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Hi my name is Passion I been paralyzed for th past two years and counting. When my injury first occured i lost alot of weight I have gained alot of weight since then, it seems like I cant get the weight OFF. I feel really bad about the way I look is their something I can do it????????
It is easy to put on weight, and more difficult to take it off when you are in a chair, but it is possible.
Keep a food diary to keep track of everything you eat and drink for at least a week. Use a good nutrition book (availalble at your library) or some on-line resources to calculate how many calories you are averaging in your intake daily. Cut that by 500 calories daily. This should result, alone, in a 2 lb. per week weight loss. If you need help in calculating this, ask your physician to refer you to a good registered dietitian (RD).
You can increase the rate of weight loss and make the nutrition changes more effective by exercising more too. Are you doing any regular exercises such as using an arm ergonometer, swimming, or pushing your chair for miles? Handcycling or other activities are also great. Some of this you can do on your own without special equipment. Equipment can be expensive, but you can also apply for a grant from the Challenged Athlete's Foundation if you identify something you really need that you cannot afford.
It is not easy, but can be done. It is easiest if you have a support group and "cheering" section that are encouraging you in this. Reward yourself with non-food rewards (like a trip to the movies or some new clothing) when you reach certain goals. Let us know how you are doing!!
Hi Passion--here is a great free site for healthy living tips that includes nutrition, exercise, motivational tools, and a message board:
http://www.sparkpeople.com
Laurel
Passion - try www.optifast.com.au. I tried it and lost heaps of weight. Good Luck.
I also have been injured for a little more than two years and am having similar problems. In addition to having a T 4/5 complete sci, I am 58 years old and have always had the metabolic rate of a slug. Prior to my injury, which occurred during a bicycle ride, I exercised 3 to 4 hours a day in anattempt to prevent age-related weight gain. I do try to exercise now, but energy level and inconvenience make it difficult. I work out at a gym about twice a week, which includes a hand cycle and arm weights, I swim twice a week, which basically is dog paddling with a snorkle and leg floats in a heated pool, and I use a standing frame and manual chair. I still had to drastically reduce food intake to mostly fruit, salad, vegetables, and protein. No bread, pasta (sob), or rice. I used to enjoy cooking, including making homemade sourdough bread, but it hardly seems worth it now. Although I don't believe I am gaining weight (how do you tell?), I hate the way I look. All the muscles from my chest down have just let loose and my hips seem to be spilling out over the sides of the chair. Years of sit-ups and weight training are just undone. Is there anything I can do? Am I exercising enough? At most I think I am managing about half-an-hour a day - and then I need a nap!
Hi. Just saw all of your comments. I had my stroke over 12 years ago & have gained over 50 lbs. since then. I was feeling disgusted but figured I can't do anything about it since it was so hard to lose even 10 lbs. before my stroke when it was easy to move around. With all of these tv commercials about Nutrisystem, I decided to try it. After 3 weeks on Nutrisystem I lost a total of 8-1/2 lbs. without hardly moving at all. Last week I wasn't feeling well & didn't even go to therapy, and I still lost 3 lbs. Don't know how long I can last, as I'm finishing up my first shipment and have just ordered some things that I like for the 2nd...so hopefully I can stick to it long enough to get back to my original weight. It's a little costly, but it replaces the food I'd normally buy & eating out. It's working for me!
I'm a little prejudice mind you, having just come to the CDRF from Men's Health, but there is a new diet from a book that's not even out yet that you should check out. There is a workout componet, but the diet is the key. There is a lot of science behind it. It's called the TNT Diet.
Go to www.menshealth.com/transform.
I'm hoping to add diet info to the site in the near future. Any other suggests will be appreciated.
Rob
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