Five Disappointing Lessons I Learned About My Nutrition While Injured

 

When I was younger, the injuries were specific and less often. For example, lifting too much weight or playing sports.

Now that I’m in my mid-forties… I can turn the wrong way or even sleep wrong and can tweak a muscle. Huh?!

In my mind I’m still in my twenties but my body reminds me I’m more than twice that age and as a result, life is simply different.

 

Recently, my injury came from an “unknown” source but I got my money’s worth and far more. A tweaked back muscle that I thought would heal in a couple of days took over a month.

I was reminded of just how much nutrition factors into my fitness or in this case, the lack thereof.

 

Here Are Five Disappointing Lessons I Learned About My Nutrition While Injured

 

1. I Simply Moved Less and Ate More

The reality is when you’re injured your level of activity drops dramatically. I not only didn’t workout, I simply moved less.

And when I move less, I get lazy in many other areas of my life with the most important being nutrition.

I could’ve chosen other forms of exercise like walking and especially at a quick pace but just didn’t do it.

Yet for some reason I didn’t have a problem with a second helping at dinner. Ugh!

 

2. I Loosened Not Tightened My Nutrition

The reality is when I’m less active I need to actually tighten my nutrition because I’m not burning near the same amount of calories.

I can no longer “get to par” with my fitness balancing out my average eating. In fact, it needs to swing the other direction.

I must be all the more aware and disciplined of my need for stronger nutrition when I’m down due to an injury.

I’m older and should be wiser in this area but allowed my nutrition to slip at the wrong time.

 

3. I Justified Today That I Would Be Better Tomorrow

The mind is a powerful weapon when it wants something. I would justify today (eating poorly) because I would be better tomorrow.

Really? And I live and breath this stuff yet so easily can fall back into justification and poor habits when my routine changes.

I also know justification is a horrible master and will own you. It starts with just this one time, then another just this one time and before you know it…

 

4. I Under-estimated the Injury Time

This is a rookie mistake. My body just doesn’t bounce back like it used to do and an injury ALWAYS takes longer than it used to in order to heal.

There are also certain areas of my 45 year old body that take longer to heal: my back. I knew better but pushed it too soon and as a result, only added to my injury time. ARGH!

And THAT should’ve been a reminder to me to reign back in the nutrition for a longer sideline stay from working out than I had planned or wanted.

 

5. I Compounded My Return in Two Areas Now

If you want to come out of the injury without gaining weight, you’ll need to make changes.

One month later when I began working out, I not only had to bounce back in fitness from losing a month, I had to get my nutrition back into gear.

I went from one problem (fitness) to two problems (fitness + nutrition) and doubled my work.

And I claim to be more smarter too…

 

But the Advantages…

But there are advantages of being a student of nutrition and fitness… learning from the mistakes.

I’m embarrassed and disappointed in my last month due to this injury yet want to learn and make adjustments for next time.

I also want to challenge you to go in “eyes wide open” when not if an injury occurs that puts you on the sidelines for an extended period of time.

 

Key Takeaways

If you have an injury or unable to workout for an extended period of time, things need to change:

• I Needed to Move More
• I Needed to Eat Less or Wiser
• Assume the Injury Take Longer to Heal Than You Want and Allow It to Heal

 

Closing Challenge…

This is one of those posts that I didn’t want to write but absolutely needed to write.

Most of the time my nutrition is heightened during an injury but not this past time. I was also traveling a ton for work, which only made the poor choices compounded.

Again, I knew better and there are lessons for all of us to learn from this lack of discipline.

The good news is the back is healed, workouts AND nutrition are back in check and lesson has been learned. I just hope I don’t have to apply this hard lesson any time soon!

I challenge you to be prepared when, not if, you’re injured and unable to workout consistently.

Remember this post and immediately tighten not loosen or even stay at your normal nutrition routine.

 

Closing Question…

How will you respond differently with nutrition the next time you have an injury and unable to workout?