How can wheelchair users lose weight

Something I always and still constantly try to sustain is my diet. I had my three children in my twenties, and I was cautious with what I ate during each pregnancy. Sticking to meals that were nutritious and low in calories was key. I was aware that if I gained too much weight while pregnant, losing it would be difficult. Ten years ago, I tried the ketogenic diet for about six months. I ate mostly eggs, chicken, fish, and broccoli. I prepared my meals separate from my family and brought my lunch to work every day.

When I would go out to eat, I ordered fish and vegetables when possible. I lost fifteen pounds in about six months, and I felt much better. However, I realized it would be tough to sustain for a lifetime. After I hit my target weight, I eventually returned to my old eating habits but was more aware of what I was eating and tried to keep junk foods out of the house.

Exercise has also been a vital part for me to stay healthy. I ride my functional electrical stimulation bike as often as possible. Even lifting my wheelchair in and out of my car each day serves as a great arm workout. I also tried and fell in love with adaptive yoga.

My next venture is adaptive rowing, and I can't wait to start training and using muscles I haven't used in a while. Underweight teen boys Underweight teen girls Supporting someone with an eating disorder. Underweight children aged 2 to 5 Underweight children aged 6 to Advice for parents of healthy-weight children.

How to check your weight Body mass index BMI is a useful measure of whether someone is a healthy weight for their height. The GP can also help if you're not able to weigh yourself. Losing weight in a wheelchair The average man needs around 2, calories a day to maintain his bodyweight. A GP or dietitian can help you to work out your daily calorie needs. For some people, a one-to-one programme may be available. Tips for losing weight Aim to lose between 0. A healthy, balanced diet should be based on the Eatwell Guide.

Get active in a wheelchair Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy weight, and it's also important for your general health and wellbeing.

Whatever your level of physical ability, there will be an activity or sport for you. Try to choose activities that improve your heart health and muscle strength. If you can, try to do: at least minutes of aerobic activity every week strength exercises on 2 or more days a week Aerobic activity is particularly important when it comes to losing weight. We are often told that, to be healthy, we should limit our calorie intake. For men, this suggested intake is calories per day, and for women.

So, enjoy all that this wonderful New Year has to offer. Eat, drink and absolutely be merry. Be realistic with the goals you set. If at first, you can only do 10 minutes, start with that. Maybe do 2 or 3 sessions a day. Gradually work up to 30 minutes or more. One of the best ways to lose weight is through weight training.

It also builds muscle mass. A good goal for this type of exercise is three times a week for minutes. Another good thing about weight training is there are specific exercises that just work the upper body. So if you have limited use of your legs, you can still get a good workout. Or you can look into an exercise class. Many senior centers have tailored classes for people who use wheelchairs. By joining a class, you benefit not just from the exercise, but from the chance to make some new friends.

Yoga is a form of exercise that is very good for people with limited mobility. One major principle of yoga is that it is adapted to the ability of the person doing it. Many yoga teachers can work with you to adapt to what you can do. Yoga has been proven to be one of the best excercises you can do. There are many health benefits to wheelchair yoga. Many sports have been adapted to wheelchair users.

Tennis, badminton, basketball, and fencing, just to name a few. Participating in sports can be a fun way to get some exercise while getting the chance to meet other people. There are so many activies that you can do that still allow you to exercise in the process of having fun.

They also could have dangerous interactions with other medications that you take.