Calories Post-dog
TimothyFish
Posts: 4,925 Member
While riding my bicycle, I hit a stray dog and fell over onto the pavement. After coming to a skidding halt and being checked out at the emergency room, I discovered that I had three broken bones in my pelvis and some very sore muscles. Bicycling and pretty much anything other than walking short distances with a cane is out for a while, so I'm more sedentary than normal. But I've read that the healing process requires additional calories. Perhaps the two things balance each other out, but I suspect not.
Should I reduce calories because I'm burning fewer calories? Or should I increase calories because the healing process is burning more calories? By how much?
Should I reduce calories because I'm burning fewer calories? Or should I increase calories because the healing process is burning more calories? By how much?
0
Replies
-
I'm sorry to hear about your run in with a dog. That has happened to me twice but with nothing broken. Just wanted to say I hope you feel better soon. Maybe eat at maintenance while you heal
0 -
Sorry to hear about the accident. Hope you feel better soon!
As an animal lover, I also have to ask: Is the dog okay?0 -
I would just switch your diary to 'sedentary' and maybe switch it to a very low loss (.5/week) or maintenance. That way you don't gain anything but you're taking it easy, so to speak? I've never heard healing takes MORE calories, but what do I know. I would think as long as you don't over-exert yourself physically, you won't slow the healing.0
-
That's awful, so sorry for you! I have also heard healing takes more calories. This might be one to ask the doc, or phys therapist if you are going to see one.0
-
Sorry you were hurt. I don't exercise, have my settings at Sedentary, .5lbs/week and eat close to what MFP gives me. Down 10lbs in 2 months. Typically, MFP is set up that you won't need to work out to lose weight, so just change your "lifestyle" to sedentary until you are back on your feet.
Oh, and the dog. Was he ok?0 -
All biological processes burn calories, but if you have any fat on your body, there's plenty of fuel to burn for all of them.0
-
-
Yet another reason to not like dogs for me!-1
-
So sorry to hear! Heal up, rest up and don't stress too much about the calories for now. Just focus on getting well.
Prior to your accident, were you using the MFP/NEAT method or the TDEE method? If TDEE, recalculate for sedentary and eat at maintenance or a small deficit while you heal. If MFP/NEAT, just don't log the exercise you don't do.0 -
0
-
TimothyFish, I do hope you get better soon, it all sounds very painful indeed. If it was me I would switch to maintenance and let the body do it's healing.0
-
From the Women's Sports Medicine Center patient information leaflet (includes info for men as well):
"How many calories should I be consuming since I will be inactive?
Now is NOT the time for weight loss! When people are immobilized, they worry about gaining
weight. However, you should NOT decrease your calorie intake because you will be inactive. In
fact, your calorie needs are now greater than usual because your body requires energy from nutritious foods to fuel
the healing process. You will need to consume about 15-20 calories per pound (using your current body weight). If
your overall energy and protein needs are not met, body tissues such as muscles and ligaments will begin to break
down. This will compromise healing and may prolong your recovery period."
Since you're a man, I would guess it would involve more than 20 calories per pound, though0 -
The dog didn't have an accident; its owner did for letting it run free in the road. The owner of the dog should have been sued for this, but of course, there's no way of knowing who the negligent owner is. My father, when he taught me to drive, emphasized that NO ANIMAL is worth more than MY LIFE. If an animal is in the road, whether tamed or wild, do not swerve, do not slam on your brakes, and if you hit it, oh, well. Just last year three teenagers died from swerving to avoid a freaking raccoon on the road.
Timothy's accident was completely avoidable had the dog's owner been responsible enough to contain the dog in a fenced back yard or in the house.0 -
atypicalsmith wrote: »
The dog didn't have an accident; its owner did for letting it run free in the road. The owner of the dog should have been sued for this, but of course, there's no way of knowing who the negligent owner is. My father, when he taught me to drive, emphasized that NO ANIMAL is worth more than MY LIFE. If an animal is in the road, whether tamed or wild, do not swerve, do not slam on your brakes, and if you hit it, oh, well. Just last year three teenagers died from swerving to avoid a freaking raccoon on the road.
