Recovering from a motorcycle accident....gained 10 lbs in 7 mo.

I'm really getting discouraged and a little depressed. I was in a horrible motorcycle accident in Jan. of 09. I had multiple fractures in both arms and left ankle among others. I'm finally able to be up and around on a cane. I don't know any good exercises I can do to burn up the calories I take in. I am drinking a lot of water and eating fresh fruit and veggies. Can anyone suggest some calorie burning exercises I can do in this sedentary state?

i just wanted to let you know, i started a thread dealing with just this, trying to maintain a healthy eating plan when exercise is at a minimum due to injury...i do exercises with my arms to keep them from getting flabby...i have to wear a special boot on my left ankle that stays on 23.5 hours per day...i get quite a bit of exercise walking up and down the stairs with it...sometimes i intentionally leaves things downstairs so i have to go down to get it and walk back upstairs...

look at my thread and contribute there if you want!

honey, i feel your pain! i broke both of my ankles, along with my right tibia, fibula, and femur! after not walking by myself for almost a year, i gained a good 15 lbs. and it sucks when you can't go for a jog to try to get it off, right?  i learned a few things at physical therapy that have helped a lot-- first off, i use hand weights every day (4-5 lb weights) to do a series of upper body exercises.  building up muscle, as i'm sure you already know, promotes that lovely after-burn effect and ups your metabolism.  i also do a series of leg lifts (lying on back, on your bed if you can't manage down to the floor yet), 20 per right, 20 left, and repeat 2x. at therapy they'd also have me sit on the edge of a table or chair and simply lift my leg till it was straightened to work the quad a bit. these things seem really simple, but if you do enough reps, you can feel it, and i know in my case the weight started to come off. 

just like you, i had to radically change my diet, lest i wanted to gain more! it sucks, but keep your head up.  i'm planning on getting an elliptical soon, but prior to that, i'd use a recumbant exercise bike (which you can even do with a walking cast on) to get some form of cardio!  being in an accident sucks, but you're not alone in the unpleasant after-effects!

Gosh, thanks for your note. Some good suggestions for me to try...like stairs, leg lifts. My right hand was crushed and left forearm has plates and screws...they really hurt still, but I can try lifting 3lbs or less with them. Just hope the left knee doesn't go out. LOL. It does suck when I know last year I was walking 3 miles a day, working out at the gym, and dancing.....I know I have to be patient, a quality I am learning because of this accident. Thanks again for your support and good luck to you....Sandy.

P.S. Just starting phy. therapy outside of home. Can finally use the stick shift again

First off, i am so glad you made it through, . I have a friend who is an EMT, and he has seen so many fatal motorcyle accidents, that I would freak out if my bf got one. But now, you have to deal with the long road of recovery. I  hate when I am hurt and can't work out cause I have to eat @ the sedentary level, which is no fun. For me, that is around 1350-1400 cals. I'd much rather be active and be @ 16-1700, you know?

But overall, as bad as you feel, the 10 lbs are not as important as the fact that you are alive and getting better.

Good luck, and well wishes!

I just wanted to wish you luck on your recovery!  I hope that you have many successes!