Injury/Weight Gain

[Trek420]

(((ACG)))

Do you like to swim? Is there a pool at your gym? When I have a joint injury that's what I like to do.

[NbyNW]

Just want to chime in with some moral support -- it can be so hard to feel like you're losing your hard-earned conditioning while waiting for an injury to heal.

Tulip and Trek420 both have good suggestions. Keep your PT and doc in the loop about what exercise you are planning to try, though. They may have suggestions for working around your specific injuries.

And another plug for Pilates -- it's awesome for keeping up/building core strength while a leg is healing, because for many of the exercises, you are on your back!

There are also a number of exercises you can do in a seated position, which might be worth looking into -- scrunching a towel btw your toes and then pushing it away, arm weights and Magic Circle stuff.

I know it can be really hard to find time for yourself when you've got a ton of obligations. I don't know much about your personal situation, but sometimes something's gotta give. I hope you can find a little time each day to put yourself first, even if it's only 15 minutes. I remember when I was a kid and my mother was sick, we all had to step up a little and chip in to give her the time and space to heal. It wasn't easy, but we figured out how to make it work.

Best of luck and lots of hugs!

[badger]

I was going to suggest the pool as well. You can "swim jog". Put those floatation belt things and "run". Boring as hell, but supposedly a great way to keep in shape while keeping weight off your legs.

[OakLeaf]

Ask your PT, but it seems to me that anything in the water is really hard on the hip flexors. It is to me, anyway.

Does your gym have a hand ergometer? I don't get much cardio from one of those before my muscles wear out ... but it's a chance to develop some upper body endurance, and eventually you would be able to get cardio from it.

[DMC]

Last year I got two pubic rami stress fractures that took me out for 8 months. I could swim after two, but no bike or run for 8. It was a nightmare.

I gained about 8lbs, but I didn't really watch my diet as much as I could've because...I'm human. Cutting calories by eating smaller portions worked best. I cut carbs a bit, but as long as I wasn't eating tons of bread, it was ok. I shouldve cut booze, but an 8 month layoff would drive anyone to drink, so I just tried to take it easy on the beer.

Use a pull bouy in the pool so you don't aggravate your hip flexors.

And pilates was key for getting me ready to get back on the road, so I second/third/fourth/fifth that suggestion.

Ask your PT to tape the hip flexor for you with KT tape, and that will help support it when you're walking.

Just be patient and remember that weight can be lost again. I know its hard, but its not worth reinjuring yourself.