Zero exercise equals weight gain AIBU?

[Dilligaf81]

So frustrated. I had an accident at work 18 months ago that i have an ongoing claim for. Without going to the ins and outs, they admitted responsibility immediately as they were aware of an issue but hadn't dealt with it.
The medical report was a joke and pretty much imagined as the Dr spent all of 4 minutes with me. The latest response is that the 2 stone I've put on is unrelated to the accident.
Despite the fact i used to run 4 times a week (totalling at least 40 miles), cycle daily and had a very active lifestyle. I spent 12 months with very limited movement and have only just recently not needed a walking stick constantly.
AIBU to be annoyed that a child could see the obvious link between stopping exercise that suddenly for a prolonged period of time would lead to weight gain?? Part of the reason I'm annoyed is that i wanted to claim for the clothes I've had to buy as i cant fit into the ones i had, plus flat shoes which support my feet which again i wouldn't have needed if it hadn't been for this accident.

If you exercise less then you need to eat less I'm afraid. It's not their fault you didn't.

Not necessarily. DH is bedbound and has lost 3 stone, including all his muscle mass.

Broadly (input) eating should be adjusted to match output.

Weight gain is caused by consuming more calories than you burn, so while exercise helps "balance the books" as it were, it isn't the only way to prevent weight gain. The other is to eat less, which would be possible for you to do.

Do any of your medications have weight gain as a side effect? That could be a reasonable counter argument to the above, and your doctor's response.

Frankly, I think you're pushing it a bit to claim for new clothes you've had to buy. Loss of earnings, changes to your home to accommodate your needs, medical bills etc then I agree. But surely you would still have to buy new clothes in the time anyway?!

Ill add the medication I'm on also has weight gain as a side effect which again i wouldn't be taking had this not happened.
I could have reduced what i eat but also resorted to easier food rather than cooking using fresh ingredients which id usually do as i was unable to do the prep.

Yes, the lack of exercise will have contributed to your weight gain if you carried on eating at the same rate. It’s why older ex rugby players are obese.

However, you must have realised that if you were unable to be active you should eat less to prevent weight gain? Especially as you point out it would be obvious to a child - it should have been obvious to you. Your choice to keep eating at your previous levels. You should also have picked up on it occurring before the gain had got to 2 stone, to be honest.

I don’t think an insurance claim will cover clothes in a larger size because you didn’t modify your eating to take into account inability to exercise. The shoes may be covered if they are medically required, like orthotics.

Wow you're getting harsh responses here OP. If you went from a very active lifestyle to a sedentary one of course you're going to gain weight! You have to eat a certain amount of calories to avoid feeling gnawing hunger pangs, and if you can't do any exercise it's inevitable they're going to stick. Are people suggesting the OP should have limited herself to celery sticks since the accident?

I have 3 wardrobes of clothes i love so wouldn't need to buy anything, especially 3 sizes bigger.
Its not even a huge amount (less than £300) so its not like I've gone out and bought expensive clothes to be able to claim back.

When it first happened i was told it would be better within a month, then 2 etc etc. This was very frustrating and depressing.
I have reduced my calorie intake and eat less than 1100 calories a day, any less would be very restricting.
I've always been extremely active and so it was a massive shock not to be able to do any activity even walking.
I just feel its another impact this accident has had on mine and my families lives and cost us so much. Seems so bloody pathetic for them to say no to this despite all of the above.
Thanks ChameleonsInCarsGettingCoffee although i know the pills have weight gain as a side affect i havent mentioned this and will. I feel this has contributed despite the calorie reduction.

People dont realise that if you are on meds that cause weight gain,and are also on bed rest, you basically have to fast to stay the same weight. And you lose muscle mass, which is not healthy and difficult to recover from.
Its really not as simple as 'just eat less and then just get better and then get fit again'.

YABU. While doing less exercise and eating the same amount of food will lead to weight gain, you are in control of how much you eat.

To get compensation, it has to be a fairly direct link which there is not.

It's like arguing that the accident made you down so you drank more and claiming they should pick up your bar bill.

Personally I think the test should be - if you hadn't had the accident would you have put the weight on? The answer to that is highly likely to be no. It's unreasonable to expect someone dealing with the aftermath of an accident of this type to throw themselves into weight loss too, especially given such high levels of activity prior.

You don’t have to fast to stay the same weight, that’s ridiculous. Meds which cause weight gain usually do it through carb cravings (steroids are famous for it). You do have to realise it’s a probability and modify your eating habits however (higher proteins, low carb) and the reliance on convenient easy food won’t have helped.

