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)))))))

[ehirsch83]

::hugs::
I sort of understand!! I can do light cardio(but my hip is bothering me big time, so not sure how long I am going to be able to keep doing this or if it is going to make it worse!)
In the 1 week since my crash I have put on 3 or 4 lbs, all around my middle. My body doesn't like to give me boobs or a behind, or even arms or legs- my body only likes to give me a little tire!

I have decided I either need to accept the weight(which is very hard.. I am already freaking out) or start writing everything down. B/C if I have to write it down, I will then understand how many calories I am actually taking in and it will help prevent me from splurging.

I was doing, on average, 15 hours a week on the bike. My caloric intake is having to be cut down big time, and it is hard!
And I am an eater when I get depressed
Plus, people now want to have me over for dinner or go get food- i think b/c they want to make sure I am healing ok. But now I am eating out more then I ever have before, and that is bad for the middle also(plus i don't usually drink, but everyone wants to have a beer or glass of wine, so that is more calories)

I find that, even though it is hard, writing down is the easiest thing to do.
Because, it is simply calories in/calories out.
So if your body needs say 1400 calories a day to run, plus maybe 300 extra for your healing and moving around. Then you know 1700 calories is what you need.

if you want someone to vent to, feel free to message me!!

[yellow]

Ladies, I've been at a much reduced exercise level for a couple of months now and the LiveStrong "My Plate" (which I guess is also called "The Daily Plate") has been my gauge. It's a little clunky with ads but it's really pretty easy to track everything you put in your mouth. Everything. It's helped me (try to) keep it all in moderation.

My Plate

My name is yellow, and My Plate has revealed My Sugar Problem.

[azfiddle]

Hi,

I'm doing weightwatchers (online version), but my daughter really likes sparkpeople.com. I found it a little slower, but it gives a lot more information about other nutrients.


Sharon

[Eden]

Also remember that you are probably still experiencing some degree of swelling in all of the areas where you injured yourself. You may have some water weight that you wouldn't normally have.

[NbyNW]

If you're in constant pain that probably isn't helping your mood any, and I think that's normal.

Did anyone counsel you on how to taper your pain meds? You mentioned OTC but if you were previously on Rx as well, and if you didn't transition properly that could be a factor. (I'm not an expert, but when I was injured it was not my Dr., or nurses, or even my surgeon dad who told me about tapering; it was just a dear friend who shared her own experiences from multiple surgeries).

I was lucky with my injury in that light walks, while exhausting, resulted in less pain than sitting and doing nothing.

As another coping strategy, I think it helped that I was going into my last year of grad school, so my brain had plenty of stimulation and distractions from the pain. An active brain burns calories too! Perhaps delving into a less strenuous activity? Could be anything -- learn a new language, some kind of craftwork (if your hands are okay? I don't remember the specifics of your injury), whatever might feed your soul during a rough period.

Good luck with your Dr. follow-up!

[malkin]

How about a chat with your doc about bigger guns for pain control?
Of course, some people abuse those same substances, but right now it sounds like you are really hurting.

[OakLeaf]

PS - since I wasn't explicit in my earlier post - healthy fats are really important anti-inflammatories as well as being very satisfying from an appetite POV -