24 replies to this topic

[C6-JEN]

this might sound funny but since my accident my chest seems to have doubled in size. I am finding it really annoying, they get in the way all the time and i feel they are weighing me down. my mum says its because the muscles no longer work in this area. I was just wondering if this was normal for high level injuries??

[Survivor35]

Ha. Finally, someone else!! I have also found this to be happening, and I am a much lower level injury at T6. My mom told me that I have gained weight, I'm at 120 now and was just at 100 at the time before the accident, a year ago, and she says that the first places weight shows on women when gained is their face, chest and butt. Well, since no one can see my rear, thats no big deal. I have noticed my face has filled out as well. Not being able to excercise as much as before, and work as much as I did, which was 3 jobs, one of which bartending, which kept me moving all of the time, lifting cases and what not, has caused a minor weight gain, which in her theory, has caused the chest to fill out.... maybe this is the most common reason?

[Radar]

C6-JEN, on Jan 10 2007, 10:01 AM, said:

this might sound funny but since my accident my chest seems to have doubled in size. I am finding it really annoying, they get in the way all the time and i feel they are weighing me down. my mum says its because the muscles no longer work in this area. I was just wondering if this was normal for high level injuries??

Hi, this seems a little awkward but here goes. It may even be obvious.

It seems normal to gain weight in areas we can no longer move from my observations. Have you gained any weight? I fluctuate between 20-50 pound heavier than at injury. The result are man boobs that should not be there. I had muscular pecs before but now I do not want to look in the mirror anymore.

Unfortunately weight loss is difficult without using the large muscles such as the quads and gluts. Great you say! I used to push my chair on the road everyday for 3-6 miles. This helped a lot but after several years I developed a bunion like bump on my thumb so I shifted to a handcycle. I have not seen any side effect from cycling. Being more efficient, you have to do more miles to get the same effect. If I do it every day for 6 miles or more, I can keep my weight at the lower end of the range or about 200. I did just that 2 yrs ago and dropped 20-30 pounds in 90 days without missing any days. I however was cycling 4-8 hours per day on South Beach, Miami. Nice and very easy to do.

Normally I would say just sit back and enjoy the ride. Most men surely would. Unless you were well large to begin with then I can see it being a problem.

I can’t believe I just wrote this. I hope it helps.

Radar

[C6-JEN]

Thanx for the replies, looks like am gonna hit the gym and see what i can do xxx

[Lee]

Wont post a piccy and a huge chest, damn im missing you already, pmsl.

[C6-JEN]

who me?

[studinchair]

hey jen, i think u might be wrong u should send me pictures from before and pictures right now, i promise to be honest!

hahahah
have a good year
and as sad as it is i have to work on my chest from getting man boobs!!!!
pierce

[gazrobsuk]

Ha,

Just to add to this & no offence if I joke but I like big boobs, so how big ha ha perhaps as others have suggested you post a piccie and let us judge :-) as big boobs are good for most (unless real bazookas)

I expect though like all of us it's just weight due in my case to inactivity.

Gaz

C6-JEN, on Jan 10 2007, 03:01 PM, said:

this might sound funny but since my accident my chest seems to have doubled in size. I am finding it really annoying, they get in the way all the time and i feel they are weighing me down. my mum says its because the muscles no longer work in this area. I was just wondering if this was normal for high level injuries??

[Radar]

Jen, I am glad I was not black balled from this forum due to my previous response. It was very awkward what I wrote not knowing you at all. I just tried to be tactful. Something that does not come easy to me normally.

The rest of you may need to lay off as this issue of large breasts seems to be very sensitive for Jen. Now I just like the rest of you testosterone dripping and love starved guys think you might want to judge for yourselves. But it just seems to me a little tactless to be assking. OOPS! At least not publicly like in this forum.

I suggest you turn to the appropriate pages on the internet and leave Jen alone. Or not, maybe I'm all wet.

Radar

[LadyPilot]

C6-JEN, on Jan 10 2007, 04:11 PM, said:

Thanx for the replies, looks like am gonna hit the gym and see what i can do xxx

What are you hoping to gain at the gym? Lay off the weights if you don't want bigger boobs!!!

