Muscle Relaxers and Pain Killers Slowing Metabolism? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

xxkaleidoscopic · 08-08-2011, 04:51 PM

I am a daily weigher. My patterns are very regular, when it comes to weight loss. I lose something every day, unless I cheat, or it's TTOM. Today, though, there was no loss, even though I stayed perfectly on plan yesterday.

I did, however, take a muscle relaxer and half a pain killer yesterday, as I am recovering from a very long back injury. I'm wondering if those could have slowed my metabolism? Anyone have any experience with this?

mandalinn82 · 08-08-2011, 05:25 PM

Both make you retain water and waste. I have had a long-term shoulder injury, which is pretty much declared permanent at this point, and it has me on and off pain medications and muscle relaxants. My weight stalls or goes up when I take them, and tends to stick until I've been off of them for 3-4 days.

It's not an issue of metabolism (although both are sedating, so you may be less able to work out at full capacity and/or less likely to do non-formal-exercise activity and veg on the couch, which would affect calories burned). It's just retention of various types.

xxkaleidoscopic · 08-08-2011, 05:39 PM

Alright, thanks so much! As frustrating as it is to see a gain, it makes me feel loads better to at least know why, so now I'm not nearly as annoyed by it.

mandalinn82 · 08-09-2011, 01:05 AM

Forgot to mention that also, if you have enough of an injury/flareup to need your meds, you're likely also swollen in the injured part. Swelling also = water retention.

xxkaleidoscopic · 08-09-2011, 02:03 PM

Oh, that's a good point. I'm not sure what the case is there. I herniated a disc in my back back in February or March (can't remember which), and it takes about 9-12 months to heal fully. So I'm doing a lot better, but there are still flare-ups. I guess if it's flaring, that means it's probably swollen around there. Bah.