Broken Bones and Calorie Deficit
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Annie_01
Posts: 3,096 Member
I broke my wrist on Friday and it has limited my activity. My first thought was to lower my activity level to sedentary in order to remain at a 1lb deficit. I planned on upping calcium and protein to assist in healing. I have been really tired but I related that to a lack of appetite...activity...pain medication...sore ribs.
I did some research this morning to see how being in a calorie deficit affected healing.
It seems as if the healing of broken bones can raise your BMR up 6000 calories a day if you suffer from multiple breaks. I expected it to be higher but not by that much.
http://www.betterbones.com/bonefracture/speedhealing.pdf
Provide the body with adequate energy. Fracture healing requires more energy than you might expect. Thus, it’s appropriate to increase your caloric intake to promote healing. In traumatic fractures of the long bones, for example, there is an immediate increase in metabolic demands that can translate into a caloric demand three times that of normal. While a normally active adult may require 2,500 calories a day, a bedridden, injured patient with multiple fractures may need 6,000 calories per day!2 If this demand is not met, the healing process is compromised.
I doubt if I would burn anywhere near that amount so I decided to start out at maintenance/sedentary until I see the orthopedic surgeon next week.
I was curious what others have done about calorie deficit after experiencing a severe injury.
I did some research this morning to see how being in a calorie deficit affected healing.
It seems as if the healing of broken bones can raise your BMR up 6000 calories a day if you suffer from multiple breaks. I expected it to be higher but not by that much.
http://www.betterbones.com/bonefracture/speedhealing.pdf
Provide the body with adequate energy. Fracture healing requires more energy than you might expect. Thus, it’s appropriate to increase your caloric intake to promote healing. In traumatic fractures of the long bones, for example, there is an immediate increase in metabolic demands that can translate into a caloric demand three times that of normal. While a normally active adult may require 2,500 calories a day, a bedridden, injured patient with multiple fractures may need 6,000 calories per day!2 If this demand is not met, the healing process is compromised.
I doubt if I would burn anywhere near that amount so I decided to start out at maintenance/sedentary until I see the orthopedic surgeon next week.
I was curious what others have done about calorie deficit after experiencing a severe injury.
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Replies
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I believe it, though I don't know the exact #s.
Once upon a time, I started my first ever attempt at weight loss. 3 weeks later I was in a car accident and broke both my legs. I had a horrible time eating while in the hospital, as anything dry brought on a gag reflex after 1-2 bites. (I assume it was an odd side effect of medication - I got over when I was out of the hospital.) So I had soup, milk, shakes, and similar. I was not logging so don't know how much I consumed daily, but when I left the hospital after 3 weeks: I had lost 30 pounds. Part of that time including physical therapy but with broken legs I was NOT active. And there is no way that I had a calorie defict - based on the normal BMR of a 27 year old 180+ pound woman - of 35,000 per week.
*Note I can't be certain the before and after weights were on the same scale calibration, but I imagine at most the difference would be 5-10 pounds and losing 20-25 pounds in 3 weeks with little movement is pretty extreme.0 -
You know how people say, "Feed a cold, starve a fever"? People are dumb. Feed both. And feed your broken bone.
Anything that makes your body have to heal itself or fight off infection means you're going to need more calories. It makes sense if you think about how they work will require more energy and calories are really just energy.
That broken wrist does not sound fun! Ouch. Feel better!0 -
StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I believe it, though I don't know the exact #s.
Once upon a time, I started my first ever attempt at weight loss. 3 weeks later I was in a car accident and broke both my legs. I had a horrible time eating while in the hospital, as anything dry brought on a gag reflex after 1-2 bites. (I assume it was an odd side effect of medication - I got over when I was out of the hospital.) So I had soup, milk, shakes, and similar. I was not logging so don't know how much I consumed daily, but when I left the hospital after 3 weeks: I had lost 30 pounds. Part of that time including physical therapy but with broken legs I was NOT active. And there is no way that I had a calorie defict - based on the normal BMR of a 27 year old 180+ pound woman - of 35,000 per week.
*Note I can't be certain the before and after weights were on the same scale calibration, but I imagine at most the difference would be 5-10 pounds and losing 20-25 pounds in 3 weeks with little movement is pretty extreme.
I calculated your calorie burn based on 20lbs...that would have been over a 3300 daily deficit not including any calories that you might have consumed!
I am glad that i did my research. As much as I would like to get this last 30lbs off I have no desire to do it quite that fast.
Thanks for verifying my concerns.0 -
You know how people say, "Feed a cold, starve a fever"? People are dumb. Feed both. And feed your broken bone.
Anything that makes your body have to heal itself or fight off infection means you're going to need more calories. It makes sense if you think about how they work will require more energy and calories are really just energy.
That broken wrist does not sound fun! Ouch. Feel better!
Worst part about it...I am right handed and of course...that is the one that I broke. I am now doing everything one-handed and believe me...it just doesn't want to cooperate...it has a mind of its own.
