Injury/Weight Gain

[FH Cyclist]

I am recovering from a broken ankle so I understand your concern. I have 3 thoughts for you

First: I didn't see how old you are but if you are over 35 or have a history of hypothyroidism in your family, consider getting your TSH level checked. If your TSH level is over 3, consider getting on thyroid medication. Many doctors and most labs think you shouldn't get medication until your TSH level is 5 or above but the Ameican College of Endrochronologists revamped the recommendations in 2002 or 2003. Just Google "correct TSH level" and you'll see the information. Current estimates are that, with the new guidelines, 20% of women over 35 are hypothryoid. If you are hypothyroid, it will be difficult to lose weight even when you are exercising and difficult to keep from gaining if you are not exercising.

Second: I didn't see any mention of your size. 1500 calories doesn't seem like a lot to me and your body could be moving into survival mode. Your body may rhino you are starving and so is working to keep weight on you.

Third: consider keeping your intake of processed sugars down to 25 mg a day. There are nutritionists who think processed limits should be a part of our diet, like the salt recommendations. See the Nutrition Action newsletter for a great article on the matter. This can be very difficult to do but personally I am beginning to believe sugar begets the need for more sugar. Prior to keeping my processed sugar eaten daily below this level, every chocolate cookie within a 5 mile radius knew my name and called out to me. BTW, fresh fruits and vegetables do not count in this total - only processed sugar.

I broke my ankle 1.5 weeks ago while hiking and was paranoid that my weight would climb during my recovery. I am not allowed to put any weight on my ankle for 6 weeks. The good news is it doesn't appear that I have gained any weight - yet. However I have moved from doing 120 miles a week on my bike to sitting around all the time with my leg elevated. I'll have to see how this all works out but I am hoping to keep any weight gain within 5 pounds. Curtailing my sugar intake is one of the ways I will try to do this.

[ACG]

Thanks for all your kind responses and suggestions. I decided to start a new thread because of

I'm going to try to respond to everyone's suggestions and try not to be winded, but here goes.

I am 49, so perimenopausal, I don't know. I don't have any wierd symptoms, except maybe the weight gain? Getting my TSH level checked is a good idea, so I'll call my doctor.

Don't drink sodas, processed juices, fancy coffees or other sports drinks haven't for a long time. Do drink pure unprocessed cranberry juice once a day and lots of water. I love apples, so I'll try the one apple a day. I normally eat about 4-5 a week now. Don't eat cookies or candy much. I don't buy it so I can't eat it.

As far a processed sugar, not sure where it would be? I cook from scratch so no processed food here. Grow my own tomatoes, so even manage to make sauce from scratch most of the time. But who knows maybe I'm eating it and not knowing it?

My podiatrist said I have one leg longer than the other and fallen arches, so I have arch supports now. They only fit in my tennis shoes, I bought these shoes at a running store specifically for the arch supports. I have work shoes I bought with arch supports in them and use a lift. For the most part I try to get away with tennis shoes at work, this doesn't always fly as sometimes I need to be in a suit.

The hip flexor injury is on the left side, the stress fracture on the right. If I continually do my stretches twice a day, the hip flexor is kept at bay. The hip flexor is from bike riding. The stress fracture is from running.


I'm not in PT right now, the doctor won't clear me for PT yet, so maybe a few more weeks then when I see the doc again, he'll let me go to PT.

So now I am seeing a trainer and doing upper body on Monday and llimited lower body/core work on Tuesday. I try to swim Wednesdaya and Friday and yoga is Saturday. The doc now lets me ride 25 miles on Sundays.

I'll just putter along I guess and keep an eye on my intake of everything. thanks again