So frustrating - why does it have to happen to me :'(

glogirl27
glogirl27 Posts: 11
edited September 22 in Motivation and Support
I've been on MFP for about two months now and have been very good with changing my eating habits and going to the gym. I've only lost 3 pounds in the last two months. Even though I've completely changed my eating and EXERCISED and STUCK WITH IT for once, (I give all the credit to MFP!!) still, three pounds is not the best motivation. Whatever, better than nothing right?

I used to hate exercising and never thought I'd be able to run (used to have childhood asthma) but now I revel in going to the gym and knowing that I've burned off 800-1000 calories. But yesterday, while cooling down after a two mile run, I experienced a sudden pain in my right ankle. It was weird because I ran two miles fine and suddenly I can barely put any weight on my right foot. Walking was fine but once I tried to jog, the pain was horrible. Unfortunately for me, I decided to brave it out and finish my usual routine by walking slowly on high incline on treadmill and then another 30 minutes intense workout on the elliptical. Stupid stupid stupid, I know. It was just that walking didn't hurt too much and the elliptical provided enough support that I wasn't rolling in pain.

Bad mistake. I go home and now I'm limping around because it hurts to put any pressure on the foot. Haven't been to the doctor's but it seems like I sprained my ankle. Great, just great, now what am I going to do? I've been running and other kinds of cardio for my exercise and now I don't know what to do. I'm deathly afraid that I'm going to fall off the wagon now that I can't go to the gym. That and I'm obsessive with my exercise calories. I have this mentality that I HAVE to burn this many calories on workout days and now I'm being told to stay off the foot and just rest.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I don't want to gain those hard-won three pounds again and waste these last two months! I just don't understand why I have to get this injury when I finally started turning my life around and going to the gym. I'm so frustrated, I just want to cry :'(

Replies

  • mrmarius
    mrmarius Posts: 1,802 Member
    press through it, i'm doing p90x and counting calories once i made it through 30 days i had only lost 1 lb, i took the day one pics and day 30 pics and didnt see much change but i kept on going then after thanksgiving i started to drop, so far i've lost 8 lbs its becoming steady but i wouldnt give up just keep doing what your doing. also check for inches maybe you havent lost weight but have lost inches. there are all kinds of things that can factor in just dont give up
  • nextstepsailing
    nextstepsailing Posts: 17
    Just track your calories. You will not stop loosing - remember calories in and calories out. Do light weights in a chair. Your ankle will heal. Keep it simple.
  • millerll
    millerll Posts: 873 Member
    Search online for "wheelchair exercises" or similar things. There are programs out ther designed for people who don't have use of their legs. These exercises will get your heart rate up and burn calories while working your upper body. Good luck!
  • eglass64
    eglass64 Posts: 180
    watch and rework your diet. I woulld try stationary bike. Drink lots of water.
  • WhitneyW78
    WhitneyW78 Posts: 186 Member
    That is really frustrating... but don't give up. Make sure you are eating enough calories. If you exercise every day and eat too few calories your body could be in starvation mode. Also, I agree with taking measurements. Scale loss isn't the only kind of loss.

    As for what you can do for exercise with a hurt ankle... recumbant biking... throw in some handweights and you have a vigorous workout!
  • viggie
    viggie Posts: 155 Member
    Are you eating healthy? Sometimes although we are burning calories we're not eating the right things. But whatever you do don't give up!
  • alantin
    alantin Posts: 621 Member
    Just don't eat the exercise calories for those workout days when you can't exercise, and you'll be fine. A week or two of rest from exercise can actually be very good for your body (even without the ankle) if you have been on a rigorous exercise program for a longer time. Relax and let your body grow stronger for it!

    And don't fret about the slow pace either! I don't know how tall you are so it is impossible to tell your BMI, but your ticker says that you weight about 120 pounds, so you are very light already. Weight loss is bound to be slow when done within the healthy weight range and your pace is actually very healthy and good for you! Eat enough and don't try to aim at a higher pace than 0.5 pounds a week or you'll stall and screw up your metabolism!

    Just keep eating and exercising smart and you'll be at your goal weight by summer! Guaranteed!
    All it takes is time!
  • taletreader
    taletreader Posts: 377 Member
    I second alantin. I'm not sure how tall you are, but you are working within the healthy weight range, I expect. Any weight here would come off slowly - or you may not lose any pounds at all, but body fat. Get a measuring tape, and don't fret - 0.5 lbs/weeks sounds about right for you.
  • ChellieIrish
    ChellieIrish Posts: 593 Member
    It's hard to advise on the food as we cannot see your food diary :wink: are you tracking Sodium levels and drinking enough water that can make a HUGE difference to weight loss :heart: Maybe open up your diary and we can help you more :bigsmile:

    It sucks about your ankle if it was me tho I would get it checked with a doctor they may be able to advise some light exercizes you could do :smile: Maybe your body is telling you you need to take a few days off :heart:

    I found on this journey that having friends on here is super, really helps along the journey and I have learnt so much from mine, I started off very rocky on this journey and struggled to begin with now I am really watching everything and try to workout at least 5/6 times a week but make sure that I have one day off you body needs a rest day so that it can recover :flowerforyou:
  • buck1994
    buck1994 Posts: 29
    There are TONS of upper body exercises you can do that don't require you to put any pressure on your ankle. Dumbbells, kettlebells, pullups, dips, one legged squats....there are lots of things you can do at the gym to continue to burn your calories. Most of all DON'T GIVE UP!! You've made a lot of good progress in the right direction, hang in there and take care of your ankle until it heals. You'll be back on track in no time.
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