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[ButterflyInAmbr]

I recently joined Weight Watchers online, but I am having a couple of issues with it. First, I don't know how much I currently weigh. Any ideas about where I could weigh myself, besides rehab centers and hospitals? Second, I don't know how much I ought to weigh. Are there any charts online for how much a woman with an SCI should weigh based on height and injury level? And obviously, since I don't have these two pieces of information accurate, it's hard to tell if the "Points" number (measures the amount of calories, fat, and fiber in food, for those unfamiliar with it) assigned to me for each day is what it should be. Is it measured differently for people in wheelchairs?

Any advice would be great, thanks!

[Jax]

ButterflyInAmbr, on Sep 5 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

I recently joined Weight Watchers online, but I am having a couple of issues with it. First, I don't know how much I currently weigh. Any ideas about where I could weigh myself, besides rehab centers and hospitals? Second, I don't know how much I ought to weigh. Are there any charts online for how much a woman with an SCI should weigh based on height and injury level? And obviously, since I don't have these two pieces of information accurate, it's hard to tell if the "Points" number (measures the amount of calories, fat, and fiber in food, for those unfamiliar with it) assigned to me for each day is what it should be. Is it measured differently for people in wheelchairs?

Any advice would be great, thanks!

Advice for you and anyone else in a chair--Forget Weight-Watchers. The "points" are ridiculous in the first place, and even more so for people with SCI. Those points don't really make sense for people with SCI. Particularly when fiber is part of the points system. The amount of fiber one with SCI may or may not need daily could vary greatly from ABs, or even any other person with SCI. For example, if I take in more fiber, it's not a good thing for my bowels, but for somebody else, it may be necessary to take in more fiber. Calories are just numbers, and as long as you do enough physical activity during the day to burn them, they're not something to worry about. Also, don't eat any less than 3-4 hrs prior to bed time.

Why give yourself one more thing to keep up with? Aren't the effects of SCI enough to deal with on their own? I gained about 15lbs (mostly muscle, with a little pudge in the middle due to lack of flex) since injury, and that was all in the first year. Since the 1 year mark, I haven't gained anything. I know there's a self-consciousness thing, especially for you ladies, but there's better answers than Weight-Watchers. Just watch how much you eat per day, and what you eat. Also, make sure you keep physically busy. Don't spend all your time at the computer or TV like I do. Get out and work out. Whether it be at the gym, or just a good roll around the block or apartment complex.

Butterfly, due to the length of your fusion, I'd add about 4-6lbs to your supposed nominal weight. As for scales, try google. I know you can buy them starting at about $650 or so, but I don't have a clue where else you could just use some.