I have always been 'top heavy' and after my accident I got a horse to keep me busy and occupied. Unfortunatley lifting 15lb water buckets etc has seen a further increase in boob size while my bum has stayed a UK size 10/12! I hate having big boobs because pretty tops are always too small and Im always having to stretch over the back of my chair to get comfortable. They may be a turn on for men but try living with them, they're a pain.

[Radar]

LadyPilot, on Jan 11 2007, 03:16 PM, said:

C6-JEN, on Jan 10 2007, 04:11 PM, said:

Thanx for the replies, looks like am gonna hit the gym and see what i can do xxx

What are you hoping to gain at the gym? Lay off the weights if you don't want bigger boobs!!!

I have always been 'top heavy' and after my accident I got a horse to keep me busy and occupied. Unfortunatley lifting 15lb water buckets etc has seen a further increase in boob size while my bum has stayed a UK size 10/12! I hate having big boobs because pretty tops are always too small and Im always having to stretch over the back of my chair to get comfortable. They may be a turn on for men but try living with them, they're a pain.

Gals,

There are two ways to exercise at the gym, for bulk or for definition. Actually the third way for gabbing and making friends if you are not serious about your workout. It is OK to gab while working out, just do not let it be your main goal. Keep the weight down, the reps high and you should loose some of the flab. Replacing it with toned muscle which is heavier but denser therefore smaller. It is very important to keep the heart rate at the optimum rate for you to get the most from the work out. The maximum HR is

220 - (your age) = Max HR

From the max, take 50-60 percent for an easy workout. Up to 75-80 is considered optimum if you are training for a marathon. This is more or less as best as I can remember. What I said above is true depending on the authority. At a 80 % of the max HR you will feel all beat up like a truck ran over you the next day unless you are used to it. I cycle using a heart rate monitor at 110 to 145 HR since I’m an old fart. For safety as I never want to exceed about 165 to avoid a heart attach. Exceeding the max is more of a problem for us macho men and not so much for logical gals.

The pulley equipment is my favorite in the gym. I do not like free weight. I participated in an exercise study at 'The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis'. They firmly believe that exercising with the minimum pause between sets and when switching to another exercise is the key. That way the heart rate stays up in the target zone. I lost 20-30 (forgot) pounds in the 6 weeks of their study combining it with cycling up to 12 miles every day on a hand cycle. I never felt better AC (after chair). My arms had traces of being cut. This is not a problem with gal as they typically have more body fat! Personally I like gals with a little definition particularly in their legs. Just thinking about it turns me on.

So light weights, high reps, multiple sets, and keeping the HR up is the key. It really works. Or take part in the numerous activities such as ice hokey or basket ball etc, for gimps sponsored by local Para and Quad activity coordinators. Here in New Hampshire, we have UNH’s North East Passages. They find gym time for those willing to partake at a very modest fee in the winter. In the remainder of the year they sponsor all kinds of activities. A great bunch of people going out of their way to help out. You also get to meet other gimps and exchange stories.

Radar

Edited by Radar, 12 January 2007 - 02:00 AM.

[juls]

Hey Jen

I do Tae Boe when they use thier legs I just improvise with my arms..it's not pretty but it's fun Just chuck on a good sports bra and give it a go..you might like it!!

Oh..if you don't want to go to classes, just get thier DVD. xx

Edited by juls, 12 January 2007 - 04:13 AM.

[russ1]

Radar, on Jan 12 2007, 12:54 AM, said:

It is very important to keep the heart rate at the optimum rate for you to get the most from the work out. The maximum HR is

220 - (your age) = Max HR

From the max, take 50-60 percent for an easy workout. Up to 75-80 is considered optimum if you are training for a marathon. This is more or less as best as I can remember. What I said above is true depending on the authority. At a 80 % of the max HR you will feel all beat up like a truck ran over you the next day unless you are used to it. I cycle using a heart rate monitor at 110 to 145 HR since I’m an old fart. For safety as I never want to exceed about 165 to avoid a heart attach. Exceeding the max is more of a problem for us macho men and not so much for logical gals.

Radar

This doesn't work for SCI's with levels above T6 ish who have autronomic nervous system issues. Above T6 the ability to increase your heart rate is massively decreased as the autronomic nervous system is unable to send the appropriate signal to the brain to raise the heart rate.