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I just had surgery on my foot a week ago bc I broke it. I just changed my activity level to sedentary bc I was worried if I didn't I'd gain eat the calories I was bc I was exercising a lot. It's working for me have lost 3 lbs since surgery.0
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Hope it heals up quickly.0
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I fell and broke my wrist just before Labor Day, and had surgery 2 days later. I mostly slept for 3 days bc EXCELLENT painkillers. I expected a loss when I got up and on the scale, but instead I was up 8 pounds!!! I guessed it was all the swelling. I lost 13 pounds over the next 2 weeks. It was AWESOME. I changed from active/very active to sedentary, then after a couple of weeks when I could walk Outside some I upped it to lightly active. I've been losing as expected for my deficit. Mine is my right too, it's very frustrating. You have my sympathy!!!0
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Thanks guys for all the encouragement and the info. I think that for this week I will just eat at maintenance and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. If I can keep my loss to about 1lb a week then I will feel okay with my weight loss.1
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I think I'd allow myself a 72 hour pity party, with chocolate.3
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Thanks guys for all the encouragement and the info. I think that for this week I will just eat at maintenance and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. If I can keep my loss to about 1lb a week then I will feel okay with my weight loss.
This sounds sensible.
I'm really sorry about the wrist, that's a bummer.0 -
@Annie_01 sorry to read about your break I hope you heal quickly.
When I broke my back last year I found that I had to up the calories to stop losing.....till reading this I had never considered that extra calories would be required (Duh....feel so stupid) but of course it makes total sense. Your body has to work hard to heal itself....
I think eating at maintenance sounds like a good idea and make sure to get in lots of calcium rich foods to help with the fracture.
All the best.0 -
I understand why it would work with bones - your body has to fix the break - but I wonder with muscles? I dislocated my knee cap and have been working with a physiotherapist to recover. But my weight loss has slowed down during this time, likely because my activity levels have decreased. There is probably not enough damage to warrant using too many more calories, but sitting on my butt has made burning them off less likely.0
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I am so glad I saw this post! I, too, have a broken right wrist and was wondering if I need to up my calories. I lost 2.2 pounds in the last 9 days and my deficit is set for half a pound a week. All my doctor said was "more calcium and vitamin D."0
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Hope you heal quick and I think maintenance or above is a good idea with a focus on protein and vitamin and mineral intake
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Sorry that happened to you, Annie_01. Your plan sounds solid. Hope you heal fast.0
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I understand why it would work with bones - your body has to fix the break - but I wonder with muscles? I dislocated my knee cap and have been working with a physiotherapist to recover. But my weight loss has slowed down during this time, likely because my activity levels have decreased. There is probably not enough damage to warrant using too many more calories, but sitting on my butt has made burning them off less likely.
I read somewhere on pubmed that there are different stress levels associated with different types of injuries thus putting various energy requirements on your body.
There was a formula that was used...
bmr x injury stress level x activity level
They didn't give a complete guide to the stress levels but burn victims was one of the highest.
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I think I'd allow myself a 72 hour pity party, with chocolate.
lol
I finally get to a point that I can eat more and I am struggling...I can't get anything opened! By the time I do...I am too tired to eat it.
I tried making a peanut butter sandwich...got it out of the jar on to the bread...couldn't spread it out. I ended up with 2 slices of bread with this blob in the middle.
I have been painfully reminded of the hardships that many people live with on a daily basis. Mine will heal in time...for some people...it is their life. So I am trying not to pity myself too much.
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Mouse_Potato wrote: »I am so glad I saw this post! I, too, have a broken right wrist and was wondering if I need to up my calories. I lost 2.2 pounds in the last 9 days and my deficit is set for half a pound a week. All my doctor said was "more calcium and vitamin D."
Glad it helped. They don't tell you these things at the doctor's office. All mine said was no weight training but I could continue with aerobics...which just burns even more calories!
My weight has been basically stable so far but I know that I am retaining a lot of fluid right now and it is not showing up on the scale yet. So I think I have lost at least a few pounds.
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Hope you heal quick and I think maintenance or above is a good idea with a focus on protein and vitamin and mineral intakeSorry that happened to you, Annie_01. Your plan sounds solid. Hope you heal fast.
Thank you.
I have stocked my frig with greek yogurt and picked up a multi-vitamin.
It has certainly made me more aware of eating at too large of a deficit for our bodies to heal itself even with just those minor every day injuries.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Thanks guys for all the encouragement and the info. I think that for this week I will just eat at maintenance and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. If I can keep my loss to about 1lb a week then I will feel okay with my weight loss.
This sounds sensible.
I'm really sorry about the wrist, that's a bummer.
Thanks LC.
It is a bummer but it has also been a learning experience...like learning to put on a bra with one very uncoordinated arm!HippySkoppy wrote: »@Annie_01 sorry to read about your break I hope you heal quickly.
When I broke my back last year I found that I had to up the calories to stop losing.....till reading this I had never considered that extra calories would be required (Duh....feel so stupid) but of course it makes total sense. Your body has to work hard to heal itself....
I think eating at maintenance sounds like a good idea and make sure to get in lots of calcium rich foods to help with the fracture.
All the best.
Don't feel stupid...it makes sense but who would have thought. Usually being inactive requires less energy. I don't know what made me decide to research it...maybe it was because I was so bored because I couldn't do anything else. IDK
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