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Unexpected weight loss after crash

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Unexpected weight loss after crash

Old 09-26-22, 11:03 AM
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The Clumsy Oaf
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Unexpected weight loss after crash

Hello
Three weeks ago, I crashed and broke my collarbone. I'm not exercising much at all, short infrequent walks only.
Today I weighed myself and I'm 4 or 5 pounds lighter than when I crashed, even though I have been eating poorly (to cheer myself up),
Does anyone have an idea that explains the weight loss? I can only guess that my metabolism hasn't slowed down yet, or perhaps a margin of error with my scale?
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Old 09-26-22, 01:50 PM
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I would suggest you're losing muscle. Also are you keeping hydrated?
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Old 09-26-22, 03:24 PM
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I've never been able to fully control when weight comes off of me or not. Usually it's when I least expect it too.
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Old 09-26-22, 09:37 PM
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Sorry about your wreck. To me, if you are eating poorly, getting minimal exercise and losing weight, I would see a physician. Your prior metabolism will not carry over unless you just have a naturally high metabolism.
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Old 09-26-22, 10:44 PM
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Opiate pain killers can do this.
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Old 10-02-22, 10:30 PM
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Appreciate the input, thanks.
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Old 10-03-22, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by gobicycling
I would suggest you're losing muscle. Also are you keeping hydrated?
This. Healing from trauma is an intensely catabolic state and muscle loss is expected.
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Old 10-11-22, 11:35 PM
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I highly doubt that anyone will lose 5lbs of muscle in 3 weeks. IMO.
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Old 10-12-22, 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Bmach
I highly doubt that anyone will lose 5lbs of muscle in 3 weeks. IMO.
As a hospital-based physician and fitness nerd, I don't doubt it at all. Here's a pretty good review of what happen to muscle when oldies stop moving.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...MC3276215/#R13

"...data from the only study to examine older adults suggests that the loss of lean tissue in healthy older adults during bed rest far exceeds the losses experienced by their younger counterparts. Specifically, Kortebein et al. observed a 0.95 kg loss of lean leg mass (0.63 kg·wk-1) following just 10 days of bed rest in otherwise healthy older adults [13]. Assuming the rate of muscle loss is somewhat linear during the initial days/weeks of bed rest, this represents an approximate 3 to 6-fold greater rate of muscle loss in bed-ridden older adults."
The study subjects in reference 13 were healthy volunteers, mean age 67, maintained on a normal diet. The full text is paywalled, but I can send it to anyone who's interested.

The OP was not on complete bed rest, but the acute phase of recovery from significant injury involves systemic inflammation and a catabolic state, where resources are diverted to healing and anabolic processes, such as amino acid deposition in muscle, is effectively halted.

Most old people are losing muscle at a slow, but measurable, rate anyway and the only way to maintain it is resistance exercise and lots and lots of dietary protein.
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Old 10-12-22, 08:32 AM
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dunno about the weight loss. but the worst thing I can do is stop exercising after an injury. obviously don't exercise the injured area, but we have to keep doing other stuff. the injured area will benefit, even if it's not exercised

