In this blog post, I want to address weight issues that people with SCI have to be mindful of.
Within a couple of months of my injury in 2018, I lost significant amount of weight. I recall looking in the bathroom mirror before a shower. I barely recognized myself. My skin was pale and I lost much weight and muscle definition.
There are a variety of factors at play that effects people with SCI. I was on a puréed diet for several months after the accident. That did not help maintaining weight.
According to the National Institute of Health website, the following are factors contributing to weight loss after accents for individuals with SCI.
- Body working overtime to adapt to injury
- Increased metabolic demand related to injury
- Infection, decreased calorie intake, psychological factors such as adjustment disorder and depression
- Decreased muscle activity leading to atrophy
I went from 180 to 150 pounds within weeks. I eventually returned to a regular diet. I did PT and OT to build muscle strain. It took a couple of years but eventually I returned to my normal weight.
But then a new problem developed. My bowels became blocked for several months. I developed volvulus, which is twisted intestinal loop. I had ileostomy surgery to remove the intestine and lost 30 pounds almost overnight.
My weight eventually increased back to 180 pounds and have been maintaining this for a few months. This was my weight before the accident.
People say I’m looking good. Still, I would like to lose 10 pounds. Since I can’t just slap on some running shoes and jog 5 miles. So I have to approach this through diet alone.
The nutritionist at home recommended eating around 500 cal per meal. I have a calorie counter app on my phone but haven’t used it yet. Probably because I’m blasting past 500 cal quota a bit too often.
Another strategy is intermittent fasting that other people in wheelchairs told me about. Intermittent fasting is an eating plan that switches between fasting and eating on a regular schedule. You eat only during specific times. Research indicates this may have health benefits, according to the John Hopkins health website.
There are different types of intermittent fasting plans.
- 16/8 plan entails only eating during an eight hour period and fasting for 16 hours.
- The 5:2 approach involves eating regularly five days a week. For the other two days, you limit yourself to two
The website discourages fasting for 24 hours or more.
Having a healthy weight helps maintain skin integrity to prevent pressure sores. It also helps prevent diabetes and other health conditions.
I’ll try the 1500 calories per day. This means joining the 21st century and use that calorie counter app and track those calories.
The horror!
Readers please share any information regarding losing weight or ways of tracking calories.
Leave a Reply