Post surgery weight gain

mmcguire876
mmcguire876 Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I had L5-S1 spinal fusion last June at age 30. I went from an EXTREMELY active 140 pounds to barely (<5 minutes) being able to walk right up until I went in for surgery. I gained about 15-20 pounds in the roughly 18 months prior to surgery due to slowly losing my ability to work out. After surgery, I gained about 25 pounds pretty quickly; I am now about 189 pounds. I am completely disheartened. My pain level is much better, but still having a lot of nerve-ending type pain which I still require pain medication for. I have been seeing a pain specialist and we have some prospects which may put an end to my pain, partially or permanently.
I can't seem to find the motivation to track my food & calories and to get back into the type of shape I was in prior to surgery. I walk during my lunch breaks at work and after work but need to start going to the gym regularly. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What has helped you?

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    All that's required for weight loss, is a caloric deficit. When you're ready, you'll do it.
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    I have not been in the situation you are describing. But, I have had periods of chronic pain and disability, as well as other health problems.

    If you can rally enough to track your calories and stick to a target -- even a modest one -- you'll lose weight, even without the exercise. (Though exercise will allow you to eat more.) After the first couple weeks (which are often harder, as you adjust to the calorie decrease), it will get easier. And as you see losses, you may feel empowered to keep going. Sometimes, getting over the hump to get started is the toughest part.

    And I'm not sure how tall you are, but I've been around that weight and I'm 5 foot 4.5. BMI puts me at obese around 180+ mark, and I noticed a big difference in comfort crossing that mark, actually. So even a mini goal like that, to cross a BMI line, to go down one pants size (or feel more comfortable in a pants size), to lose 10 lbs, etc might be motivating.

    I'd also avoid looking at it as trying to get back to exactly how you were before. Any and every improvement on what you have now is awesome, so don't waste that thinking about how thin and fit and active you used to be. Focus on where you're going and how you're going to get there, and notice and celebrate the small victories on the way.
  • mmcguire876
    mmcguire876 Posts: 9 Member
    @futuremanda I love your response, thank you. I've previously lost 75 pounds through diet and exercise, and I know that it's a positive chain reaction to keep going once you see tart seeing the pounds come off. Once you get used to eating less and being a little more hungrier more often it's really not that bad.
    And thank you for the reminder not to compare my current situation or goals to where I used to be. I have a tendency of wanting to get back what I lost and comparing myself to how I used to be or how I think I should be. It's really unrealistic to think I can get back to that state of physical fitness again but that doesn't mean I can be at a healthy weight. It's all about healthy moderation.

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