upping calories after injury?

rybatace

I recently had an accident and was moderately injured. I have lots of stitches and muscle pain and feel very weak. I have been eating 1200-1300 calories, but since my injury, I am having a hard time eating because I have no apatite. I am exhausted constantly and my mind doesn't feel as quick and clear as usual. I have been told by friends to up my calorie intake, as my body is expending lots of energy trying to heal itself, which will hopefully help me gain some enegery. I was thinking of adding in some small, higher-calorie, healthy foods like avacado and aiming for a slightly higher calorie goal for a few weeks to help, but I don't want to hinder my progress. That being said, since my injury on Friday, I am down 5 lbs, which doesn't feel healthy to me, especially considering how dazed and foggy I feel. Any advice or insight?

L1zardQueen

Milkshakes with protein powder. You need to fuel your body for repair.

mitch16

Eat at maintenance, and if you don't have much of an appetite, add in some nutrient-dense foods to get you there. Your body needs the calories to heal itself.

Need2Exerc1se

mitch16 wrote: »

Eat at maintenance, and if you don't have much of an appetite, add in some nutrient-dense foods to get you there. Your body needs the calories to heal itself.

This ^^

Eating at a deficit while trying to heal will slow/prolong healing.

rybatace

Awesome. Thanks, guys. I'm staying with my mother while I recuperate, and she eats very healthfully, but much higher calories than I do. I think I will continue eating my normal lunches and breakfast, maybe add in some extra protein and then eat whatever she cooks, which is usually about 7-900 calories of low fat protein, veggies, and whole grains. This puts me just slightly below maintanence calories...I have some muscle damage, so I assume keeping my protein up is important.

RodaRose

Your body spends a lot of calories during the healing process. Good luck to you.

rybatace

Thank you!

Mouse_Potato

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

mitch16 wrote: »

Eat at maintenance, and if you don't have much of an appetite, add in some nutrient-dense foods to get you there. Your body needs the calories to heal itself.

This ^^

Eating at a deficit while trying to heal will slow/prolong healing.

Yep. This. I tried eating at a small deficit after I broke my wrist. After six weeks in a cast they took x-rays and found that I had not healed AT ALL! Not a bit of change from the day I broke it. Your body needs fuel to heal. Best of luck to you!