5 replies to this topic

[pepperclaire]

I am a female incomplete paraplegic, and as I am walking (using splints and sticks) I don't want to be carrying around extra weight. I have always had an average weight, except when I had my injury I lost 12 kg and was down to about 50kg. I have now (5 years on) gained back 9 of those kg, and although I think some is muscle, I know that about 5 or 6 kg is fat. if I was ablebodied my recommended calorie intake for losing weight would be 1200 cal per day, but as about 40% of my muscles are paralysed, surely they don't need that fuel? on the other hand, I don't ever use my wheelchair now and the effort it takes me to walk is about the equivelant of ablebodied running or jogging, but lots of walking puts too much pressure on my knees and back, so I try not to go too overboard. I have been eating approx the 1200 cal per day for a few months now, but I don't seem to be losing weight, just hovering around the 58-59kg mark, and I do 40 min weight training 3 times a week. should I be doing more exercise, or eating less calories? or eating more calories? as I've also read that if you consistently eat too little calories your body will go into fat saving mode... I'm just not sure for my situation, anyone have any advice? Thanks, Claire

[wheeliebear75]

Well I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will chime in.....but I'm pretty sure if you're using the muscles of your legs.....THEY COUNT.

[DaveP]

I was told we should be looking at around 1500 cal per day and if we go too low, then there will be muscle wastage. You seem to be doing lots of exercise so I'd say you need to eat well, especially protein, so your muscles don't waste. Maybe you're eating the wrong things and need to improve what you eat so you eat plenty of healthy foods yet avoid sugar and fat which is high in calories.

[chrisarnold6]

Congratulations on the progress you report.

Obesity is listed as one of the biggest worries for paras. Keeping low on carbs makes great sense, but source your protein intake wisely. Beef is probably the most hard to digest of proteines and over consumption of red meat is probably best avoided.

[pepperclaire]

DaveP, on 10 January 2011 - 09:46 AM, said:

I was told we should be looking at around 1500 cal per day and if we go too low, then there will be muscle wastage. You seem to be doing lots of exercise so I'd say you need to eat well, especially protein, so your muscles don't waste. Maybe you're eating the wrong things and need to improve what you eat so you eat plenty of healthy foods yet avoid sugar and fat which is high in calories.

I think I do eat pretty well, I am pretty paranoid about muscle wastage, as I work so hard to build it, so I eat protein at every meal, a natural unsweetened grass fed whey protein shake after weight training, and my only sugar source is fresh fruit once a day at breakfast. I also eat healthy fats such as avocados, olive oil, and natural yoghurt, and avoid fried things like the plague. I do drink a few alcoholic beverages once or twice a week, and I haven't completely cut out grain-based foods, which has been suggested to me to break the 58kg barrier. Although I've always been wary of cutting out any food source, I was thinking of giving it a go for a while...

[pepperclaire]

wheeliebear75, on 10 January 2011 - 07:16 AM, said:

Well I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will chime in.....but I'm pretty sure if you're using the muscles of your legs.....THEY COUNT.

I'm only using a few muscle groups in my legs though, I'm completely paralysed from the knee down, so I rely on ankle foot orthoses, plus my glutes, abductors and hamstrings are also paralysed, so effectively the only muscles that are actually doing anything to help me walk are my quads, knees and adductors. my abs and lower back also take a fair thrashing to stabalise my hips in compensation for my paralysed hip muscles...