Ladies and gentlemen, I gained twelve pounds in the three months immediately after my cheilectomy. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! Gaining weight is as easy as relaxing on the couch with your foot on ice, sipping the consolation drink of your choice. Losing weight, especially after foot surgery, requires persistence and pain.
I have no excuse. I knew that, basically, if I ate more calories than I burned, I would gain weight. I also knew that my caloric expenditure would plummet with the foot surgery. I definitely did not pause to do the math. Here are the hard facts: Before the surgery I consumed a given quantity of food, and after the surgery I continued to consume pretty much the same amount. Before the surgery, I was dancing fairly vigorously at least three hours each week and either cycling, walking or jogging almost daily--- burning at least 3,500 kcal each week. Does 3,500 kcal sound familiar to you? For years, doctors, dietitians and fitness professionals have used this rule of thumb: cutting food intake by 3,500 calories will result in a 1 lb weight loss, and conversely, increasing food intake by 3,500 calories (or reducing 3,500 calories of exercise) will result in a 1 lb weight gain. Doctors, dietitians, and fitness professionals now know that it's a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea. According to this old weight balance dogma, it was a no brainer that I would gain about one pound each week just from the elimination of vigorous exercise. On top of that, I'd gain even more pounds from the severe reduction in basic movements associated with daily living. Actually, it's a wonder I didn't gain more than twelve pounds!
Friends, don't let this happen to you! Do the math. Really. Calculate how many calories you are not burning in hard physical work or exercise during your recovery, and reduce your intake by at least that amount. Easier said than done, I know. I love cream in my coffee, a glass of wine with dinner, chocolate, and second helpings.
I know you're hurting and you want to reward yourself. You deserve to reward yourself! Just don't do it with food!
I lost 15 pounds before my surgery, and I just know it's coming back. For me, the worst part is the boredom--when you're at home with very little to do, it's easy to hobble into the kitchen for a snack. Time to find more to occupy my mind!
ReplyDeleteSo true... That's one of the reasons I decided to create a blog: to entertain myself--- in addition to helping others recovering from the same surgery. I don't recall being bored, though. I had ached for more time to read, knit, think, write. Angela, think about adding your next comment in the chronology. When you're at day 10, tell readers what you're experiencing at day 10, etc... Recovery experiences can be so different. Thanks for posting! I hope your pain is less.
DeleteThank you for sharing your experiences. This is most helpful, especially the shoe recommendations. My cheilectomy is scheduled in 1 week. So at 4 weeks, is your pain better, the same, or more than before surgery?
ReplyDeleteAt 4 weeks my pain was more than before surgery and my sense of stability on my feet was less. Even now as I write this at 4 months post-surgery, my pain and instability are more than before the surgery, but they are diminishing. Sadly, a long recovery period is typical. I am hopeful, though. Just today I walked briskly for 30 minutes and even jogged a bit of that, cycled briskly for 30 minutes, and then went on a 40 minute impromptu forest hike with a friend. This last put me over the edge and I've iced and elevated twice since I got back. Still, I know that pushing my limits is beneficial, and I know I'll feel just fine tomorrow. Good luck with your surgery and recovery! Please add your recovery experiences to the blog as you proceed through each day. I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, do you have an update for the 5 month mark?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nudge! I'll get to work on that!
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