Pre SCI at age 38 my max heart rate was about 204 (The rule of thumb above is notoriously inaccurate for people who have been athletic throughout their life) and I could maintain a HR in the high 170's for hours and would regularly hit figures in the 190's while competing (mountain biking). Since my SCI my max heart rate has dropped to about 130 but I can work close to that figure when exercising. In competition high level paras have been known to artificially induce autronomic dysreflexia which will push up heart rates and blood pressure to allow athletes to work harder. A practice that has now been outlawed.

Anyway just wanted to point out that traditional heart rate monitoring rules usually don't work with quads and high paras.

[C6-JEN]

Thanx for all the advice guys! been a real help. I spoke to a physio today and he also said to try the gym and also maybe eat less fatty foods as i cant burn them off like i used to. No more sweetie and crisps for me!!!

[Radar]

russ1, on Jan 12 2007, 04:41 AM, said:

Radar, on Jan 12 2007, 12:54 AM, said:

It is very important to keep the heart rate at the optimum rate for you to get the most from the work out. The maximum HR is

220 - (your age) = Max HR

From the max, take 50-60 percent for an easy workout. Up to 75-80 is considered optimum if you are training for a marathon. This is more or less as best as I can remember. What I said above is true depending on the authority. At a 80 % of the max HR you will feel all beat up like a truck ran over you the next day unless you are used to it. I cycle using a heart rate monitor at 110 to 145 HR since I’m an old fart. For safety as I never want to exceed about 165 to avoid a heart attach. Exceeding the max is more of a problem for us macho men and not so much for logical gals.

Radar

This doesn't work for SCI's with levels above T6 ish who have autronomic nervous system issues. Above T6 the ability to increase your heart rate is massively decreased as the autronomic nervous system is unable to send the appropriate signal to the brain to raise the heart rate.

Pre SCI at age 38 my max heart rate was about 204 (The rule of thumb above is notoriously inaccurate for people who have been athletic throughout their life) and I could maintain a HR in the high 170's for hours and would regularly hit figures in the 190's while competing (mountain biking). Since my SCI my max heart rate has dropped to about 130 but I can work close to that figure when exercising. In competition high level paras have been known to artificially induce autronomic dysreflexia which will push up heart rates and blood pressure to allow athletes to work harder. A practice that has now been outlawed.

Anyway just wanted to point out that traditional heart rate monitoring rules usually don't work with quads and high paras.

I should have added a disclaimer that the traditional HR numbers were just a guide on the safe side probably to avoid law suits. Better safe than dead! Everyone is different. That athletes in great shape as you were exceed the numbers, I do not think this probably applies to Jen. Perhaps that is why at times I have exceeded the max with no apparent ill effect when in better shape. I have no idea BC (before chair) how high I went; I had no monitor. I know my dad while on his first climb ever on MT Washington at age 68 got very near or above his max. I got very concerned and immediately stopped so he could lower it. He is 84 now and might not be around today had I not slowed down. Who knows. His baseline exercise level was walking 6 miles once sometimes twice a day in addition to swimming a few miles. By the way , since he stopped the exercise regiment, he has a lot more medical problems all of a sudden. Is it age or lack of exercise? Hard to tell but I think it is the latter. I myself fall apart in the winter when I cannot exercise outdoors.

I was not aware of your comment; T6 and above not being able to raise HR any where near the target rate. I wonder why that is the case? But not surprised.

Us men seem to be avoiding the real issue here. We do not have to constantly live with big boobs or can leave them behind. Unless you have a bad case of man boobs and have trouble looking at your apparatus.

Jen,

A good support bra might help in the mean time until you do find an exercise that you like and loose some weight. Be very patient. On the bright side my wife always tells me it is one of the first places you loose inches. Last year she went fanatical at Curves (a circuit training type of exercise where in 30 minutes with minimal stopping in-between, they exercise the whole body keeping the HR at the target rate). She dropped from a US C cup to a B cup and lost a lot of weight. Needless to say, I liked the girls better as a C cup. She recently has gained some of the weight back but the girls stayed the same. OH! NO! Rats!

