Weight loss while injured/sick?

phx92
phx92 Posts: 87 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all - sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, I am hoping for a little advice.

I just got into a minor accident, a couple sprains and bad bruising.

I know exercise and activity will be a little limited until I’m recovered, but would sticking to a calorie deficit or focusing on weight loss be a problem to recovering from an injury or illness?

Anyone have personal experience wish they had done one thing or another?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,204 Member
    I'd suggest eating at maintenance, or near, while in the acute phase of healing or recovery from injury, illness, surgery, or the like.

    I didn't do that while recovering from relatively minor outpatient surgery (laparoscopic gallbladder removal) and came to regret it. Fortunately, my body prioritized the healing, but I got weak and fatigued, then it took time to recover. A short break at maintenance calories is good for healing, and - if you're generally trying to lose weight - good practice for eventual maintenance.

    Just my opinion, though.

    Best wishes for speedy recovery, no matter how you decide to undertake it!
  • VegjoyP
    VegjoyP Posts: 2,776 Member
    edited February 2024
    https://www.livestrong.com/article/544653-how-to-lose-weight-when-youre-injured-and-cannot-workout/

    https://www.uwhealth.org/news/sports-injuries-nutrition-diet

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4169342/

    https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-88-470-2278-2_35

    There are possible.metabolic changes, where the RMR can increase. It really depends on several things
    If you go from fairly active then non active, there is decrease in caloric burn. If the injury is severe,nit may increase caloric need. It will then depend on extent of injury and the variance with average day prior to activity


    IMO experience, making sure you are getting adequate nutrient density, rest and recovery more a yes, but if in optimal healthy way.othetwise I'd say do maitenance if it was breaking a bone or full teat in ligament or other that needed extra healing. It also depends in your unique body and weight.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 9,013 Member
    Just a quick mention: don’t forget water weight.

    When you are sore from a workout, injured, post surgery, etc your body retains water for the purposes of healing.

    Depending on the extent of the i just, it can be a lot of water, and water has weight.

    I’ve easily added several pounds following a tough, unfamiliar workout that made me sore the following days.

    Likewise, when I broke my ring-finger toe a couple of months ago, that little bit of swelling around, between and underneath caused my weight to bounce up, and it stuck around til it was mostly healed.

    So don’t panic if you “put on some weight” during the healing period. It’ll flush through eventually. Literally!

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