Has anyone had any success with starting exercise after TBI? What did you do?

I want to walk outside but the heat and humidity really exaggerate my symptoms. Looking to regain some strength and lose the weight gained after my accident.

Edited to add that I am 4 years since my accident.

How far out are you from your injury?

I gave up trying to run or even walk outside. Treadmills make me nauseous and disoriented. BUT I was able to go hiking for the first time this past March. I was able to practice yoga last summer although I still don't perform downward dog. This December is 6 years since my MVA TBI. Please remember YMMV. It all depends on...damned if I know. It seems everyone's recovery story is unique.

Don't give up but don't push yourself either. A setback is so easy to trigger.

KOM, If your injury caused your doc to prescribe an SSRI, it can be a big contributor to weight gain. Getting weaned off can be a big help.

I go to the gym and use the rowing machine. I set a moderate pace and row for 20 minutes. I just start to break a sweat by the end. It is a good low impact exercise. I also swim after my rowing. That is my cool down.

Finding something to do that gets one away from the kitchen can help if that is part of your struggle. Can you get outside during the early morning or late evening ? I know your evenings go late with sunlight until after 9PM. It's a good time to get outside.

Walking with a weight/can of soup in each hand will increase the energy expended.

I knwo the struggle. I packed on too many pounds. Did not get them off until I quit the SSRI and replaced it with 5-HTP.

My best to you.

I am three and a half years post concussion and I gained over 20 pounds. First because of SSRI's. I quit taking them but never lost any weight. Exercise is not easy, it makes me feel bad most of the time. I go for walks when I find days it doesn't rain.

I've done some research into the various weight loss concept. Exercise is primarily to build muscle mass because muscle mass burns more calories.
It is almost impossible to lose weight by exercise alone. Strenuous exercise burns about 400 to 600 calories per hour but that is reduced by resting calorie burn of 200 to 300 calories per hour. It take 2 hours of strenuous exercise to actually burn 400 to 600 calories more than not exercising. Those 400 to 600 calories can be consumed in 10 minutes.

The best but most challenging exercise is a push up, pushing away and up from the dinner table. For many of us, that means finding something active to do to keep away from the food.

I'm 3.5 years post a Moderate TBI and the degree and amount of any form of exercise varies from day to day at times. My other health problems don't necessarily help either.

I can run (actually jogging) for a few minutes on the elliptical machine but still not on treadmill or on floor/ground (except for a min to 1.5 min max to catch the bus. Thankfully now, I have my own car and drive.

I swim in the "aerobics" pool designed for the older folks and hence kept so much warmer too. I'm welcomed to alternate between swimming and ballet in the pool - and a hair of water ballet. My little medical alert will "swim" (actually walk on outside of edge of pool) while I swim.

Related but a bit off topic :

Anyone else love to have certain shower heads massage their heads at specific warm temps? It helps me, at least.

Plus, anyone else feel a bigger difference now as compared to before tbi, when ones neck cracks a couple ways in particular? I can't explain it well. Sorry.

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I worked out at 3-5 a weeks before the accident. I have started my exercising many times of the last 5 years. The longest time I made it was 6 months before the stress of the exercising caused a relapse.

The exercising has many great benefits but I haven't been able to maintain my normal load. It can take months to recover from a relapse. I have tried many different exercises routines but have failed to find one that works.

I have had many concussions over my lifetime and have recovered from all of the other. I still exercise daily just not intensely (ie. walks - volleyball - manual labor).

I am trying to get back to running 3-4 times a week (4 miles) and volleyball 2 twice a week.

I am 5 years post tbi and still cannot get my heart rate past mid 90's without bring on symptoms. that being said, I have managed to get pretty active by doing yoga, tai chi, walking and swimming all at a leisurely rate. All of these activities will strengthen your muscles.

I too have a really hard time with the heat and humidity so I take short walks early in the morning and exercise indoors in the summer. On days with heavy fatigue I will shorten the length of my walks to only 10 or 15 min but I will try to do that 2 or 3 times a day. I have never really found a solution to dealing with the humidity other than to limit my exposure to it

I gained 30 lbs after my accident and have managed to lose it all very slowly so it can be done.

I don't deliberately exercise, per se, but have made every attempt to get back to my pre-concussive activities. I don't know that I will end up losing any weight from it, however. I almost feel like the switch that told me to quit eating got derailed.

I remember thinking the first summer after my concussion that all hope was lost on my yardwork. Prior to my accident, I could work 6-8 hours with short breaks for food and bathroom. When I started out after the accident, I was lucky to get 15 minutes done before I was all done for the day!

It took a good 1 1/2 years after my accident to start to re-build some stamina. Last year I set a goal to re-plant my front flower bed. It took a month and a half, but I got it done.

At 2 1/2 years, I am still having to take lots of breaks, especially if it's hot out, but I can usually work for a couple hours at a time now, hauling brush, weeding, whatever is needed.

I now enjoy a weekly yoga class. I can walk my dog every day for at least 1 mile, more if I have time. I can do more heavy work again, as long as I don't try to push it to former levels. I sometimes go kayaking with a friend.

If I'm having a bad head day (week - month?), I scale back as much as I need to for how fatigued I am, and just give my body and brain a break.

I guess where I'm going with all this is that whatever it is you want to accomplish, you will get back there. But you have to be willing to take very small steps, and not get discouraged by the slow progress. Because it will be slow. You won't believe how that little amount of effort has tired you out and zapped your ability to do anything else. But if you can start, and just give your body time to adjust to that extra minute here and extra minute there, it will improve.