Injured :( Can I reduce body fat through diet alone?

[mrsbunny]

I had a little snowboarding accident over spring break - fractured my pelvis - and will be unable to hit the gym for 6 weeks. (wimper, tear)
I had built up some good muscle during the winter and had begun shedding some fat, getting ready for bikini season!!
But now... I am already feeling flabby! Is it possible for me to continue to reduce my bodyfat through diet alone? Or am I going to eat into my hard earned muscle since I can't workout?
Current stats: 5'8", 140, 24% bodyfat

[willldabeast]

calorie deficit=loose weight

you could do one of those rowing machines where you just use your arms though

[rotlex]

Absolutely 100% possible. Most of my weight loss was done with nothing more than daily 30 minute dog walks. (Lost just over 100lbs that way).

Exercise is not the be all and end all for losing anything. Diet is #1 period. I did it, and still do, using a low carb plan, Atkins to be specific, and found it easier to lose weight without exercise than with.

[ColdasIce18]

You can do some sitting down cardio, get a light dumbells and just do shoulders, chest, bicep curls, tricep curls etc and a clean diet with lower calories than usual.. you'll be fine

[echelon101]

Originally Posted by willldabeast

calorie deficit=loose weight

you could do one of those rowing machines where you just use your arms though

:O

If she does that with a broken pelvis she is

A) Going to be in hideous ammounts of pain because you have sit bolt upright on the plastic seat
B) Unless she has a ripped core she is going to slouch and really hurt her lower back
C) You really really don't get much out of arms only rowing unless you have really strong back and arms.

[echelon101]

Originally Posted by rotlex

Absolutely 100% possible. Most of my weight loss was done with nothing more than daily 30 minute dog walks. (Lost just over 100lbs that way).

Reminds me of a guy who was **** hot quick on the erg. No one could work out how he got so quick as he did the same training program as the rest of us and got about 6 hours sleep due to studying medicine and having night jobs. Turns out that he cycled to work everyday which took 40mins.......bingo!.

80mins UT2 cardio five days a week in the bag.

[HawaiianSiren]

I was out for 4.5 weeks. Just keep on your diet and do what you can. Don't get caught up in the "all or nothing" mentality. Just because you can't do your normal routine doesn't mean you can just do a little at a time. God forbid you hurt yourself WORSE and your benched for longer.

With doing just my diet and super duper mild cardio for my 4.5 weeks, I lost only about 2 pounds but went down 1% bf. Not a lot, but again, not bad for a serious lack of exercising. Good luck and heal well. :-D

[Cuchulainn]

Originally Posted by mrsbunny

I had a little snowboarding accident over spring break - fractured my pelvis - and will be unable to hit the gym for 6 weeks. (wimper, tear)
I had built up some good muscle during the winter and had begun shedding some fat, getting ready for bikini season!!
But now... I am already feeling flabby! Is it possible for me to continue to reduce my bodyfat through diet alone? Or am I going to eat into my hard earned muscle since I can't workout?
Current stats: 5'8", 140, 24% bodyfat

Sorry about the accident. Somebody has to say it, but yes you are going to lose muscle if you are inactive for a couple months. However, once you get healed up and get back into the gym you should be able to get back to where you were rather quickly (due to muscle memory, expanded fascia).

Yes it is perfectly possible to decrease fat through diet alone. Simply put if you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight.

You should also consider taking Vitamin C during your recovery time. Not only will it help keep the flu away, but it has been shown to be anti-catabolic. Meaning it will help you preserve muscle while dieting.

[mrsbunny]

Originally Posted by rotlex

Absolutely 100% possible. Most of my weight loss was done with nothing more than daily 30 minute dog walks. (Lost just over 100lbs that way).

Exercise is not the be all and end all for losing anything. Diet is #1 period. I did it, and still do, using a low carb plan, Atkins to be specific, and found it easier to lose weight without exercise than with.

That is encouraging! I know most people will say that getting in shape is 90% diet.
I have been thinking I would do a reduced carb diet while I'm out of the game. I think you have confirmed my choice!
By the way - amazing job on the weight loss!

[mrsbunny]

Originally Posted by HawaiianSiren

I was out for 4.5 weeks. Just keep on your diet and do what you can. Don't get caught up in the "all or nothing" mentality. Just because you can't do your normal routine doesn't mean you can just do a little at a time. God forbid you hurt yourself WORSE and your benched for longer.

With doing just my diet and super duper mild cardio for my 4.5 weeks, I lost only about 2 pounds but went down 1% bf. Not a lot, but again, not bad for a serious lack of exercising. Good luck and heal well. :-D

Good point. I'm so anxious to get back into it, it's only been barely 2 weeks and I'm going nuts! But... I'd hate to rush it and be laid up for even longer.

Sounds like you faired quite well when you were out. I'd be pretty happy to finish up my time off 2lbs lighter and 1% less bodyfat!! Very encouraging!

[mrsbunny]

Originally Posted by Cuchulainn

Sorry about the accident. Somebody has to say it, but yes you are going to lose muscle if you are inactive for a couple months. However, once you get healed up and get back into the gym you should be able to get back to where you were rather quickly (due to muscle memory, expanded fascia).

Yes it is perfectly possible to decrease fat through diet alone. Simply put if you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight.

You should also consider taking Vitamin C during your recovery time. Not only will it help keep the flu away, but it has been shown to be anti-catabolic. Meaning it will help you preserve muscle while dieting.

Sadly, I assumed I would be losing some muscle, I feel like I have already but some of it is mental I'm sure.
Vitamin C.... will look into that, thanks

[pure_ecto]

you're right it's mostly mental. 6 weeks off is not THAT bad. Reduce your carbs and try not to dwell on the muscle loss, you'll be back in top form soon! It's seriously bad to worry about it, I used to be obsessed about losing muscle when i was sick or whatever, and i ended up hurting myself from pushing too hard when i should have resting.

[Rodzilla]

First sorry to hear about your pelvis

Steve Smith (NFL Wide Reciever..didn't think you would know because your a girl)

anyway, he lowered his bodyfat while being bed-bound with a broken leg. You can do it too! I would still try to do something to stay active. But you can do it for sure, and you can limit muscle loss!