Broken leg!

hotmail1
hotmail1 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've broken my leg and really, really don't want to end up putting weight back on that I've worked so hard to lose! I've lost around 1.5stone already and am around 14st so still have a way to go.

I've lost the weight following Slimming World but I can't see it working whilst I'm immobile.

How many calories would you recommend I follow per day?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    Maintenance, slightly under.
    You really don't want to cut calories too much so your body can heal.
    I totally get the struggle, I broke my fibula about 9 weeks ago.

    Just heal up and ease back into exercise when you've been cleared to.

    Happy healing
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I agree with trying to eat around maintenance. You don't want to put on weight, but your body needs the calories to heal.

    Just remember that you most likely will see a little bit of water weight jump on when you bump up to maintenance. This is normal when going from a deficit to maintenance, so don't freak out. You'll go up by a few pounds, then monitor from there to see if you're really at maintenance or not.

    You'll be better off taking care of yourself so that you heal properly than trying to continue to lose weight while your body is healing and hurting yourself in the long run.
  • hotmail1
    hotmail1 Posts: 2 Member
    So if I change the setting from weight loss to maintaining on here will it tell me how many calories? Sorry I'm new to the app.

    Yea I've broken my tibia and I'm waiting for surgery to screw the bones back together as the joint has split.

    It will be a long time till I stand on the scales just I know how easy it could be to lie in bed making bad food choices!

    Thanks for the kind words :)
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    Yes it should.

    Remember though that online calculators use population averages. It might not be exactly right for you. You will gain a little water weight at first, so ignore gains for the first week. If you continue to gain (or lose) after that, adjust your calories up or down accordingly. Also keep in mind that body weight fluctuates day to day, so personally, I would aim for a 10 lb window to stick to (+/- 5lbs from where you are after week 1).
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    ooof tibia...
    I was lucky and only got the fibula.

    if you change the settings from weight loss to maintenance, it'll readjust your goals for you.
    and maybe just try for 50 cals under maintenance to account for mislogging.

    talk to your doctor but you should be able to do some seated upper body lifting and even an arm bike for cardio.

    and you're about my age as well and if you're a non-smoker, your bones will heal quicker than someone older and/or who is a smoker. and maybe it's a placebo thing, but I took a calcium supplement daily that was 60% of the recommended daily intake and I got out of my boot earlier than originally estimated.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    Yes it should.

    Remember though that online calculators use population averages. It might not be exactly right for you. You will gain a little water weight at first, so ignore gains for the first week. If you continue to gain (or lose) after that, adjust your calories up or down accordingly. Also keep in mind that body weight fluctuates day to day, so personally, I would aim for a 10 lb window to stick to (+/- 5lbs from where you are after week 1).

    She won't be able to step on a scale for weeks with a broken tib. especially with screws. like it'll be months before she's weight bearing
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    I feel your pain, Hotmail! I had a tib/fib fracture and have a plate and screws in my leg as a souvenir. ;) I agree that you should change to maintenance or slightly below, seeing as how you will be completely off your feet for a while.

    And remember - crutches are a good upper body workout! :)
  • blueridgekat
    blueridgekat Posts: 4 Member
    I broke my leg at my tibia 5 years ago. I went 3 months without walking and it took 6 months of rehab, but I lost weight because I wasn't able to get up and feed my face as much as before. I had to rely on others to bring me food and they kept it healthy.

    I would use hand weights to keep your arm strength up, you will need it during rehab!

    I feel for you, I remember it like it was yesterday. Hope you heal fast!
  • hsmith0930
    hsmith0930 Posts: 160 Member
    I'm sorry for your injury and wish you a quick and complication-free recovery. I agree with others to focus on a maintenance level of calories to allow your body to heal as efficiently as possible and that you might see some gain or fluctuations until you become mobile again, but it should come off pretty easily when you can back to a regular routine.
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