I have really been struggling the last few days. I have lost all my motivation to stick to the diet and am feeling really depressed. I have been in a walking boot with crutches for over a week now due to a severe Achilles tendon injury. I had to stop my three times a week yoga class and was told that I most likely will not be able to return to class for a very very long time. Right now how I heal determines if I will need surgery or not. They suggested water aerobics or swimming once healed, but I can’t use pools due to skin allergies. I really can’t even be active right now in other ways either due to the severe pain. I am still working full time and when I get home, I am in such pain I just end up elevating my foot and do my best not to move much to decrease the swelling. My husband is doing his best to keep up with all the housework and meal prep, but has not been very successful. We are a month into Keto and I am feeling like all of this is just so pointless. I cheated this weekend, honestly because it was easier on both of us. I tried to go out twice with family and friends to perk up my mood, but it didn’t work. Yoga kicked off my whole health journey, but it is also what caused this injury. I am so beyond frustrated with my situation and want to say f*&k it to yoga and keto and just give up. Ways to gain back my motivation would be great.
Lost motivation- Pointless feelings from injury
Hi Samantha…I promise I understand how you are feeling as I am on crutches myself at the moment! My motivation for KCKO is that the aches and pains that I have from arthritis etc lessened loads the last time I was this low carb…so I am persevering this time and will not give up.
I have tried and failed so many times before and would undoubtedly returned to comfort eating given the news (and the crutches!) that I got last week.
Like you I see housework etc not being done so often but I do what I can…but eating keto can be simple and quick to prepare so cooking is something I can manage!
Staying upright long enough to cook a steak, eggs or put a load or bacon or pork belly in the oven…L can manage that!
You need time to rest your body to let it heal, maybe practise some of the yoga breathing techniques without the positions. Life is tough for you right now and you need to be gentle with yourself.
I don’t know your motivation for keto but try to think back why you started and where you would like to be. I send you all my best wishes and hope that your achilles mends well and that you find a way to cope until it does.
Samantha, I’m so sorry!
Can you just take a few minutes to browse through the before-and-after photos? There will be bumps in the road and you hit one early in your keto journey, but you’ll be fine!
Please look at Ttapp. I know I mentioned it to you before, but there’s one workout of hers that you can do seated and it’s kind of amazing, and it might be nice for you to feel that you can have a fitness life while your tendon is healing.
BUT - and this is coming from a huge advocate of exercise - many many folks lose their first 30, 50, 100 pounds on keto before they even consider exercise. In some ways, maybe this is perfect: it’s a time for you to just focus on how you eat, on maximizing your health and state of mind while you heal.
Your achilles tendon is injured anyway - nothing you can do about that at this point except whatever will facilitate healing - so it’s just a choice of injured + keto or injured + eating like ----? I would vote for the former, and I’m pretty sure 2019, 2020, 2025 Samantha would agree.
Much sympathy! A broken ankle was what started my last upward spiral in weight. Unfortunately, I LET IT HAPPEN when I could have at least slowed it down. Don’t let that happen to you!
My suggestion is to keep your menu super simple for a while, possibly even hiring someone to do your meal prep/cooking for you. That way you can stay on plan without much effort. Your MAIN effort right now should be pain management.
If you are coming home in that much pain, I suggest that you talk to your doctor and your employer about what you can do to either 1) work less (get a doctor’s order for a shorter work day) or 2) work from home in a more comfortable position or 3) be off completely and collect short-term disability. Pain inhibits healing, and helping alleviate your pain is in your employer’s best interest. You can’t do your best work in a pain fog.
Once your pain is under control, maybe you can try some chair yoga poses that keep your leg out of the mix, or the Ttap, or some other chair exercise activities that will help you keep the blood moving. You can always do some weight work with your arms and you might be able to find some seated core exercises as well. Don’t let one bum leg stop you from reaching for your goal - it might slow your progress, but it’s just a bump in the road. Keep your chin up! And when you need to bitch and moan about the unfairness of life, we’ll be here to listen. Then we’ll kick your butt and get you moving the right direction again! 
Hi Samantha,
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I’ve been injured a lot, sometimes for months at a time.
Here’s what I learned:
Pain kicks your butt, both physically and mentally…but you will adjust and get used to it.
Manage the pain! This means icing if appropriate, taking meds if they are prescribed.
Many people don’t like taking meds - but when it comes down to your mental health and healing, don’t be a hero. Stay ahead of the pain.
If you are in so much pain you are having problem resting, your Dr needs to know it.
Get enough sleep. You CANNOT compromise your sleep when you need to heal.
If you wake up in the AM and feel tired, you aren’t sleeping enough, and your body isn’t getting the chance to heal.
Going off keto will only make the inflammation & pain worse. I still have issues with inflammation. Last week was insanity at work, and strict keto went out the window.
It took a few days, but by the weekend I was in so much pain it made me cry.
Lesson learned.
