How do I supplement not being able to train while recovering from surgery?
10 days since my appendix removal…only another 3-5 weeks to go until I can train again. I am feeling much MUCH better- this week I returned to work, started eating solid food again and finally am not in so much pain that I need massive painkillers. Hurray for me! I should be truly happy I am this far but I, being me with my high expectations for myself, feel like I should be able do more! I am absolutley going stir crazy not being able to lift anything over 10 lbs, not running, no yoga, no long walks with my daughter- nadda. I can’t believe how much I took my health for granted never really slowing down long enough to be thankful! Shame on me… So now I sit with this dilemma…
I am worried #1 that I will loose all the lean muscle mass I have quite literally worked my behind off for while not training and recovering #2 I am worried that I will gain some weight because I am not training and that isnt going to help me for my September goal #3 I am worried I will be a whimp by the time I am recovered…. I know this one is dumb but there is something truly empowering when you can squat as much as you weigh…
So these are my fears… what now? I think I am going to look at switching my diet to lower calorie intake (not that I ate that much when I trained 1500-1900 calories/day (most from lean proteins, veggies, fruits and oatmeal)) I also am looking at upping my vitamin intake and green tea intake to produce a faster recovery- because these things up your immune system. I am also looking for some form of a supplement that promotes fat loss and supports lean muscle without it being necessary to train with it…my solution for now is CLA. I use to take it and it helped to keep weight off when I was recovering from a knee injury.
Those are my ideas…my fears… maybe my solutions? As far as the stir craziness…I think I am going to be reading even more and maybe even taking a rosetta stone language course to keep my mind busy while I cannot train.
Wish me luck… any advice is GREATLY appriciated!!!
May 15, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I would work away from the core. Do some arm excercises. Calf excercises. Some light rowing (braced on a pad).
Anything that does not stretch or stress the abs.
Here’s one for the back. Lay flat on the floor, raise your head without curling your chin to your chest (looking straight up, raise straight up). Excercise 1. is hold for a count, do sets
Excercise 2. Turn head from side to side, full range of motion, and 1, and 2, and 3 etc to 10, do 3 sets. No strain on the abs, but it works the back alll the way down the spine.
Hope I am a help.