sorry to hear about the collarbone! sounds painful!
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Old 10-12-22, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
This. Healing from trauma is an intensely catabolic state and muscle loss is expected.
Yeah. I lost a good deal of muscle mass, especially in my upper body, after my heart valve replacement. I didn't do any vigorous exercise for 7 weeks after the surgery.
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Old 10-12-22, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Yeah. I lost a good deal of muscle mass, especially in my upper body, after my heart valve replacement. I didn't do any vigorous exercise for 7 weeks after the surgery.
wow, but now you seem to be doing great! as pr your ride reports, you ride many long rides! my brother had a 7hr valve surgery February 2020 right before things started to shut down. anyway he had many valves replaced. he's lucky if he goes for a walk or a swim now
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Old 10-12-22, 11:34 AM
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You were dehydrated.
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Old 10-12-22, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
wow, but now you seem to be doing great! as pr your ride reports, you ride many long rides! my brother had a 7hr valve surgery February 2020 right before things started to shut down. anyway he had many valves replaced. he's lucky if he goes for a walk or a swim now
The surgery was in 1990, when I was 25. I was born with a congenital defect. A hole between my ventricles. That cause my septum to sag and my aortic valve to leak. Leakage was very minor at the time, but I was told that as I got older, I would likely need surgery repair or place the valve. General prediction was around age 30-35. It happened sooner, likely because I was exercising so much. (I had lost 90 lbs. in 9 months in '86-'87, during my senior year of college, solely through diet change and cycling. Oh, the irony.) Had it done before my 3rd year of law school. Made a deal with the surgeon that if he thought he could get 20-25 years or so out of the existing valve he would repair rather than replace because there was something to keeping someone so young off blood thinners for the rest of his life. As such, I didn't know what I would wake up with.

After 7 weeks, I was told I could do a relatively light workout on the trainer. I was pretty scared and kept the phone on the floor by the front wheel in case I had to call 9-1-1.

Hopefully, my valve will last the rest of my life.
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Old 10-12-22, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
The surgery was in 1990, when I was 25. I was born with a congenital defect. A hole between my ventricles. That cause my septum to sag and my aortic valve to leak. Leakage was very minor at the time, but I was told that as I got older, I would likely need surgery repair or place the valve. General prediction was around age 30-35. It happened sooner, likely because I was exercising so much. (I had lost 90 lbs. in 9 months in '86-'87, during my senior year of college, solely through diet change and cycling. Oh, the irony.) Had it done before my 3rd year of law school. Made a deal with the surgeon that if he thought he could get 20-25 years or so out of the existing valve he would repair rather than replace because there was something to keeping someone so young off blood thinners for the rest of his life. As such, I didn't know what I would wake up with.

After 7 weeks, I was told I could do a relatively light workout on the trainer. I was pretty scared and kept the phone on the floor by the front wheel in case I had to call 9-1-1.

Hopefully, my valve will last the rest of my life.
I ride with a guy with a prosthetic valve due to a congenital defect. When I met him, the thing was leaking and he was due for a replacement, so I could out-climb him. Once he got the new one he started cleaning my clock. He's a few years younger than I, but definitely stronger.
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Old 10-12-22, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
I ride with a guy with a prosthetic valve due to a congenital defect. When I met him, the thing was leaking and he was due for a replacement, so I could out-climb him. Once he got the new one he started cleaning my clock. He's a few years younger than I, but definitely stronger.
One post-op adjustment was getting used to the ticking. Losing muscle mass in my chest didn't help with muffling the sound. I started sleeping with a pillow clutched to my chest and did for a long time, mostly out of habit.
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Old 10-12-22, 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
One post-op adjustment was getting used to the ticking. Losing muscle mass in my chest didn't help with muffling the sound. I started sleeping with a pillow clutched to my chest and did for a long time, mostly out of habit.
That would drive me nuts and would be a tell on the bike if the competition could hear it.
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Old 10-12-22, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
As a hospital-based physician and fitness nerd, I don't doubt it at all. Here's a pretty good review of what happen to muscle when oldies stop moving.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...MC3276215/#R13



The study subjects in reference 13 were healthy volunteers, mean age 67, maintained on a normal diet. The full text is paywalled, but I can send it to anyone who's interested.

The OP was not on complete bed rest, but the acute phase of recovery from significant injury involves systemic inflammation and a catabolic state, where resources are diverted to healing and anabolic processes, such as amino acid deposition in muscle, is effectively halted.

Most old people are losing muscle at a slow, but measurable, rate anyway and the only way to maintain it is resistance exercise and lots and lots of dietary protein.
I will stand by what I said as the study you posted showed less than 4lbs while confined to complete bed rest. The op is not and is also pity eating.
Interesting read anyways thanks for posting.
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