Yo-Yo dieting and exercising can be a problem. Every time you cycle, the body seems to end up heavier than when you started out. A self preservation kind of thing due to natural selection. The real key is life style changes. Cutting out the fats is a great start. that alone will go a long way! Fats are one of the most calorie dense foods we can eat if not the most. Try munching on negative calorie veggies such as celery. They say one uses more calories eating celery than it actually contains. Combined with exercise the pounds should come of faster. Caution, drifting back to the old lifestyle is so so easy until you get used to the new one. After a while you will no longer crave the fats. Maybe. I don't. My problem is cheese. I love cheese. Fried food I do not really care for any more.

There must be videos that have exercises that target firming up the boobs? Do a search and try to weed out the gimmicks. There are a lot of false claims out there.

Above all don't sweat the small stuff. If big boobs are your biggest problem, then you have it made in the shade. It is a constant battle for me now as a para to keep my weight down in New England. Man boobs are very low on my list.

Radar

Edited by Radar, 13 January 2007 - 04:35 AM.

[LadyPilot]

Radar, on Jan 13 2007, 02:59 AM, said:

I was not aware of your comment; T6 and above not being able to raise HR any where near the target rate. I wonder why that is the case?

Radar

My normal B/P is 90/50 mm.hg. This is common in high SCI.
Trying to exercise aerobically, I just pass out.

So instead of fast and furious, I excersise slow and steady. Appears to be working, although I'd like to lose 10lb weight, my BMI is normal at 23. My resting pulse is 52.

[scasey]

Hi Jen! I had plenty of boobs before my injury, but being more sedentery has added 25-30 pounds (over eleven years), and I notice it most in my chest and waist. But with women, there are two basic body types - those who tend to put on weight around the top, boobs and waist, and those who end up with it on their hips and legs. That's just heredity. Weight training of any type will not make you "bulk up", or make your boobs bigger. If anything, using a manual wheelchair is a great workout for your pectoral musclels, which hold up your boobs in the front. If anything, try to find exercises that work on your strengthening your upper back, and shoulders, just to balance this out. That will help with your posture and that "dragging down" feeling!

[Radar]

scasey, on Jan 13 2007, 01:46 PM, said:

Hi Jen! I had plenty of boobs before my injury, but being more sedentery has added 25-30 pounds (over eleven years), and I notice it most in my chest and waist. But with women, there are two basic body types - those who tend to put on weight around the top, boobs and waist, and those who end up with it on their hips and legs. That's just heredity. Weight training of any type will not make you "bulk up", or make your boobs bigger. If anything, using a manual wheelchair is a great workout for your pectoral musclels, which hold up your boobs in the front. If anything, try to find exercises that work on your strengthening your upper back, and shoulders, just to balance this out. That will help with your posture and that "dragging down" feeling!

Well put by someone with first hand experience. Boobage wise.

You should however keep the weight down and the reps and sets up to minimise bulking up. Say for instance 15 reps or more and at least three sets for each exercise. I find that alternating or intermixing 2 excercise keeps it less boring. I often do one set of curls and then switch to working in the tricepts one side at a time. Do one side then the other. Repeat this three times. This works for me and keeps you moving so you can keep your HR up. You can modify this of cource just so you are having a better time of it. If you do not, it may be more difficult to stick with it.

If you do, your mind may tell you to quit and you have to convince it that you should not. Kind of a mind game. Excuses not to work out are so easy to come up with. Setting a realistic goal helps.

Just Do It!

Radar

Edited by Radar, 15 January 2007 - 12:08 PM.

[Texaswheelz]

Swimming is a great aerobics exercise. It also causes the muscles to be long and lean. Ever seen a swimmer that has bulges or muscles stacked on muscles? I've known some swimmers in college that were every bit as strong as the football players, yet they looked like they could lift maybe half as much weight. I swim as much as I possible can, it not only helps to lose weight, it helps to lean out the muscles that I build up from pushing around so much and as a bonus i get a tan.

[WheelsWithAttitude]

Texaswheelz, on Jan 31 2007, 12:02 AM, said:

Swimming is a great aerobics exercise. It also causes the muscles to be long and lean. Ever seen a swimmer that has bulges or muscles stacked on muscles? I've known some swimmers in college that were every bit as strong as the football players, yet they looked like they could lift maybe half as much weight. I swim as much as I possible can, it not only helps to lose weight, it helps to lean out the muscles that I build up from pushing around so much and as a bonus i get a tan.

