Getting injured is never part of anyone’s plan, let alone the side effects that come with the injury itself. Some injuries do not last for that long, but others can have you laying in bed, or doing nothing, for quite some time.
One of the things that I have noticed that we all have to be careful of when we get injured is potential weight gain. After all, it is super easy to pack on all of those pounds when you are bored, doing nothing, and having a negative outlook on life! Believe me, my wine and chocolate diet didn’t go so well:)
If you are injured, or you simply want to know what to do to avoid weight gain after becoming injured, you are going to want to read these three simple tips that I have found to be very helpful!
3 Tips to Avoiding Weight Gain After an Injury
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Keep Your Outlook on Life Positive
It is never the end of the world when you become injured, even if the injury is major! You may not be capable of doing the things that you normally do, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot do anything at all. You may find yourself not being able to climb out of bed to workout, but you can do a few exercises in bed to keep parts of your body moving. Plus, you can think about all of those things that you will do again once you have completely recovered!
It is important to understand that you will lose some muscle mass and I know you have worked hard to get your body to be where it is now.. However, t stressing over it is only going to make you gain more weight! Be kind to yourself!
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Consider Working on a Project that is Personal to You
Everyone has a personal project that they are always hoping that they will have the time to work on eventually. I recommend that you make this the time to start it since you will not be as busy. Tackle that stack of books that are threatening to topple over, binge watch your favorite television shows before your DVR explodes, or learn something that you have always been fascinated about. If you have been struggling with work, consider some other options. You never know where that might lead.
Basically, I just want you to understand that you can easily find something to do while you are recuperating from your injury. Plus, since you will be so busy doing something, that helps you feel happy and good about yourself you will keep your senses about you and not try the chocolate wine diet!
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Watch What Foods You are Eating
I want you to take a good look around you right now and see what types of foods are sitting next to you. Are they healthy or are you surrounded by cans of soda, empty candy bar wrappers, and a bag of potato chips? Yes, I know that you may not be injured at the moment, but I am going to guess that you have some of these items surrounding you anyway! All of those foods and the soda are going to do nothing but HELP you gain weight, plus they will not help your body recover any faster.
I recommend that you eat nutritious foods to repair your body, make you feel better, and help keep your weight gain down. And a little tip… nutritious foods do not include chips, candy bars, and soda!
I can’t tell you how many times I see people eating whatever they want when they are injured and they don’t think anything of it. Yes, you may feel better for a few minutes after indulging in that massive hot fudge sundae, but when your body swells up and you are struggling to go to the bathroom, was it really worth it?
Trust me when I say that I understand that you thought you were eating healthy, at least part of the time. That was my mindset as well before I became injured. However, once I truly started to eat right, and by that, I mean leafy green vegetables and a whole lot of unprocessed foods, I finally understood why I felt so lousy before. My current whole foods and plant-based diet have ensured that I have limited inflammation and pain, which I think is a good thing. But, the best part is that I now do not need to deal with that dreaded weight gain if I do become injured again.
If you are struggling with weight gain due to an injury, or think that you might, I recommend following the above tips. You can also reach out to me and together we can find exactly what you need to make the changes to recover and support a more healthy lifestyle.
