Anyone actually lose their injury weight gain?

Injury/Nutrition Shins

7 years ago 05/27/2016 10:55am EDT

I am recovering from a stress fracture in my tibia. I have had 12 weeks off running so far. I was deeply upset about the injury, and in a very negative head space, so I did nothing over the last 12 weeks except not run and eat. No cross-training etc. because while I (did) love running, I don't like the gym, biking, swimming etc. That feeling of hatred toward other activities is likely tied in with the anger/negativity I had toward my injury and not being able to run.

I woke up this morning, and I felt better about everything. Not sure why. But I also looked in the mirror. I was shocked. I am sure I have gained 20 pounds. I am wavering on the edge of slipping back into my negative head space - because now I not only have to rebuild my fitness, but I have to also lose a ton of weight while doing it. Right now, the thought of getting back to my previous weight and running 60-70 mile weeks seems impossible. I feel like I've totally screwed myself and I'm never getting back to where I was.

Very long back story for this question - has anyone ever gained significant weight during injury recovery (or any other time) and then lost that weight and returned to their old form? Basically I just want to know it can be done from someone who has actually done it. (Negative head space issues).

7 years ago 05/27/2016 10:59am EDT

re: 12 weeks off

Just. Doesn't. Happen

7 years ago 05/27/2016 11:21am EDT

re: 12 weeks off

I've had similar issues mentally, but those issues involve a lot of OCD and stress over weight management. For better or worse, my time off always involved a lot of cross-training. The most weight I put on while injured was about 8 lbs. With that said, the road back to racing shape is the same, though it might take a bit longer for you. You might want to make a conscious effort to lose the weight through diet; the best advice I can give in that respect is to eat a whole lot of vegetables, drink a lot of water, and busy yourself with things that interest you outside of running to take your mind off things regularly.

Realize that running will suck for a while, but remember that every run is helping you get back to where you once were. It's a long road, but it's worth all the huffing and puffing and carrying around some extra weight. In a blog of hers, Lauren Fleshman attributed a new-found kick to having to carry around a lot of extra weight after long-term injury. There are benefits. Look at the added weight as a way of making your runs more challenging, not as a roadblock to feeling how you think you should feel when you run.

7 years ago 05/27/2016 12:59pm EDT

re: Sorry, you will not lose that

Sorry, you will not lose that wrote:
Just. Doesn't. Happen

Running is done, but switch to cross-fit and be buff in no time.

7 years ago 05/27/2016 1:43pm EDT

re: 12 weeks off

Just stop eating as much. Clearly you're consuming more calories than you're working off. It's really that simple.

7 years ago 05/27/2016 1:51pm EDT

re: 12 weeks off

Yes, it can be done! I've had a two year battle with a herniated disc issue and put on close to 35 lbs over that time. I've since lost about 15 of that and gained back some fitness and fully expect to get back to racing weight once my mileage has gotten to more than the current 15 miles a week. It definitely isn't as easy at 43 as it was in my 20's, but I am confident it can still be done. In fact, I fully expect to still run some PRs in the near future.

Bottom line, it is simple math, burn more calories than you consume and the weight will come off!

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