Help for an amputee

Tazz

Hi

I subscribed to this group because reading, I found some of the people giving advice really know their stuff - and thats hard to find!
I am an amputee, right leg above knee. I have also lost the first three fingers on my left hand and have restricted movement in my forefinger. As well as that the thumb on my right hand does not work! I was a footballer before my accident and so very fit, and even now I coach kids teams etc.
My problem is that I was in a wheelchair for two years and grew a belly! I am on crutches now and I still consider myself to be fit (I swim and attend the gym three times per week.). I know situps do not work (I've been trying!, and due to using the crutches I know I have great abs buried under the flab! I can't get rid of it though. Any advice?
I'm 6"1 1/2, weigh 13st 6lb at present.
I know that diet and excercise need to be worked in tandem, so advice on either would be appreciated!

g'em

Losing belly flab is probably one of the most common problems posted about here so you're not alone!!

I think most would agree that when it comes to belly flab, the best results will come from diet. You can exercise to the hilt and have fab abs, but if there's a nasty layer of wobble on top it's all to no avail (and as you say, if you already have great abs from exercising then you have good motivation to shift those lbs!!)

Plus, you can't spot shift flab. The weight will be lost from all over, but if you have an excess in one place, that's where you're likely to see the loss most.

So... keep your water intake high, about 1.5 - 2L every day. Cut down on caffeine, cut out fizzy drinks, and minimal alcohol (high in calories can increase appetite so you eat more!).

Cut down/ out processed foods, which will cause bloating, so no package meals, ready meals, pizzas, take-aways (Big no-no!). Swap white rice/ pasta/ bread for brown or wholemeal and limit your servings. Meals should consist of 50% veg/salad, 25% carbs (rice, pasta etc.) and 25% protein (lean chicken, white meat, fish). Snack on fruit, unsalted nuts and low-fat yoghurts mid mornin and mid-afternoon. Eat a good, hearty breakfast (ideally porridge or wholegrains, no sugary cereals).

The 'purer' or non-processed a food is, the harder it is for your body to break down, so you stay fuller longer. You'll feel less bloated too.

peterl

try to make contact with a member called Transform on these boards.
He's a bit of a zealot (!) but has great knowledge of physiology and nutrition that he could advise you on.

Sangre

Think swimming is the best non-contact way to go. Great cardio and really works out the whole body.

Whats your diet like?

Tazz

My diet is varied, I have almost completely cut out alcohol and fast food except for odd occasions, but I am aware I have to cut out coffee, cola and fizzy drinks and replace them with water. I have started that this week and I am not finding that too difficult. However, I do like to drink Lucozade before and during excercise, and I am not sure if this is helping my cause!

hardtrainer

Fizzy drinks/cola are laiden with sugar, cut these out completely and for good. Cut down on caffeine but if you do still want coffee just try laying off the sugar in it.

Keep your meals small and regular, aiming for 6 balanced meals, preferably home made since you can keep a closer eye on whats going into them etc. As gem said, about 50% veg., 25% complex carbs and 25% protein is a good way to go.

If you're swimming along with a good diet you should see the results pretty quickly.

poobum

losing weight...whats your diet like? what times etc...roughly do u eat at? this could be having an effect!

Tazz

I almost always eat breakfast (unless I am late!) at about 7 am, and I only ever eat cereal. I eat lunch at about 2 pm, either a sandwich, pastry or a visit to the chip shop (I know!). I tend to snack after work (about 5.30 pm), then have my main meal after I have finished all my tasks for the day - sometimes this means eating after midnight!
I realise this has got to change!
From today I keep a stocked fruit bowl, no fizzy drinks or caffeine, no trips to the chip shop, loads of water (I'll try to go through at least 2 litres perday) and I am going to experiment with taking stuff to eat at work (apples and yoghurt etc) so I can snack through the day, avoiding having to have a large late meal. We'll see how that works, coupled with my continued swimming/gym use.

Thanks for all the advice so far! Let you know how it goes!

Tazz

oneweb

Tazz wrote:

sometimes this means eating after midnight!
I realise this has got to change!
Tazz

Yep, eating just before ya sleep is a bad thing, i think 2 hours between eating and sleeping is recommended 'cos otherwise your body doesn't get to break down the food properly. I've noticed a very small but gradual gut loss (preventative action - it was *going* to turn into a bit of a gut)

No idea how the whole ideal weight works when you're missing a limb but I'm 6'3 and 12st 9ish which isn't too bad I think. I'd imagine a leg is heavy enough!

Hope this helps in some way, hope it goes well

edit: found this when i was lookin for my own ideal, noticed it had an amputee-specific option
edit: link - http://www.dietitian.com/ibw/ibw.html