Dealing with physical disabilities, whether long-term or short-term, can make it tough to get the recommended amount of exercise needed to balance our diet. Luckily, there are ways to avoid gaining a lot of weight while you’re injured. One key method is to stay properly hydrated.
Hydration is especially crucial for people with lower-body injuries who struggle with even simple movements around their home and rely on aids like shower chairs to avoid further injury. But it’s also important for those with upper-body injuries that limit movement, as well as for anyone with less serious issues like a broken arm or a strain.
A lot of folks don’t realize that our bodies burn calories just by being alive. The key is to avoid eating way more calories than you burn so you don’t gain excess weight, and to eat only when you’re genuinely hungry. Staying properly hydrated can help you figure out when you really need food.
### The Science Behind Hydration and Hunger
There’s a common misconception that an empty stomach always means you’re hungry. Actually, your stomach digests the food you need for daily activities, whether you’re lying in bed or running a marathon. Extra food that your body doesn’t use either stays in your stomach or turns into fat. Staying well-hydrated helps you recognize the difference between true hunger and boredom or “phantom” hunger. The aim while injured is to control your appetite and maintain your metabolism, and drinking water throughout the day helps with that.
### Prevent Boredom Eating
When you’re stuck at home and can’t move around much, it’s easy to get bored. Boredom often leads to snacking, and before you know it, you’re reaching for a tub of fatty chips. Hydration can keep those false hunger pangs at bay, so you don’t mistakenly eat just because you’re bored.
### Choosing Healthy Drinks
While staying hydrated can boost your metabolism and keep hunger pangs away, it’s important to choose the right drinks. Avoid sugary beverages because they’re full of empty calories you don’t need, especially if you’re not as active as usual. Opt for low-fat drinks or, better yet, stick to water. Drinking soda, for instance, can lead to weight gain while you’re recovering from an injury.
### Other Ways to Maintain Your Weight
– Find alternative exercises that can help you burn extra calories, even with your injury.
– Focus more on healthy nutrition. This is crucial not only for weight maintenance but also for a speedy recovery.
Maintaining your weight while injured requires patience and careful planning, but it is effective. If you or someone in your family gets injured, prioritize hydration and explore what other methods you can use to stay healthy. By the time you’re healed, you’ll be ready to jump back into your healthy lifestyle with minimal extra pounds to lose.