Good luck!
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060116/16diet.htm
If you gain weight regardless of what you "eat or don't eat" then dieting probably won't help because that's all about not eating and you're probably doing enough of that now as it is. In fact, if you have a lot of periods of time where you don't eat because it makes you ill, you may be gaining weight as a way of fending off starvation. When you go hungry--regardless of whether it's intentional or not--your body slows down your metabolism in an effort to save fat stores as much as possible. That's why dieters hit plateaus; their bodies adjust for the lower calories and fight tooth and nail not to give up the fat. When you start to eat again after going hungry, your body keeps your metabolism low in order to horde up fat so it can make it through the next lean period. Even though you may not be, to your thinking, "on a diet", your food intake as governed by your illness may actually have you "yo-yoing" in terms of eating/not eating and yo-yo dieting can lead to more weight gain (see article).
If you want good health, eat healthy foods. We all know what those are: fruits, vegetables, grains/fiber, dairy, proteins, but especially fish, good fats. Walking at a moderate pace 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week is enough to qualify you as being "fit" and will regulate your blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin, regardless of weight loss. Most importantly, don't eat any foods that you know will make you ill; a healthy food isn't healthy if it make you ill, you know. That's all you need to do. And if you do decide to exercise, don't get discouraged: most people only lose a few pounds a year through exercise. Your body adjusts to compensate for losing fat that way too. Not to mention if you build up muscle, it weighs more than fat so you may actually gain weight when exercising. Still, even if your weight doesn't go down, people who exercise are generally happier with their appearance because they get better muscle defintion--looking "toned"--and look thinner. And a lot of people find they go down one dress size even without losing weight because muscle is denser and takes up less area.
I think 150 for someone 5'11" is plenty thin enough. I thought I looked all svelte when I weighed 150 and I'm only 5'6". I could go on about how the media glamorizes anerexoic women and that people who wear a size 0 are considered ideal when their weight is so low it's actually unhealthy, etc., etc. but that's an entirely different crusade, lol. Just take care of your IBS first. That's more important than anything else. It doesn't matter if you're model thin if you can't go out at all because of IBS. Do what it takes to lead as normal a life as possible.
Blondie
Be glad your the size you are! And lots of people gain weight on IBS, please tell me your secret. Cause i have done nothing but lost weight. I wear a size 0 and i used to wear a 5 or a 7. Im only 5'1" but its NO fun being to skinny either and have people ask obvious questions like, are you sick? are you anorexic? (which im not). But having IBS-D sure hasnt made me gain weight. Even though i do eat and drink ensure. So be glad with your size blondie!!!
I also have UC and am overweight. I'm not on prednisone either and I think that I eat very well (no choice with my IBS). I understand its very frustrating. Do you have any pets? I have a dog and feel that my obligation to take her out for walks keeps me if just a little active. I probably would be worse if I didn't have to. I know about the exhaustion. I am at work from 6am to 3pm every day and I am so exhausted after cooking and helping my son with his homework when I get home that I don't even want to think about the gym.
There is a lot of evidence out there that doesn't get published that size is irrelevant and that eating healthy foods and getting exercise is all that matters. Obviously it's hard to exercise when you are sick, but every little bit helps. 30 minutes of moderate walking 5 days a week is all you need to be classified as "fit" and "fit" will lower your cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin resistence, you name it. Exercise is very important. And it's true that moderate exercise will eventually increase your overall energy levels. So if you could ever get started, it would hopefully help you to get out of your rut.
You may also want to talk to a doctor to see if you are depressed (being sick all the time can certainly cause that) and see if medicines might help you feel better. Some one on bigfatblog was just talking about having gained an unusual amount of weight while being depressed, but had gotten on a pepper-upper antidepressant and was back down to his usual weight and felt much better. The other thing to look at is to see if you have seasonal affectivie disorder (SAD); I am always much more lethargic and prone to depression in the wintertime. That happens to a lot of people. You can treat it with a light box (although they are expensive).
I hope you find something that makes you feel better. It sucks to feel sucky all the time. I know, I've been there and done that off and on throughout my life.
Have you tried walking? Start out small with just a brisk walk up the street daily. Then graduate to around the block, then further and further. Your best bet would be to stay away from any food for at least 4 hours before bedtime.
Have you seen a nutritionist?
Co-Moderator IBS Forum
I haven't tried walking because my feet hurt so bad. I can walk only for about 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Then I have to sit back down again. I will try to stay away from food at night. I have seen a nutritionist and they weren't any help. No ones knows about ibs very well around where I live. My GI doctor put me on a cholesterol med that controls the diarreah and I was on reglan for my stomach, but it caused vision problems so I am not taking anything now. Ive heard so many people talk about medications they are on, and I wonder why my doctor hasn't tried anything for me. He just says there isn't anything. Thanks for your advice. I will try the walking, as much as I can handle anyway. If you think of anything that could jumpstart this let me know. Like an herbal supplement or something. Or any special diet. Thanks again.
