they say it is 80% food 20% exercise.
bizi

Disagree to some extent
 

Quote:

That being said, probably about 80-90% of our overall health/physique is dependent on our eating habits/type of foods we eat.

While fuel is very important, so is muscle and muscle is dependent upon exercise. The more muscle one has, the more calories expended. Diet alone will not prove to keep a healthy weight. It takes both diet AND exercise.

For many here, exercise is difficult to say the least. But as the original poster voiced concern about expanding due to the change in exercise levels, that shows that it is a combination of both to keep a healthy weight. When one changes, the other needs to change also in order to compensate. If exercise is reduced, so should calories.

Being one that has very limited ability to exercise, I do attempt some while in bed. It is not just about burning calories, but also about limiting muscle atrophy and trying to keep some muscle tone. Diet won't do that.

In fact, being too restrictive in caloric intake will lower the body's metabolism and go into starvation mode. It is a balancing act that one must attain in order to achieve not only the "proper" fuel (food), the proper amount of fuel, and get as much muscle movement as possible.

I disagree with the percentage you have placed on food intake to optimize health. I believe that food is a BIG factor but exercise and muscle are important also. One without the other is not good for the body.

While some of us may have very limited mobility, there are a few things that most of us can still do a little at a time to help keep our muscles from too much atrophy. It may not be what we consider "traditional" exercise and activity, but anything is a move in the right direction. Just turning from side to side in the bed is exercise if one is capable of that.

It is very difficult to keep muscles toned and weight off when we become limited in our mobilization but we can learn some adaptations. I happened to find that there were "some" things I could do while in bed.

Have you ever tried walking/exercise in a swimming pool. That is what I do so I don't re injure myself. Start out slow. My YMCA offered a stroke victim class, which helped me with basic stretching. Just a suggestion.

Different ailment here, but I also found the warm water swimming pool extremely helpful for me after some very bad back problems many years ago.

Hi MeShelly,

Welcome to our wonderful Community. Have you checked out the RSD/CRPS Forum, here:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

It is full of great information and superb people.

Dave.

I can attest to the benefits of swimming, isometrics and any weight machines that don't involve your injury. After three surgeries on my foot and ankle and nine months on crutches that is what kept me from turning to mush. I used a pull buoy when I couldn't tolerate kicking yet. My orthopod was shocked I was going to the gym 4 days a week. :D

It's amazing the creative ways you can use your own body weight without actually even needing to stand. Do whatever you can and don't give up no matter how tiny a workout you can manage. I started with two minutes, really!, when I was post-op.

Just did a new routine of Ellen Barrett's, a floor fusion workout of pilates/yoga moves that didn't even require standing! I accessed it on the free on demand options for Time Warner (exerciseskool). I have tried a couple of her workouts and liked how easily modified the movements are to accomodate various needs. aack...can I say those things? Is it promoting? I hope I am not in trouble...

Keep trying new things! It makes it more fun and interesting and you may find something that works just right for you no matter what your limitations. :highfive:

Only just spotted this. I am a tad limited at the moment & have trouble even getting out of bed after surgery, but once things settle in a few months I will investigate this further... Thank you so much for the advice...

Hahahaha, that's funny. Food is always yelling at me too.

Two 10 pounds dumb bells are always handy. :winky: