kellyb,

I'm a blunt person, so I'll excuse myself before writing my response.

I'm assuming that since you still have some arm movement, your injury is lower than a C3. Maybe a C4-C5 injury. I've worked with people who had C2-C5 injuries. Since you're able to move your arms, that's a plus for you. Depending how much you can move your arms, whenever you weight shift in your chair (that's if you have a chair that allows you to recline or change positions) move your arms according to certain exercises. For example, bicep curl, tricep extension, making a fist, etc., your basic Range of Motion (ROM) exercises. Start out with a few sets every so often throughout the day. Once you've built up strength, you can purchase some wrist weights (they're on average $20-$30) and work your way up, performing sets throughout the week. Remember to allow time to rest your muscles. If you have very limited arm movement, I would still perform any kind of ROM exercise that you're able to do. Since you're still able to move your head and neck, perform ROM neck exercise. These exercises will burn off extra calories and strengthen your muscles. Even if you think it's not much, it really does add up. These ROM and weighted exercises allows for neuronal feedback that strengthen the nerves that have not been damaged.

Also, if time allows in your daily routine, or if you have a caregiver that is able to help, increase the amount of times you perform ROM on your legs and the rest of your body. Your legs have some of the largest muscles on your body. ROM is an exercise that burns calories. More ROM, more muscles strengthened and built, more calories burned. Remember to not over do it. Rest.

As for your diet, I trust that you're eating clean. Remember that immobilization decreases your metabolic rate due to the fact that muscles used for upright stabilization are not utilized. I do not advise any crash diets or very calorie restricted diets as your body may begin to store more fat than is burned. Just keep eating your healthy diet, and be sure to indulge once in a while.

In regards to your question about medication to take, this leaves a question mark. I haven't seen or heard any anecdotal or scientific evidence in regards with spinal cord injury patients and diet drugs. So, this is pure speculation in regards to these drugs. First, thermogenics (such ECA stack, Clen, or Albuterol) has an effect on your body temperature. People with spinal cord injuries that i've worked with usually had a more sensitive body temperature regulation. (i.e. they felt colder, or felt hotter than people who haven't been injured) So, taking a thermogenic may have an undesired effect on you. Again, this is pure speculation. Thyroid stimulators (cytomel(T3)) may have the same effect and it may increase muscle breakdown. The safest route i can think of is Alli. It's a "fat blocker" that absorbs fat in your digestive system and keeps it from being digested by your body. It's your body and your health. I'd rather you stay away from it in general, but if you choose to use anything, please research and read about it before beginning.

Hope this helps.