if you were me....

I have a stress fracture in my foot and it hurts so bad, I can barely walk!  However, I NEED to workout.  It's my thing...I just love it and I'm so depressed that I can't do what I love to do...which is run.  So, if you were in my shoes....what would you do at the gym?  I just need some ideas I suppose....I feel lost over at the gym now that I'm out of my routine.

Does working on an ellipticle help, since there is less impact on the foot? How about swimming?  That does stink when  an injury takes you out of the game like that!

Sorry, but the stress fracture can turn into a full blown break if you don't take it easy!! The seated bike would be good, swimming, water aerobics, um... pilates maybe. I would recommend yoga, but it requres alot of balance and pressure throught the feet, so that may not be the best thing for you to do until your doc gives you the all clear.

I know some people don't like them, but when you have a lower extremity injury, upper body machines may be beneficial because you aren't putting your full weight on the foot, and you are still getting a fairly good upper body workout. You may just have to take it easy until your foot heals?

I'm on mandatory restrictions for the next 5 weeks because of a illness, so I feel ya on the "needing to work out" thing.

one of the few times I would actually say....Do nothing!!!!.....then you just come back 100%.  when you have an injury like that it's best to be smart.  when you're hurt though...you can still workout, but sometimes people don't understand the difference between being hurt, and being injured.

Yes, I did the elliptical last week....I felt okay doing it at the time, but overall....I think I may have made myself worse.  Every step I take I feel like my 2nd toe is going to snap off.  I tried to do my circuit routine this morning....it was horrible.  I couldn't balance on my leg or do any of the lunge exercises.  I couldn't do any of the cardio in it either.  I think I'm going to have to suck it up and just rest until I am better.  I hate to even say that!  I feel like all my hard work and endurance is just going to go right out the window!  This is EXTREMELY frustrating!!!  I do wish my gym had a pool....I think that would be something I could probably do...although the thought of my foot flapping around in the pool doesn't sound very good either.  :-(  I hope my doctor was right when he said 4-6 weeks of heal time.

I can totally relate.  My sophmore year of high school I got a stress fracture in my mid-tibia, right before track started.  TOTALLY SUCKED!  I pushed it and worked out a little bit!  Backfired completely and could barely run the next summer to get ready for cross country. 

You need to be PAIN FREE at all times for it to heal.  This even means if you have to use crutches.  Just watch the calories and do some weight lifting.  You will be fine.  Then listen to your body from here on out.  If something is starting to hurt.. take it easy before you develop something worse!!

Take care!

i had surgery over christmas and was completely sedentary for two weeks. i also pretty much had to relearn how to walk so after two weeks i couldn't just go right back into working out. and i'm a fiend! but i tell ya, even though my stamina was kind of shot, my motivation was back with a vengeance. the break actually helped me out. so maybe taking a week or so off is a good thing.

Hi!

I have a foot injury that is on the mend right now, but I've been out of commission for a while.  Here are three things that I've done to pass the time: (1) "knee boxing"--I either get on my knees (on top of a box/step at the gym), throw on some gloves and punch a boxing bag or just hold some light free weights and punch the air--keeps you totally off your foot (use the step/box so you are on your knees and your feet are off the edge, otherwise you'll end up pressing on your foot.  And use a mat or towel to pad your knees!!); (2) weight lifting (for upper body/abs only!!).  I have always been a weight lifter, but i really kicked it up since my injury.  Just discovered a way to make it really hard too--get a Bosu ball, ball side down, and do all your weight lifting on your knees on the ball.  Gets the heart rate WAY up and works the core too!; and (3) swimming. 

I know exactly how you feel--it's so frustrating being injured!!  But just be overly anal about using your foot as little as possible until it gets better so that the injury heals as fast as possible.  Don't bother with the bike, elliptical or anything, as all that weight pressing on your foot will just prolong your injury.  Be creative and modify things and you can get back to running sooner!!  Feel better!!

i stress fractured my tibia and femur so i had to stop running too a couple years ago.  i took up spin class.  i don't know what you can do with a stress fractured foot but i feel your pain.

feel better!

I had a stress fracture in my foot a couple years ago and MAN do I know the pain! It was during track season and I tried to ignore it at first but then I had to run the mile.. not a good thing. I was out for the rest of the season after that :(

I had a boot that I had to wear for 6 weeks which if you don't have one already I would suggest asking for one from your doctor. I was able to swim laps a little while it was still fractured and then I rode a stationary bike and also I continued lifting weights, just upper body though.

Definitely don't do anything that hurts it though! You want it to heel as quick as possible :)

Good Luck!!

Wow...thank you all for your concern and suggestions!  I really appreciate it!  I've decided after not pushing it yesterday and feeling so much better today (but still in excrutiating pain), that I will just be kind to my lil ol foot until it is 100%.  I would much rather be out of commission for a few weeks than a few years...or worse.  I will just lift weights (upper body and core) only!  I'm trying to put myself in the midset that going back a few steps on my endurance and than revamping it again might actually BE a pretty good thing!  Maybe fun and challanging again too...it's been awhile since I felt challenged by my running.  Thanks again everyone!