exercise while on post surgical bed rest?

steffi_crow
steffi_crow Posts: 10 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Please, any advice. I have been exercising 3X WK since march. Very good with diet plan. I had surgery on June 24 on Achilles tendon, and rt lateral peronous. Have to keep totally off of my foot for 6 wks, then a boot for 6 more wks. Phys therapy for 3 months. I use a wheel chair for bath/shower. Does anyone have ANY ideas for exercise? I have lost 65 lbs so far, and wanted to lose another 50 before my daughter's wedding in Dec. I have even cut calories/ carbs down since surgery (900) total/day to try and compensate for inactivity. All ideas appreciated.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Has a doctor ok-ed you eating 900 calories per day while recovering from surgery?
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Have you been given the all clear to eat 900 calories per day post op?
  • steffi_crow
    steffi_crow Posts: 10 Member
    The surgeon doesn't know that I am on a weight loss regimen
  • steffi_crow
    steffi_crow Posts: 10 Member
    Is that too low? I gave been losing on 1100 cal/day., so I figured that with the inactivity, I should drop a few more so as not to gain while incapacitated.
  • heyeyeya
    heyeyeya Posts: 16 Member
    900 per day is too low, stick to your 1,100 if that was working for you. Your body needs to recover from the surgery, if you continue to put it under stress you'll only take longer to get back on your feet in the long run.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    I think the best move would be to talk to your doctor about both the weight loss nutrition while on bed rest, as well as to ask him/her about exercises you can do while on bed rest and in the boot.

    I'm also in the 900-calories-are-too-few camp, and really 1100 is too low as well from pre-surgery. It's not advised to go below 1200, no matter how small you are to begin with, and if you have another 50 lbs to lose, you can be eating more than 1100 and still be losing. Even if you are sedentary now with the bed rest, 1200 would probably be more adequate from a healing standpoint.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    heyeyeya wrote: »
    900 per day is too low, stick to your 1,100 if that was working for you. Your body needs to recover from the surgery, if you continue to put it under stress you'll only take longer to get back on your feet in the long run.

    To recover properly, you shouldn't even be in a deficit.
  • Leslierussell4134
    Leslierussell4134 Posts: 376 Member
    Without the proper nutrition, meaning probably no deficit, you won't heal correctly. You need protein to aide recovery. You'll need lots of good healthy fats to avoid constipation due to pain medication and bed rest. That alone should take more than half the 900 calories you were thinking of. Having any foot surgery is difficult, some of the more difficult orthos, so my advice to you would be clear anything and everything you do with your doctor. As a nurse...I say ask the doc!!!
  • Leslierussell4134
    Leslierussell4134 Posts: 376 Member
    Leslierussell4134 wrote: »
    Without the proper nutrition, meaning probably no deficit, you won't heal correctly. You need protein to aide recovery. You'll need lots of good healthy fats to avoid constipation due to pain medication and bed rest. That alone should take more than half the 900 calories you were thinking of. Having any foot surgery is difficult, some of the more difficult orthos, so my advice to you would be clear anything and everything you do with your doctor. As a nurse...I say ask the doc!!!

    If anything you need more calories that your BMR, just my experience.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    You should not be eating in a calorie deficit post-surgery. You will not heal. You need to put the weight loss on hold until you are fully recovered from surgery.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    So you want to eat well below the minimums for a woman and exercise while on bed rest? What part of "bed rest" are you not understanding?
  • steffi_crow
    steffi_crow Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks, everyone for your helpful responses. I will return to the 1100 cal/day. I already consume over 50% of my daily cals as protein. I was just wondering if any ideas for upper body exercise while my foot is healing. Thank you

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