Apparently I need surgery? In 20 days! Helpppp!!

I just found out that I have to have surgery on June 19th that will put me in casts on both legs for a month! I'm not sure how much walking I'm supposed to be doing during that month, so I'm just going to assume right now that I won't be able to walk much, if at all. Problem is, apart from just wanting to be healthy and such, I'm going to the BEACH at the end of July! (Casts should come off around July 19)

I need advice on what I should do for the next 20 or so days to prepare for only being able to do abs or arm weights or... sit and be fit (haha) for a month, without totally ruining a potential bikini body! I'm 6'1" and 153lbs. I know my BMI is good and all, but I'm one of those "skinny fat" people, so my goal is definitely to lose fat, and I'm more worried about how I look than the number on the scale! Any exercise advice would be GREATLY appreciated! (For before the surgery, during cast time AND the one week I have with no casts before the beach!) And also, I'm confused (still) about how many calories to eat. I know that you can't build muscle eating on a deficit, but I'm not trying to make muscles bigger, I'm trying to reduce my general size in inches. Does that still count as wanting to build muscle? I was trying to eat 1600 a day and my burn meter says I burn about 1800 something, should I alter my calorie intake before, during or after the casts? Help! This is so last minute and I'm nervous I'm going to be the flabby girl on the beach!! haha

I only sound ignorant because I am. :o) Thanks in advance for your help!

Anyone at all? Please?

First of all, that totally sucks I feel super bad for you. I hope your surgery goes well and that you're back on your feet sooner rather than later.

I started lifting weights and have noticed my body looks soooo much better than last summer. You might just have to live with the fact that your legs aren't going to be "toned" and sexy, but you can definately continue doing your upper body workouts. Just make sure you don't overeat, that way you won't gain any fat on your legs.  And by increasing muscle mass in the rest of your body you'll help protect yourself from gaining a lot of fat while you're unable to do a lot of moving around. And I'm sure that once you start walkinig around again you'll get your muscles back in your legs in no time. Definately make sure you don't push too hard though. Surgery can take a lot out of you, you don't want to slow your recovery down by working yourself to death.

I was in your situation 2 years ago - surprise surgery on both legs, with bandages due to come off just before pool holiday.

Firstly, ask your doctors what exercise they recommend for your condition, and what will help most with your recovery.  If they don't have any recommendations or restrictions, I guess do something that will help strengthen/tone your  legs so that when the casts come off, your legs will still show the work you put into them before surgery. 

I dont' know what your condition is or how mobile you will be - but you could actually use your casts as weights?  take turns lifting your legs up?  (For me, this was not an option.  And anyway, I was so sore that I didn't give a hoot what my legs looked like, as long as they worked once the bandages came off).

Remember that you will have to build up strength slowly after the casts come off, after a period of misuse even walking may be a little shaky for a day or so.  Your body will be recovering from trauma, so make sure you look after yourself and help your body to heal. 

Best of luck - take care of  yourself.

are you going to be on crutches??

I was in a cast for three months last year after rupturing my achilles tendon, and with the angle of how they set my cast could not put pressure on it.  That being said, after a few weeks with crutches my arms started to tone up amazingly.  Also, while you are taking a shower you can get a great ab work out by holding your casted legs towards the back of the tub and holding your head under the faucet.  It actually is hard at first, but gets easier and your abs will get a workout.

The legs are going to lose a lot of muscle mass.  My legs are still not back at regular muscle size yet and I got my cast off a year ago this month.  You might just have to get use to the fact that they are going to be skinny for a while.  you can do leg lifts once your Doctor approves it, but as far as leg work outs go, that is about all you can do.

DO NOT try to come back too soon! It will only lead to more injuries and more pain.  Trust me, I'm now dealing with plantar faciitis and I have to get a scope on my opposite knee because I tried to come back too soon.  If anything, take advantage of the fact that you are supposed to be resting, and enjoy it.  You will be back to your busy life before you know it.

Good luck with the surgery!

Thanks so much guys!

danaofdoom- Yeah, it totally sucks! I was mad, but I guess there's no point in being upset about it! At least everything's getting put back together and hopefully I won't have to think about it anymore!! And yeah, I will probably limit my calories a bit more while I'm immobile. I'm hoping that since I won't be doing much that I won't be that hungry? I hope! haha.

agaac- That's so weird that you did this too! My doc said it was rare to operate on both legs in the same surgery but since I need to be mobile for school in August, he's doing it. I should totally ask him about exercises, I didn't even think about that. (I'm a little retarded.. lol) And man, you're totally right! Leg lifts will be much more difficult with those big, ugly boots! I'll for sure do some of those... maybe I can thin out my thighs to match my puny calves... haha. I hope I'm not TOO sore for too long... :o/ I'm nervous!!!

mariasahojnacki- I don't think I'll be on crutches... I'll have casts on both legs so I don't think crutches would be very effective. I'm actually not even sure how I'm supposed to like.. get from my car to my house after the surgery! I think my brother is going to carry me? And I guess I'll just crawl or scoot around everywhere? haha. And I have no idea how I'm going to bathe with both legs out of the tub. That's going to be a little bit of a challenge! Stressful... haha.

Thanks so much for the advice, guys!  :o)

i agree with the first poster. if you are "skinny fat" as you say lifting weights is definitely the best option. not only does it tone your pudge and give you a nice hard body, the more muscle you have the more calories you burn the less body fat you have yay!!! 

and after you have recovered from the surgery, biking is a great choice for cardio. it has toned my legs so much i never even have to think about them anymore.

I was in your position once, or at least something really similiar. I was in an accident and I had surgery on my legs. I had to be in a wheelchair for about 4 months (They operated on my femur, which is technically the strongest and widest bone in the body, so therefore it takes a long time to heal), and I had to unhinge my shower door and put a plastic chair (yes, chair haha) in my shower and I sat down while someone helped me bathe. Not pretty, haha.

Anyway, I think you should do biking, but only if it wont hurt your legs. Biking helps a lot with toning legs and thighs.