Timothy's accident was completely avoidable had the dog's owner been responsible enough to contain the dog in a fenced back yard or in the house.
that's true. it's the owners fault. doesn't take away from the fact that VeryKatie's dislike of dogs is misplaced.0 -
He specified in the original post that the dog was a stray.
Sometimes it's nobody's fault. Life just happens and it sucks.
Anyway, this post isn't about whether to like or dislike dogs. It's about whether eating more calories to speed up healing is worth doing. And yes, it might be worth eating at or near maintenance for a little bit, at least at first, just to focus on letting your body heal and not stressing it further.0 -
He specified in the original post that the dog was a stray.
Sometimes it's nobody's fault. Life just happens and it sucks.
Anyway, this post isn't about whether to like or dislike dogs. It's about whether eating more calories to speed up healing is worth doing. And yes, it might be worth eating at or near maintenance for a little bit, at least at first, just to focus on letting your body heal and not stressing it further.
How on earth could he have known it was a stray? That was an assumption by a nice guy who assumed that only strays would possibly be in the middle of the road trying to kill him. And yes, this is about healing and how many calories to consume. I agree with everyone who said to go into maintenance mode as it makes the most sense.0 -
No collar, maybe? I don't know.0
-
No collar, maybe? I don't know.
When a dog suddenly jumps in front of your bike, and you try to avoid hitting him by slamming on your brakes, and whether you hit him or not, you're ejected from your bike onto the cement breaking several bones, and the dog runs away, chances are you don't notice whether or not there was a collar on the dog.0 -
atypicalsmith wrote: »He specified in the original post that the dog was a stray.
Sometimes it's nobody's fault. Life just happens and it sucks.
Anyway, this post isn't about whether to like or dislike dogs. It's about whether eating more calories to speed up healing is worth doing. And yes, it might be worth eating at or near maintenance for a little bit, at least at first, just to focus on letting your body heal and not stressing it further.
How on earth could he have known it was a stray? That was an assumption by a nice guy who assumed that only strays would possibly be in the middle of the road trying to kill him. And yes, this is about healing and how many calories to consume. I agree with everyone who said to go into maintenance mode as it makes the most sense.
Please, don't overthink it. As far as I'm concerned, any dog that isn't on the owner's property or under the control of the owner is a stray. I don't know if this dog has an owner who feeds it or not. I just know that the owner wasn't around when it happened.0 -
It really doesn't matter either way. A loose dog caused your accident. And even though you are hurting, who knows what that accident might have prevented? Perhaps if the dog hadn't stopped you, an 18-wheeler a quarter mile further down the road might have with worse results.0
-
atypicalsmith wrote: »It really doesn't matter either way. A loose dog caused your accident. And even though you are hurting, who knows what that accident might have prevented? Perhaps if the dog hadn't stopped you, an 18-wheeler a quarter mile further down the road might have with worse results.
Hows that blood pressure?
0 -
This topic got way off base about the dog. The man just wants to know what he should eat - I'm sure he wouldn't be happy to know the dog was injured, but really, it's not even the point. Stray, not stray, injured not injured - he's injured and wants to know what to eat. Reel it in, peeps.
-
I say eat maintenance to heal and not gain weight. If you have doubts, check with your doctor (or maybe he could recommend a nutritionist to speak with on the topic). I hope you heal quickly!0 -
Hitting a dog on your bike isn't a joke. My Dad shattered a helmet and multiple bones after a similar collision. Even a small animal can cause a crash, so you should absolutely try to avoid it and not just "ride through"0
-
I would up it to maintenance level, what ever the outcome is of losing or gaining. A few broken ribs and bruises are no joke and your body needs to heal the first time.
you are not waiting to get an inflammation or other unwanted issues. Let your body heal for some time.0 -
Was the dog a pit bull? Because my answer may change if it was.
(just kidding, I love to stir the pot sometimes)
I echo the other comments that staying at maintenance calories is probably the best bet.0 -
Serious discussions like this one call for serious answers.
0 -
No one knows where the poor dog is?0
-
Liftng4Lis wrote: »No one knows where the poor dog is?
I'm super sad about the dog. I mean, glad OP is okay and all....0 -
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.7K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions