Living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, means navigating unique challenges daily. As a disabled artist and watercolor enthusiast, my health directly impacts my ability to create art and live a fulfilling life. Dieting, exercise, and self-care play a crucial role in maintaining my physical well-being, but let’s be honest—dieting is no fun!
The Struggle is Real: Dieting with Limited Mobility
For those of us with bone disease or limited mobility, dieting is about more than aesthetics. My weight affects my aides, who lift and move me, and even a small fluctuation can have a significant impact on how I feel overall. For someone who should weigh around 50 pounds, even a one-pound difference is proportionally significant.
Yet, losing weight with limited mobility is no easy feat. I face additional dietary restrictions due to stomach issues, ruling out many common diet options like protein bars, shakes, and raw greens. Despite these limitations, I’ve found that careful calorie counting and moderation work best for me.
A Customized Diet That Works
My strategy for managing my diet includes:
- Calorie Tracking: I use an app to record everything I eat and set realistic calorie goals. Currently, I aim for about 600 calories or less a day.
- Carb Moderation: While I can’t cut carbs entirely due to my stomach issues, I reduce portion sizes significantly. For example, I’ll have an eighth of a cup of pasta instead of a half-cup or a quarter of a brownie instead of a whole one.
- Treating Myself in Moderation: My biggest indulgence is Coke, but I’ve cut down to four ounces a day and plan to reduce it further.
Allowing small portions of the foods I crave helps me stick to my plan without feeling deprived.
Swimming: The Ideal Exercise to Compliment Dieting
Exercise is a critical component of weight management, but traditional workouts aren’t feasible for someone with OI. Swimming has become my go-to form of exercise:
- Low-Impact Movement: In the pool, I can walk, squat, kick, and punch without straining my fragile bones.
- Strength Building: Just standing and using muscles that are usually inactive makes a big difference for me.
- Caution is Key: Overexertion can lead to fractures or tendon injuries, so I’m mindful to stay within my limits.
Swimming helps me not only lose weight but also improves my overall physical health, making it easier to create art and manage daily tasks.
Motivation to Stay Healthy
As an artist living with disability, I believe in embracing self-image and body positivity. Being “skinny” isn’t my goal—being healthy is. Everyone’s healthy weight is different, and striving for what’s right for your body can boost energy, confidence, and motivation.
For me, staying healthy is essential to living my best life as a watercolor artist. It allows me to manage the challenges of OI, maintain my independence, and find joy in creating art.
Final Thoughts
Managing weight with Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a balancing act of diet, exercise, and self-care. While the journey is challenging, staying healthy makes it possible for me to continue pursuing my passion for art and disability advocacy. With motivation, a touch of discipline, and a lot of patience, I’m proving that nothing—neither brittle bones nor dieting—can stop me from living life to the fullest.