others w/physical disabilities?

lutichadoucette

N00b here. But actually tetraplegia is the same as quadriplegia (both mean four). The naming system was changed but they both man the same thing.

I have quadriplegia and am restarting my exercise regimen. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the fact that MFP didn't have gimpy exercises available to select, it's all geared towards the able bodied. I learned that the fit but flex can track wheelchair users activities. So I hope to get more accurate readings once I obtain one

keelyjrs

Hiya, I'm disabled too, sometimes use a wheelchair and sometimes walk with a stick. I have quite a few things wrong which mean I can't really do exercise although I do try to walk when I can. I have a soppy Labrador and love going for walks in the woods with him, and I love nature so I find it really uplifting too

I am trying to stick with 1600 calories and eat more nutrient dense foods when I can. I have just treated myself to an exercise bike which I try to use every couple of days when I'm not flaring up, only 20 mins but every little helps

I chuckle when I see the debates about logging walking as exercise. For me it's really relevant as there are many many days where I'm stuck in bed and can't walk at all, so on the days when I can walk I definitely log it!

couponwheelie

lutichadoucette wrote: »

N00b here. But actually tetraplegia is the same as quadriplegia (both mean four). The naming system was changed but they both man the same thing.

I have quadriplegia and am restarting my exercise regimen. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the fact that MFP didn't have gimpy exercises available to select, it's all geared towards the able bodied. I learned that the fit but flex can track wheelchair users activities. So I hope to get more accurate readings once I obtain one

Maybe we need to contribute our own exercise data to make it more inclusive. I have paresis due to critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy. I've been working to relearn standing and walking, although I've been told at 2+ years out, I may have peaked. My workouts consist of 40 foot shuffles with my walker, isometric strengthening, and OT. PT and OT can wipe me out for the day but there isn't anything comparable in the database. My husband, on the other hand, was able to find chopping wood and hunting listed. Darn able-bodied guy.

What is the fit but flex?

hrnielsen1973

I haven't been looking at the forum for a couple of days, but I am so happy that's people are taking advantage of the conversation. I started it precisely because there was a hole in the plot, and totally agree that we should contribute do the exercise journal choices. I was able to find a grand total of one and free mentioning pushing a wheelchair.

redlocks70

Hello to all of the new people who have joined this forum!
Couponwheelie- I'm so proud of your success in physical therapy! Keep up the good work!

Hrneilsen, I made homemade pizza and it turned out great! I think the fact i made it myself made it taste even better!

I want to let all of you here know that just by joining and supporting others you are doing a wonderful thing. We each have unique needs and our struggle just to get through the day can be soul crushing at times. I was talking to my dr. and he suggested I increase my protein because I have to treat my body as if it has an injury. He feels the protein will help with keeping muscle and for help with muscle repair. Has anyone heard of this? My body has been though alot of trauma because of several surgeries and a bad car accident. Maybe the extra protein would help but what would also help is if the left side of my body wasn't so damn weak! Any nutrition advice would be appreciated!

Land_Rocket

Excellent - nice to see some friendly activity on the forums.

I always used to believe tetraplegia meant three limbs were affected. Oh well, can't be right all of the time

I'm glad you've found the FitBit Flex to work for you. I did send out a few emails before I imported the BodyMedia, but I mainly got negative feedback from the companies involved, and Googling didn't help - responses were typically "we don't know" or "it may not be accurate" which defeated the point of getting one. With the BodyMedia, the reviews kept saying it was the most accurate, and I got it from eBay, so didn't pay a great deal for it, so was worth the risk. It was either that, or there was positive feedback about the Nike Fuelband being compatible with wheelchair usage, but I just didn't like how it looked. Me being picky

What really does annoy me is that I've found no way of getting any decent exercise into my daily life. My head is the only thing that works reliably. When I got referred to physio, they couldn't do anything for me, and after 8 weeks, I was just finding that I was relying on pain medication but still couldn't do anything with them - it was just them moving limbs for me. I do try and do a little bit on the Wii, but even that is a challenge. Would just be nice to earn back a few calories here and there. The main thing is that I have learned how much my body needs, which over time teaches you about portion sizes, and you start to realise how easy it is to overeat!

I have heard that protein is used in muscle repair, and also that it's great for keeping you fuller for longer. I'm not going to quote all the differing opinions from the MFP forums here - but personally, my body liked it for a bit - then I got to a point where I started sleeping a lot through the day. Once I started putting a few good carbs back in the mix (ie not just sugar) then I felt better. Again, it's all about balance. The idea seems to be not to go silly and start eating just protein all the time. Another problem I found was that I didn't realise was that when I overdid the protein, it affected my uric acid, which brought on a massive attack of gout. However, your GP mentioned it, so I'm assuming that wouldn't affect you.