I have been diagnosed with IBS-D and I have gained weight. It's ironic, isn't it. I can't figure it out, other than I am too busy sitting in my bathroom and feeling the side affects of diarrhea to actually exercise. The irony is I don't eat anything, and I have slowly over the past 5 years gained about 10 pounds a year. My legs, buttocks area, and lower back hurt so badly on many days, I have a difficult time walking around the grocery store, let alone going for an actual walk.
This IBS-D stuff is serious stuff, it's ruining my life. I don't think I can really take it anymore, and to top it all off, I feel crappy and fat on top of the actual side effects and pain from IBS-D. I actually think I am moving from IBS-D to alternating, as I haven't went to the bathroom for 3 weeks now, for some reason, even after taking 11 laxatives and miralax.
I'm 35, a mother of 3 younger children, and a total mess. I feel awful, I feel bad for my husband having to put up with my issues, I feel bad for my kids that their mom can't always do the things that other moms do. I think it's driving me into a depression.
I rarely eat, so I feel weak constantly..but I still gain weight! It makes no sense. I cant' even begin to type all the meds that I am on, but I do take daily my donnatol, my bentyl, and my clidinium. Literally I try not to eat, as on some days even if I eat 1 grape...I will run to the bathroom with the urge to go, spasms, and nothing comes out. On those days, I sit in the bathroom putting my body through torture of pushing and pushing, crying in pain, spasms all over my body..but there is nothing in my system to actually "push" out because I am empty...although my body doesn't realize this for some reason?
I did eat 1 bowl of vegetarian chili yesterday, and that's all I ate all day long. This is normal for me, only 1 meal a day and I STILL gain weight. I cant' understand it, and I feel my doctor must think I am crazy when I go in and tell him about the diarrhea issues and the spasms but then I am actually gaining weight. It makes no sense. Half of the time I do not even feel like eating, it's some psychological issue telling me if I eat anything, I will be in the bathroom...and the next day will be nightmare with the hurting back, hurting butt, throbbing upper leg pain, and general weakness from all the ruckus I caused in my body with the straining and spasms.
If you find out how we can actually feel good enough to exercise, let me know because I'm right there with ya.
I have gastroparesis and diarrhea too. It's a gnarly combination, that's for sure...there is a gastroparesis diet that you might want to try. Just google "gastroparesis diet" and you'll see some guidelines. Basically, it's best if you eat several very small, low-residue meals throughout the day.
Co-moderator - IBS Forum
Please always remember to consult your medical professional regarding your medical questions; this forum is intended to provide patient-to-patient support. Although some of us have healthcare backgrounds, we cannot diagnose or treat patients on the board.
Post Edited (juliab) : 10/13/2008 2:51:17 PM (GMT-6)
I'm 66 and have had IBS-D for almost 10 years. I've gained lots of weight since having IBS even while on a low fat diet. about 6 years ago my doctor sent me to a nutritionist who put me on Xenical for about a year (plus same low fat diet I was already following). I lost over 30 lbs. But then I had gall bladder attacks and had GB removed. I was unable to continue xenical because the IBS-D got worse. I gained all the weight back. I still maintain a healthy (lots of fruit and veg, low fat) diet but have a huge belly that just won't go away. I work out at the gym 3x week...half hour on an elliptical machine and 15 mins on weight machines. I walk to and from the gym, plus quite a bit of walking at other times during the week. My blood pressure is pretty low and cholesterol is normal. But I worry a lot about having so much fat (esp around my middle). My doctor says I'm 'morbidly obese'!
I'm doing all the right things but nothing changes...
Anyways, you might want to look at "Fat Fallacy" by Will Clower. It explores the French diet and healthy eating. He theorizes that low-fat diets actually make our bodies horde fat; the French eat diets quite high in fat, but are much thinner, on average, than Americans (they also live longer). But they are careful what fats they eat. Cheese and other dairy fats, olive oil, nuts, fish = good; trans fats from things like McDonald's french fries and Litte Debbies = bad, bad, bad. They also consume very small amounts of sugar, which is one thing that older people do have to be careful about, because insulin effectiveness tends to drop and older people are more likely to develop Type II diabetes (regardless of weight).
The reason why I point that particular book out is that Will's mother stayed with them for a few months in France; she was about your age, I think, and she dropped several dress sizes (went from quite overweight to a more normal size for her age).
Anyway, I really appreciate your taking the time to share with me. I'll let you know what comes of it.
Cheers,
Nancy