Ever since I started to go to a wheelchair sports club and play badminton there, once or twice every week, I really feel better.

It may not do a lot for the paralysed part of may body but feels great for the upper part...and maybe I even loose some weight in the process.
Not that I really need to, I don' t think,am maybe just a couple of pounds heavier that I wanna be.

[elisabeth]

For some weird reason my boobs shrank after my injury, not that much but almost a cup size, I was a D cup prior to my injury but now I'm only a C cup. Maybe hormonal changes post injury affect people in different ways...

[Katherine]

ok I'm gonna chime in here just because this issue is dear to my heart so to speak..lol
Jen, I know where you are coming from.... I had large breasts prior my tumor diagnosis. My OBGYN Dr suggested I have my breasts reduced in size surgically since I had so much pain in my back.. I was a DDD cup at that point. Little did I know my pain was from the spinal cord tumor growing in my back. I went for the surgery reduction to try to ease the pain. Took off 10 lbs from my breasts. Then got diagnoses as having MS, was treated for that for three years. before I was unable to walk any longer and asked for a referall to another DR Who thank God knew what he was doing as soon as he saw me. To make a long horrible story short. I have regained the breast cup I had and more! I am now a size FF and I am 5'4" and weigh 184 lbs. I used to be a runner and ran marathons. Now I am between forearm crutches and a wheel chair. I know every case is different., but I do not suggest surgery reduction. I onlyl reccomend to keep trying to work out and keep your muscles as great as possible to support what you have

[Jodie Lynn]

OK well my two cents I have always since the age of nine had Big Breast, my parents thought something was wrong but the doc tells them nope nothing wrong she is just blessed. lol now i truely didn't feel blessed not at that age anyways, I still to this day have my size D cups, anyways I lost alot of weight and they never went away hmm not sure why but anyways.. I just go with the flow God wanted me to be this way for a reason so I guess I always will be .. Even post injury losing even more weight they stayed so not really sure what help I am to ya but i just wanted to add my thoughts ...

Jodie LYNN

[Big Valley]

The quick response as everyone pointed out it the boobs are getting bigger from your weight gain. As as we all know excessive weight is a big problem for us. We already have to lift our body weight to transfer and that extra weight is just more for us to roll around everyday.

So you either have to get stronger or lose the weight. Of course a combo of both is good too. So find a way to start getting more exercise and watch those meal portions. The exercise and motion will also help relieve muscle tension, spasms, keep muscle tone for prevention of sores, and increase blood flow. All needed things for a SCI person.

The info on less weight and more reps is completely wrong. That was old school weight training thinking. Read up at bodybuilding.com To build large muscle mass you need loads of testosterone. A female does not produce enough to build the massive muscles and it takes a lot of work to get those anyway. A woman will not get a "manly" body unless she starts taking steroids and other "supplements." So to gain strength do heavy lifting for 6-10 reps 3-5 sets per exercise. If you can do more than 10 the weight is to light, less than 6 it is to heavy. You are there to workout so put everything into it and get it over with.



Lean muscle burns calories just being on your body. The more you have the easier you can maintain your weight. Plus you now don't have those large leg muscles to burn calories for you easier so weight gain happens easier with SCI.



If you don't want to get into lifting weights at the very least you can go out for walks instead of sitting around the TV. If your neighbor hood isn't convenient or safe find some park with a nice walking track. Indoor track even but I find those to be just to flat and smooth to really do anything for me. Outside will have inclines for resistance.



And nice little tip if can afford it is a Nintendo Wii. I have a lot of fun and get some good exercise playing the games it comes with.

[ihaveaheartofgold67]

C6-JEN, on Jan 10 2007, 09:01 AM, said:

this might sound funny but since my accident my chest seems to have doubled in size. I am finding it really annoying, they get in the way all the time and i feel they are weighing me down. my mum says its because the muscles no longer work in this area. I was just wondering if this was normal for high level injuries??

hi jen , i know exactly how u feel. i was a 38c, now one year later im a 40 d . i use therabands to excerise , not weights for i dont want to bulk up any more bust. my story is on "share ur stories" i think its called on here. any ways good luck