calories

Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 383, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/03, 10:12 AM I had surgery 2 weeks ago and since then it is VERY hard for me to eat. I still try to eat 5 meals a day,every 3 hours but I probably only take in 600-800 calories a day. Is this hurting my metabolism really bad, and how is it going to affect me when I get back up to 1200 a day, Btw I am active (3X a week weight training, 3X a week cardio) Oh and how do you fill out your profile? thanks in advance. shana

scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/04, 11:28 AM anyone? please?
raffycanlas Posts: 54 Joined: 2005/01/25	2005/02/04, 11:37 AM eating less than 1000 cals is bad, uur body will store more fat
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/04, 02:32 PM yes I know but my stomach just can't handle food right now. Do you know how badly this is going to affect me?
borpillicus Posts: 454 Joined: 2003/03/13	2005/02/04, 02:38 PM This is murder on your metabolism. If your only eating a scarce 1000 calories and going to the gym, what do you think your body will use for fuel? It's going to eat up lean muscle tissue and like raffy said, store fat whenever it can. Are you sure you can't eat liquid foods? Like whey shakes and MRP's? You know, something that may be easier on your stomach? -------------- Lift. Eat. Rest. Gain. ~Brad~
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2005/02/04, 03:27 PM what was your operation?
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2005/02/04, 05:13 PM You may want to invstigate some "liquid" nourishment. It is usually easier to get some extra calories down this way and expand your appetite. -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/04, 06:21 PM Thanks guys, I know I'm in bad shape right now with eating like this for the past 2 weeks but I'm trying to save my body as best I can. I was in a car wreck on may 1, 2004 and have been trying to recover from the MANY injuries I sustained. One reason I have now gotten so health conscious. Unfortunatley the rod got shifted in my leg and the bone wasn't healing, so I had surgery again 2 weeks ago. It went very well but since coming out of the hospital I am constantly naucious (sp?) I still workout and when I get home I attempt to drink my protein shake but I always wind up throwing it up. These last couple days have been better. Myabe 800-1000 cals a day but I know this still isn't good for me. I don't want my metabolism to come to such a halt that I blow up like a balloon when my stomach gets better either. Btw onr of the many pills I take a day is a multivitamin, I also take a calcium supplement which I heard women should take. (It's a good pill right now for me anyway) Soeey for such a long post just trying desperatley to stay healthy and I really do appreciate any help. shana
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2005/02/04, 06:51 PM You should probably think in terms of a MRP drink rather than just a protein shake for some needed nourishment. Good luck to you, sorry to hear about the accident. :( -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2005/02/04, 09:30 PM Sorry I have to disagree. Whilst I think it important that shana does not use up excess calories if she is finding it difficult to take them in, suggesting that she avoids exercise altogether will just exacerbate any muscle wasting that has occurred. Soups and energy drinks may be low on protein, which her body will require for recovery and rehabilitation. When I was immediately post-op, the only thing I really craved was milk which I personally think is a really good starter, although a protein supplement will also help. Have you tried milk? I'm not a big fan of vitamins (as many people know), but in your case I think it is a really good idea. You mentioned your metabolism coming to a halt - well - it probably already has, but hte good news is that this can be reversed reasonably quickly by eating enough, and often enough. Also, your operation was 9 months ago now? Really you should be getting back to normal eating patterns. Sometimes it just takes sticking to it for a week or two to get your appetite and your stomach used to an increased intake. If you are still being sick, I would see your doc.
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2005/02/05, 07:35 AM I apologise, I misread, I thought the op was May 2004. In that case it would depend entirely on what the docs or physios have suggested, but even exercising the contralateral limb has been shown to help reduce muscle wasting in the other side, so if the docs say it is ok, go ahead. It does not take weeks to build up muscle and liver glycogen stores enough to exercise, this can be done a lot quicker than that, if she takes in enough calories. If she is unable to tolerate her protein shake, then obviously find something she can tolerate, but that is ONLY reason not to have a protein supplement. What do you think is contained in those supplement drinks that dieticians give to people in hospital who are malnourished or recovering from illness? Yes, Protein! What do you think your body requires to repair any damage from the operation and to recover? Shana's protein requirements will be much higher than normal in her present state. Shana, what have your docs advised regarding exercise?
