QTR-Can't build Quads...help!

1.5 Years ago I suffered a complete avulsion of my quad tendon.  I am 51 Yrs Old - Female - 5'9" and weigh 130 pounds.  I am trying to diet and loose and additional 5 pounds to be able to breath in my Levi's....My recovery lasted 2 years as I had an additional surgery (had to lengthen lateral tendon to get me more flexion).  Today, I can do 4 inch steps easy, not 5" or taller, as I have a lot of grinding and pain in my knee....so my First question is, How can I do cardio, so I can loose weight??   I  walk on the treadmill and can jog for a little bit before my knee tightens up, then I just go back to a 3.0 MPH walk.  I have dropped my caloric intake to 800 to 1000 calories a day to help compensate but I feel so tired all the time partially due to work, as I really feel I never got back to 100% recovered before returning to work and I'm  "getting old".   :o)

I am a nurse and stand and walk (which doesn't hurt) for 9 hours a day..honestly, no sitting during that time x 4 days a week and I have every possible piece of exercise equip available at home...Recumbant Bike - Gold's Gym Slider Thingy - Eliptical (which hurts my knee) - Treadmill - etc....Question #2:   Will running on the Treadmill hurt my knee even tho it tightens up? Any thoughts would be appreciated....I want those last 5 pounds gone!  Thank You!

[Dr Arora]

Hi, I understand that you are having difficult time in doing exercise because of weakened tendon. My personal experience says that loosing 5 pounds is easy with just walking on treadmill 5 days a week for 30 minutes. You don need to run on treadmill for that. Also dont drop 1000 calories as this will not help decreasing weight due to low metabolic rate and will also cause early fatigue. calculate the calorie requirement for your age and lifestyle and eat complex carbs. fruits and skimmed milk are good too. I hope this helps. Bye

[QuadPop]

Thank you very much for your valuable time and response.  I will happily add calories in the form of Complex carbs... and not rely on just attempting cardio, to increase my metabolism.  I'll try to eat 5 smaller meals a day while increasing the calories.  I do drink lots of water and take a multivitamin/multimineral daily.  I gain 5 of these extra 15 pounds in the first 2 months of just being in the wheelchair while allowing tendon re-attachment to the knee cap. Boy, this has been such a "physcial activity changing" injury.....I never would have thought it would take so long and still hurt like it does.

Thanks again so very much!  Have a wonderful year ahead.