But YAStillBU to think you can get clothing covered by an insurance claim. Loss of income from being unable to work, required modifications to house (eg grab rails in the shower or a shower chair), taxi card if you are unable to drive for groceries or for collecting children from school - all of those are direct financial costs relating from an accident. Weight gain requiring larger clothes is an indirect cost that didn’t have to happen.

I wish you joy and happiness from your legal action.
It is a very slimy, unpleasant situation to be in. I cannot believe you’re talking about weight gain and clothes!
There are many people who have lost the use of their limbs, their sight etc and you are trying to squeeze as much as you can out of an insurance company for your wardrobe!
Shame!

Yes, the lack of exercise will have contributed to your weight gain if you carried on eating at the same rate. It’s why older ex rugby players are obese.

Have to agree with this, all the while I weigh around 49 kg, do no exercise bar normal day to day activity.

It really is so simple as eat too many calories = gain
Eat lower calories - lose

I don't think it's unreasonable to put on weight as the result of an injury but it can't be part of the negligence claim because the company can't control your food intake . They are only responsible for what happened leading up to the accident. If you are going to be left with permanent mobility issues then I would focus on that.

I sympathise as I was on crutches for 4 months and literally allowed to walk 2000 steps at a shuffle a day. I had to cut to 1000 cals a day to maintain (basically lived on raw veg sticks and lean protein). It was pretty miserable.

We all know energy in = energy out!
It’s not a question of that ffs!
OP is being absolutely outrageous!
I am deeply offended by this absolute bollocks.
What was your accident OP? Gonna share?

Shame!

Are you the employer?

If an accident at work is a result of negligence/carelessness by the employer the employee is entitled to recompense. You have no idea of the OP's personal circumstances or the impact of replacing clothes on top of long term restricted mobility.

Or does an employee need to die of negligence before being entitled to claim recompense?

C8HION402 thanks for that.
I myself have been subject to a ghastly accident, as have 2 friends and a close relative.
My point is not getting ‘justice ‘ but that if you you put on 2 stone and your (3 wardrobes full) of clothes don’t fit, you can hardly demand recompense.
You would be lucky to receive compensation for loss of earnings, destruction of an Olympic career and the fact that that your life will never be the same

Sorry OP - I'll admit I didn't read your OP properly and my reply was a load of rubbish.

The latest response is that the 2 stone I've put on is unrelated to the accident.
Despite the fact i used to run 4 times a week (totalling at least 40 miles), cycle daily and had a very active lifestyle. I spent 12 months with very limited movement and have only just recently not needed a walking stick constantly.

Ignore my post please and apologies x

He accident was a result of my employers negligence that resulted in me being unable to work for a year, they stopped paying me after 6 months (as per their hr policy). I have 4 children to feed clothe etc and the impact on all our lives has been huge. This has gone way beyond financial although more than 6 months wages is very hard to absorb and I'm sure the majority don't have that sat around just in case.
puffy i didn't realise id started a game of accident top trumps and also cant see where i stated this was as bad as losing a limb.
The fact that this accident happened through no fault of my own and the incompetence and negligence of my company makes it hard to bear. So much so that I've had to leave a job id had for 20years and loved because of the lasting physical issues that are unlikely to ever resolve.
The reason i claimed for clothes was my solicitor told me to and to provide pictures of myself over the last 10 years to show i had maintained my weight at the time of the accident. They said this was because the likelihood was i wouldn't have gained this weight had the accident not happened.
Fine you think iabu that's cool i asked the question but don't you dare attack me for not being injured enough for you. I've been through enough thank you very much.

Dilligaf81
Many apologies. I think maybe your post touched a sore point with me and I’m sorry if you feel I attacked you.
I hope you get it sorted soon

the answer to the question is no however i feel for you op

On average 60%-70% of total energy expenditure (TEE) goes on basal metabolic rate. 10% of TEE goes on thermic cost of digestion. Only 20%-30% of TEE goes on moving, maintaining posture and other physical activity. Most of the metabolic activity happens in lean muscle mass.

Medications can have a huge slowing impact on your metabolic rate. Also, most tablets (not capsules) are mostly made of one of a number of sugars (lactose being a common one) making up the majority of the inert component of the tablet, so a significant medication load will equate to a significant simple carb load.

As you age you lose approximately 1% of lean muscle mass per year. Being bed-bound can lose you that 1% of muscle mass per day. This is how elderly patients who suffer a fall can "age" 10 years in a 10 day stay in hospital.