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2005/02/05, 12:00 PM ============ Quoting from the_terminator: a couple of weeks rest will do her no harm at all ============= Except for massively increasing the risk of DVT.
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/05, 12:11 PM First of all thanks for the advice, I have been really at a loss. My physical therapists I see twice a week for 2 hours. I go to the gym and weight train #X a week for an hour. I also do 3 days of cardio for 30 mins 3X a day. I know I am expending heaps of energy/cals and am starting now to be be able stomach a tuna/wheat thins mid-day meal. Unfortunateley I am now fluxuatig between 600-800 cals a day (hey it's better than what it was) My PT said I need the exercise but she is also not a nutritionists, that's why I came here for help. :) Any more suggestions would be great :)
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2005/02/05, 08:19 PM Terminator, I have to say I think it is completely inappropriate that you are giving shana advice contrary to that of her physical therapists, who have seen her, and know the nature of her operation. People who engage in rehab after orthopaedic operations have much better outcomes than those who don't. I can also assure you that you don't suddenly become at risk of DVT on your 40th birthday, having had no risk whatsoever previously. Age is just one of several risk factors. Shana, I am going to copy and paste your question into the diets and nutrition board, where we can focus on your diet.
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/06, 02:55 PM thanks!! Fortunatley yesterday I got my apeteite back all od a sudden and food tasted GREAT! hehe. I ate prolly 1500 cals, Today I woke up and ate 2 eggs w/ onion and turkey and a piece of whole grain toast:) Sorry just so happy! Anyway I was wondering at what rate should I build my caloric intake back up? I don't wanna balloon up :P thanks! shana
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2005/02/06, 07:50 PM shana - look for some of the nutritional suppplement shakes like Ensure - that is what they give old/ill people to bring their calories up. You could also try baby foods, mix into shakes, like rice cereal and some of the blended fruits or sweet potatoes. If you adjust up 100 calories/day and stay at that amount for a week or two, then up 100 again, you should be fine. it sounds like you are doing a lot of exercise, so I doubt you will balloon up anyhow. -------------- Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon. -- E. M. Forster --
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/07, 09:02 AM Ok so I should be ok because the last 2 days since I could eat I have eaten anywhere from 1200-1500 cals a day. I guess I should prolly cut back down and work up from 700 maybe? advice please :) btw thanks you guys have made this a lot easier
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2005/02/07, 09:05 AM If you are getting in 1200, stick with that, I don't think you should go back down - you want to stop your body from being in starvation mode.
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/07, 10:23 AM thanks so much:) 1200 was my magic number before the latest surgery and it seemed to be going well. With 1500 every 4th day. I guess I'll try to go back to that and see what happens. I think I should be ok because I am pretty active (as much as possible) You guys have been lifesavers! Thanks so much. shana
raffycanlas Posts: 54 Joined: 2005/01/25	2005/02/09, 12:11 PM well then, i guess u sir, will have to be drinking soda or whole milk, its healthy too, and it will help ur metabolism, cuz if u dont, u will definitely look like gollum from lotr, lol, just kiddin, but seriously, drink whole milk
scp21 Posts: 72 Joined: 2005/01/08	2005/02/09, 11:58 PM drink whole milk? why? I have always drank skim, I don't think I could stomach the thickness of whole. I got my cals back up to 1200 and will slowly increase to 1400-1500 while working out so hard. Hopefully that should keep me from balooning up. hehe. Really though, I was really worried but so far I haven't gained a lb. I actually lost an inch from waist and an inch from each thigh. I love watching your body take a prettier shape. :)