Exercising and losing weight with a back injury

bgh707

Hi all! Over the last year, I've lost over 20 pounds, and I'd like to lose 20 more in the next year. However, I injured my back doing a squat with a kettle bell last week and it still hurts. I've worked on a few times since then (mostly spinning and one boot camp class) but the pain has gotten really bad in the last two days. Anyone have advice on what I can do to continue losing weight without losing too much muscle?

Lizarking

Keep your deficit moderate and your protein high. Don't mess around with back injuries.

lorrpb

You're not going to lose muscle in a couple days or even a couple weeks of rest. Depending on the type of back injury, you might be able to do exercises beside the squat to keep something going with arms and legs. This is the second post I've seen today about back injury from squats. I read recently that front squats are harder to mess up than back squats, so that's something to consider.

curlsintherack

I messed up my back 2 weeks ago. I tried to man up and just keep on going like there was nothing wrong. This is WRONG. You need rest. motrin or allieve can reduce some of the inflamation in your back and ice will help as well.

Yesterday I visited both the chiropractor and my dr because i had made 1 appointment and expected to have to wait a week for the second but they were able to get me in immediately. The dr said I pulled a muscle along my spine and prescribed me a muscle relaxer and a steroid pack. The chiropractor did some very gentle manipulation of my back and then a giant wrenching that left me sore. I feel as if I'm making progress to back under the barbell.

Now for the calorie question. I opted to eat in a surplus, a slight one but a surplus all the same. My reasoning why is I do not want my body searching for energy when I am healing. I want it to have all the resources it may need in my time of need. I have the rest of my life to make my goals.

Spliner1969

I'd have to agree with everyone above. You need to simply stay at your calorie goal or even up to your TDEE and rest until the back injury heals. From someone who has had multiple herniated discs in his lower back (and surgery) along with many other back injuries in the past, trust me.. you don't want it to get worse. Go get a muscle relaxer (it'll really help) from your doctor and take a rest week and see where you are after that. If you start to get any pain down your legs see a orthopedic doctor who works with spine injuries immediately. Otherwise rest is best.

Chieflrg

I would rest from anything that causes it to hurt. Boot camp class, spinning, or lifting. Those are all a lot of movements that can agrivated it.

Better off a week or two than a half a year.

Maybe brush up better form on your lifts while on a break.