5 Ways to Combat Weight Gain When You’re Injured
When you find yourself with a physical injury, as you’re going through the healing process, it can tend to slow down your daily routine. You don’t move as fast. You can’t work out as much (or in the same way). And because of these two things, there’s a tendency to put on a couple of pounds (or more).
If you’re recently hurt yourself and you’re worried that it automatically means that you’ll gain weight, the good news is that there are things that you can do to prevent that from happening. Just check out these five effective tips below:
Eat smart.
Although a lot of people believe that working out is what keeps them from gaining weight, the reality is that your diet plays a significant role in it too. So, make sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, to lay off on consuming too many carbs and that you eat sweets in moderation. That will definitely help you to keep your body in check.
Timing is everything.
When it comes to watching how food affects your body, remember that it’s not just about what you eat but when you eat it. No matter what the food might be, eating it really late at night can prove to be counterproductive because that’s the time when your metabolism tends to slow down quite a bit. So, try and stick to three full meals a day and make sure that you eat them well before bedtime.
Drink lots of water.
When it comes to packing on the calories, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that you can easily “drink them” as well as eat them. That’s why, while you’re in recovery, you should try and not drink very much alcohol (it’s loaded with calories) and even monitor the amount of fruit juice that you take in as well. And always remember that one of the best ways to keep yourself hydrated is by drinking water. It’s refreshing, it flushes out toxins and the best part about it is that it’s calorie-free.
Work out—differently.
Just because you might not be able to do the same kind of exercises that you did before your injury, unless your doctor says otherwise, that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate some low-impact ones until you’re feeling 100 percent. For some people, that’s taking an evening walk. For others, it’s signing up for yoga classes. And still for others, it’s using free weights on their wrists or ankles as they move about. Just remember that when it comes to achieving pain management and injury relief, exercise can actually work for you rather than against you.
Watch the snacking.
When you find yourself spending a lot of time on the coach recuperating, it can be tempting to keep a big bag of cookies or chips by your side; however, that’s a surefire way to gain more weight than you would probably like. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t foods that you can snack on, though. Dried fruit, dark chocolate and a big bowl of berries will curb your cravings will giving your body the nutrients that it needs to keep you on the road to healing.