Injury and body image

When you’re injured and training stops/reduces/changes from what you are used to, it is inevitable that your body will change in some respects. This is completely normal, however it can be difficult to come to terms with. There are some changes that because you have more time and may be dwelling a wee bit, suddenly stand out to you. However, these changes should be embraced, because they represent the amazing power of our body. It has the ability adapt and change in order to help us as best it can at that moment in time.

As a result of these changes, it can lead people to ask themselves one question. Should I eat less because I’m injured? And the answer to that is…NO!

*it is important to know I purely speak from my own experiences.

A lot of people assume when injured they should cut back on the amount they are eating because they are less active. However, your body still requires a lot of energy in order to repair and recover properly and the only place this energy comes from is food! If you reduce your intake, you risk slowing down your recovery rate, but also reducing the extent of healing, which will be of no benefit in the long run. So, how can we you think positively to see this time as a good thing?

Remember, food is fuel. You NEED it. Whilst you may not think you are fuelling as high a volume of training as normal, when you think of it in the long run, you actually are. How you treat your body now and how you fuel it will directly impact how strongly you come back to running in the future. Your body is an investment, and what you put into it now, will directly impact what you get out of it in the future. A well fuelled body during injury, will be a strong body when making your comeback.

Food is enjoyable. Try not to see it as the enemy. Now is the time to make the most of going out for dinner with friends and family. Training doesn’t quite take up the same amount of time as usual, so enjoy being able to use that extra time. Catch up with those close to you over some tasty food. Good food tastes EVEN better with good company. This is also a good way to make food more enjoyable and less of a necessity. 

Enjoy the time. As athletes, we rarely have an extended period to rest, recover and recuperate. We are always on the go. Whilst this might be because we love being busy and we love training, it is also good to accept we need to slow down at times. If all goes well, you won’t be back in this situation, so enjoy the downtime whilst you can.

If you’re injured and body image is something bothering you, I hope this helps show you that everyone goes has the same thoughts but it can also be a positive time. We all worry about the physical changes that happen as a result, but it is all for good in the long run.