Achilles tendon is one of the few things I’ve never injured, so I have no idea of the healing time…but it will get better. If it doesn’t and your Dr. isn’t helping or doesn’t know why, take charge and get a second opinion.
Set little goals for yourself.
I started setting goals because I get extremely depressed when injured.
Figuring out how to carry a drink or my favorite book with crutches. Or how to open and get through a door with tripping and hurting myself.
It will get better, just make sure you are giving your body what it needs to take care of itself.
I suspect there are plenty of upper body and core exercises you will be able to do once you are past the initial healing stage.
You’ve got this - take control and kick some butt!
I am sorry that you are going through this. Absolutely talk to your doctor. I think taking off from work may be good advice if you can manage it.
As for keto I have had back pains for years, sometimes hip pain. Nothing specific but what I eat impacts it and I cannot remember the last time it was a problem. I have been keto 11 months. The best thing you can do for your tendon is to keep eating keto as it will reduce inflammation. Even if you do not lose an ounce.
You do not need exercise to lose weight although it is good in general. I have lost over 50 lbs and barely exercise and work from home and sit in a chair all day. I keep meaning to go to the gym and do it for a couple of weeks and then stop. Assuming your doctor is ok with it you may want to look at natural anti inflammatory medicines such as Bromeline and Curcumin and Arnica
Motivation: your injury will likely heal better on a ketogenic diet due to less inflammation.
My partner and I started keto about a year ago. She had suffered a broken foot injury which led to problems in her hip and back. Had gotten to the point where she had pain and difficulty getting up from seated positions. After a couple months, she realized the pain was gone and her mobility was returning. A year later, she is able to do squats with weight, a movement she couldn’t even do without any weight.
Every person who reads this thread wants you to keto on because we know it will help and you WILL feel better. You got this.
So sorry to hear of you temporary troubles! Many people stuck in whee!chairs, for life, find beneficial seated exercise. Check out those videos. Sounds like yoga and exercise really benefits your mood. You’ll be up and about soon.
K
I had surgery on my achilles a few years ago. I feel ya.
It will get better. Ask for physical therapy, then keep up with what they tell you. Take time off if you can. Keep ahead of the pain.
Here is my favorite piece of advice: Get a knee scooter. Crutches are exhausting and just add insult to injury. I rented a knee scooter through an old-timey pharmacy and it was the best thing ever. I even put a bicycle basket on the handlebars for my stuff.
Once the boot comes off, there are lots of yoga poses you can still do. A good teacher knows how to modify.
What about the pool are you allergic to? My gym has a saltwater pool (no chlorine) and they are much more common than they used to be.
Good luck and just know will pass.
Yes, this ^^
You can most certainly lose weight without exercise. Heal your body, do Keto, and when you are able do some type of exercise for the health benefits. You can get healthy using diet.
Please don’t go back to eating carbage. It isn’t going to do you any favors.
I agree with the exercise not being absolutely necessary for still losing weight and feeling great on keto. Once you get healed I know you will want to get back to it, but I lost weight successfully on keto with no exercise (other than normal daily walking) due to my work schedule.
I’d love to start yoga but never seem to get around to it. How did yoga cause your injury?
Have you heard of kinesio taping? May help speed up the recovery. A month in is a rough time for such a bump, take it easy on yourself and keep an eye on your long term goals. We’re all here making mistakes and picking ourselves up alongside you.
I took an advanced class since I felt physically ready to do so.
I was attempting to get into grasshopper pose and slipped just right to cause the injury.
Regardless, I am still proud for challenging myself, even if it caused the injury.
Yes, I can not tape my injury until it is healed, per my physician.
Kinesio tape is wonderful. I have some stocked up for when I can start PT.
It was a God send after a knee tendon injury I suffered in my late teens.
I agree that you can lose weight without exercise, but I much prefer to exercise. I just feel like a big fat slug when I don’t move around. It totally changes my mood and perspective. I am also stubborn and impatient…which does not help to be told to sit and relax. I relax by doing things…even if it is cleaning. 
Thank you. I did not notice a difference in any aches or pains eating carbs vs not eating carbs, but I’m sorry you do. I had some real talk with my husband last night about everything and he is going to cut back some hours at work (he works a lot of overtime) so he can focus more on food prep and cleaning the house. My motivation for Keto is really just weight loss, which makes it hard sometimes. I know everything would be easier if I lost weight, including advancing my career…so I suppose that is my motivation.
Thanks for the input. I have talked to my MD about the pain issues. I refuse to take any prescription pain medications and have been icing it and using moist heat packs which helps. I take over the counter medications at night, but they are rough on my stomach, so I prefer to not take them. Also I know that if I am pain free I will push myself to do things I am not physically ready to do…like clean my whole house or attempt to work out. I can not work less or from home due to this injury because I have a desk job the requires me to be in my office. I have been taking meetings via conference calls this week which does help cut down on travel.