Remember, you are not alone... take it one day at a time, and reap the rewards as they come

try2again

Wow- what a nice discussion and exactly what I needed to read! Especially enjoyed your experience, Land_Rocket. I'm not disabled, but all the extra weight is starting to seriously impair my mobility. I've been feeling all sorry for myself, thinking "how am I ever going to get the weight off now?" Now I feel ridiculous! You guys are inspiring... mind if I continue to eavesdrop?

redlocks70

try2again wrote: »

Wow- what a nice discussion and exactly what I needed to read! Especially enjoyed your experience, Land_Rocket. I'm not disabled, but all the extra weight is starting to seriously impair my mobility. I've been feeling all sorry for myself, thinking "how am I ever going to get the weight off now?" Now I feel ridiculous! You guys are inspiring... mind if I continue to eavesdrop? [/quote

Try2again- Its absolutely normal to feel sorry for yourself- I have found for me that it actually can push me into action. There's times I cry because I'm trying to hold my foot on my leg to tie my shoe and it doesn't stay. Some days it takes three times. I just sit and think to myself this simple action hurts so bad and this is all BS. Then I get pissed- I just grab my foot and DO IT. My sadness turned to anger and from there I was determined not to let a simple action defeat me. When I finally got my shoe tied I stood myself up and said "Yeah, *kitten*!" just like Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad. It was pretty funny! ANYTHING you accomplish give yourself credit for- you've earned it. We're all here for you!

Land_Rocket

Sorry to everybody that I haven't responded, but I'm sure you understand.. access issues.

Having any excess weight is pretty much a disability in itself... as it causes low mood, mental chaos, poor posture, all manner of problems. The brain is a very complex and devious thing, if only it was as easy as just saying "I will..." If we could do that, MFP wouldn't exist. I'm sure I heard on the news that over 80% of the population is now classed as "overweight" (BMI above 25). I don't want to start an argument on how accurate/inaccurate BMI is for different people, but if you think about it, it all comes down to the brain. It's the CPU of your body, and it's the thing that you use to make the decision of "stuff it, I'll have a cake" and "no I can't be bothered today". Don't you just wish your brain was like a computer, so you could just wipe the information and bugs off, and reinstall with good information and none of this "bad decision" programming?

Please don't feel ridiculous or put yourself down, that's exactly what I mean! If you beat yourself up, I personally find it can lead on to those "blow out" days. Then when you gain a bit of weight that week, you feel even worse, and away goes the slippery slide. The main thing is to keep positive, and believe in yourself! It is very hard, because life throws some serious challenges at us no matter who you are. All you can do is tell yourself "I am strong."

Losing weight initially was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I still have my bad days. I do try and limit damage a bit, but not always. One thing I have found that helps a lot is, since I don't have any kids to worry about, is to make sure that I haven't got any real "sorry for myself" foods in the house. I haven't had crisps in my cupboard for 2 years! If you haven't got it at home, I have personally found that it does stop you picking at the wrong things. It's the same reason I can't have Ben & Jerrys in the freezer any more, because I know I could eat 2 tubs of that in a day without thinking about it.... that's the easiest way to add 3000 calories to your day! Especially when you are mobility challenged, it's not very easy to "go to the shop and grab a bar of chocolate". For the same reason, the last time I moved home, I actually put the deep fat fryer in the bin. It was hard at first, but eventually, I did find I don't miss it in the slightest! I also found that it was great to reward myself for long periods of being good. Buy yourself something from Amazon using the money you save from not buying beer/chocolate/crisps/junk. That reward gives you a visual reminder that PMA (positive mental attitude) does pay!!

I'm sure others of you out there have some great hints and tips for staying positive...

hrnielsen1973

We are an inclusive group

Welcome to the new contributers I wish I could find frozen yogurt here in Denmark. I am so glad that the homemade pizza worked for someone besides us. :-) For all of us, it is a matter of putting 1 foot in front of the other. Which reminds me, that is what I need to be doing more of literally.

Fish and chicken are what we are surviving on in terms of protein and I am sure that there are lower calorie bread options out there. We have been eating Wasa wafers with a thin layer of flavored Philadelphia Cream Cheese for lunch. I'm not sure if you can get the thin crunchy bread in the States.

ninthnarnian

Hello all- I am most certainly disabled, but it is an "invisible disability" and I don't use walking aids. I gained about 90 lbs since I became unable to dance/jog/workout. I'm on the right track now for just over a month with MFP'S help.

Tracking/ watcging my calories has been easy, but it has been difficult as many have mentioned to find and log exercises that I am able to do.

I'm thankful that I can walk most of the time, but also thankful for a thread that would understand that I just can't "go for a run" without severe consequences.

I wish someone could come up with some fun challenges for those of us with varying levels of abilities

9ofthem

It took me 2 hours to find this thread. I needed a thread with people that are disabled in varying degrees like here. I have a a chronic, degenerative auto immune, plus other fun things. I can be in a wheelchair one day and walking around the next week looking like everyone else. I was 100+lbs overweight when I started losing, and still have about 100 to go. Dr is working with me, so that helps. The weight has made the dependence on devices more frequent. I know that the motorized chair is an eventual definite thing, but I want to put it off as long as possible.

Is this the only page of people like us? Is there a group (with link, please) for more posts like this? Thanks for opening up on here to let others like me know they are not alone.

Land_Rocket

My apologies for the delayed response again....

I used to be a member of a group on here, but it just disappeared

I have set one up for now, as it would be of great interest to me. We can always try and see....

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/105886-diet-and-disability