How much to eat after surgery (not weight loss related)?

I am having surgery next week for a problem in my calves, and so I won't be able to exercise for at least a month. However, I know that the most important thing is for my body to heal, and I want to make sure I'm eating enough to do so.

Do you burn more calories when healing from surgery? Should I eat more to compensate, or would I be fine eating 1500 calories a day and being sedentary? (I don't want to gain any weight, either.) Any other advice is gladly welcome!

Thanks everyone!

Replies

  • skheather
    skheather Posts: 42 Member
    I had knee surgery in January. I found that I was not very hungry for the first couple of weeks and acutually lost a few pounds. When my appetite improved I tried to eat mainly healthy foods and not too many snacks. Because my leg hurt, I didn;t get up to get snacks very often...that was some help.. Just eat what you need to maintain and pick up the exercise as soon as you can. You may have to do some physio and that burns calories too. Good luck
  • noogie98
    noogie98 Posts: 451 Member
    After my knee surgery a couple of years ago (total knee replacement) it took me awhile to get back on track with exercising. I ate the bare minimum calories that were recommended and didn't gain any weight. Once my PT started, I added calories here and there until I was able to go back to exercising regularly. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgery!

    Now, I have to have surgery next week on my foot to have a rather large & obnoxious bunion removed. Not looking forward to being incapacitated once again for about 6 weeks, but am really looking forward to losing 'Leonard'.

    Yes, I named my bunion.