ways. It has been my friend through a number of different haps and mishaps.

Wrestling it out of the closet is a little tricky.

[Miranda]

Thx for those replies thus far. I think just typing it out and posting helps. Yes.. btw, I do own a journal... but it doesn't have the potential to be interactive.

Well, I drug my painful injured self to the grocery store today. And decided I would shop like I did when I first lost all my weight. This was prior to even becoming a cyclists.

My diet then restricted carbs. Which went I started road riding, and further distances, was the path to bonk city. I've been back in carb land w/training for my century event I crashed in.

No bici means not having those carbs. I think partly my system is just in shock lol! I tried to tell myself that the ice cream I wanted to throw in the grocery store cart was NOT going to contribute to my body healing and being able to ride again.

Right now 5 pounds is not a lot, I know. The hills you can definately feel it. It's just SO hard to get it back off. I just lost that same 5 pounds in a different thread around here. *sigh*

The walking... the grocery just about killed me. I'm in pain 24/7 w/OTC meds. Part of me wishes the doc would just tell me the injury needs surgery and get it over with... cuz, I'm getting no where like this. At least I could be thinking I'm on my way to get better soon.

Appreciate the input.

[OakLeaf]

I'd try to really increase your % of healthy fats and not decrease your protein too much. Soups are very filling, too, and this is a great time of year to up your soup intake. When you're depressed you crave carbs, but that can turn into a vicious cycle pretty quick. Snack on almonds and pecans, pasture-raised chicken soup, etc.

Hang in there. It's been over 30 years for me and I hope it never happens again because I still remember how tough it was. (((((((Miranda)))))))