Overweight with Crohns

I have been overweight a long time.  Started controlling my weight by portioning.............worked my way into full time DD, crave more sugar, eating less out of fear and losing weight.  But I am on ento not pred.  The fear of eating has worked wonders in weight loss .  I wish I had an idea for you, but smaller portions more often throughout the day helped A LOT.

I've ALWAYS been overweight, it wasn't until a flare about 2 years ago when I went sans food for almost a month that I actually reached a 'healthy' weight.  I said then that I was going to stay at that weight and attempt to eat right and stay active.  I was put on prednisone and gained 75lbs in a matter of 6 months....I haven't lost ANY of the weight, and I've been off the pred for over a year.

I was going to the gym 3-4 days a week, running 5ks and everything else...the weight won't come off.  I do not eat healthy as this disease pretty much prohibits me from doing so, but I do burn 600-1000 calories everytime I go to the gym.  I stay the same weight regardless.

I too am one that seems to gain weight when I am at my sickest and not from steroids. My doctor told me it's because I'm not as active but I don't think so. I don't notice much difference in my calorie intake or my exercise level. I was at my heaviest right before I had to have emergency surgery.

I have a theory. I have had a bad reaction to 6-mp. Had bone marrow suppression. I also have been diagnosed with steroid-induced diabetes. It seems I don't metobolize meds well. Maybe I don't metabolize calories either. I have no answer why but it's my theory. I don't tend to lose weight unless I eat less then 800 calories a day. I'll gain when I eat as little as 1200.

tsitodawg, thanks for your post. I tend to give up sometimes even trying, and I think I may start how you did. Just add little things until it makes a difference.

I am like many of you. The only time I was underweight was before I was diagnosed, when I had been sick for 8 months and ate very little. After having surgery, I quickly gained weight and was at a normal weight for some time. I don't know if it's age or the second surgery, but now my body holds on to every pound it has. My last GI appointment went poorly, since she said I need to lose weight. I'm on a low residue diet, which has me eating a lot of carbs. She says to work out more and try to lose a pound a week...easy for her to say since she can probably eat whatever she wants, and is naturally thin.

Even when running more than 6 miles a day, working out during lunch and then for an hour after work, I was still considered "overweight/obese" then by some dr's and tables ...I could only get down to 130lbs(which is by no means fat, but it can give you a complex)...but I was lean and muscular...and my heart rate was super low, at around 25bpm...Oh, I had completed many marathons, countless halfs(which I used as training for the fulls)...anyhoo...

I understand the complex that can be had...
I also know that there are some people that can "burn" it off, and have a hard time with putting on weight (my husband for instance, he can eat a HUGE pizza, and still not gain an ounce...though as he's getting older, it may be that he gains an ounce, while everyone else is gaining pounds ), and some that eat less, and gain 10 pounds...

I also wonder sometimes, and Navy had brought up this hypothesis as well, that some people, depending on the location of the disease, the body thinks it is in a malnutritive state and holds on to any and all calories, fearing lack of nutrients (or holding on, because a lack in certain key nutrients, because of lack of absorption in a specific area, pushes the body to think it is starving, even when it is not)...I sincerely think this may be the case in some of us "heavier" chronnies....

As to the exercise...do what you can when you can...and start slow...Though I wish I had the body of Cote de Pablo...I do not...I have crohn's disease, she does not...so I have to make concessions that she does not have to make (and I hope never does...I do not wish this disease on anybody)...so maybe that mindset might help(just a thought)...when in flare mode...do what you can handle...wishing you luck...

I've struggled with my weight, while my brother with Crohn's struggles to keep it on. I've lost weight eating SCD, but also by being more aware of what I eat. I use a food tracker now. Before I wasn't aware how much I was eating, and how poor my eating choices were. If you're looking for an exercise that is easier on joints and stomach, I'd suggest swimming. Even on sore days, I could do a bit. A lap or two may not seem like a lot but adds up over time, as will your endurance. Its hard to want to exercise when the fatigue is so bad, I definitely feel that contributed to my weight gain.

MMMNAVY,

There is nothing worse than having someone tell you that - especially a doctor. I am so sorry. Try no to let it get you down. I am dealing with the same problems and as if we arent' hard enough on ourselves, to have someone else say that - someone that has no idea the hell we deal with every day can just crush you. Remember - there are some of out there that do get it and do understand!

DD was kicking me and my excersise dropped off. I started SCD about 4 months ago, maybe a bit longer, but keep selecting the lower calorie options. Low fat milk for yogurt, little or no honey, low fat protien, ... I dropped about 30 lbs or maybe a bit more but over the last month have stablized. I have been on and off meds including 3 diffeernt kinds of steriods in the last little while so I do not know what my "real" weight is. SCD is working for me so I will continue down that path. I am in the "normal BMI range" and would not mind to lose some more but if I do not that is ok too.

David

 

MMMNavy, while that doctor might have been "cute" on the outside, sounds like he was a real ****** for saying something like that to you.
WantRelief, how is your stomach doing with the metformin??? Is it making your diarrhea worse?

OK, obviously crohn's sufferers have issues with weight or lack of, either down to the disease or the drugs. As a non sufferer I needed(wanted) to lose approx 38lb and I had two choices, excercise more or eat less lol :) As I was already walking with hound for an hour a day I didn't really want to do any more excercise so chose the eat less option and the easiest way I found of doing it was with portion control in that all my meals are served on a side plate as opposed to a dinner plate. It's simple and you honestly feel like you have eaten more and within a few days your body really does get used to that intake.

Doesn't stop me wanting to eat when I am bored or stressed though :D

Incidently, I lost the 38lb and if I can just go another 7lb I would be ecstatic

Post Edited (vixen) : 10/14/2010 3:02:08 PM (GMT-6)

Weight and Crohns is frustrating...as are mean doctors...I went to a specialist for my thyroid (I'm so tired right now, forgot what theyre called, haha) and I was heavier at the time. He asked how much I weighed and I guessed around 190 then he put me on the scale and I think I was 195 or so and he said something like "I guessed 194, I was closer." And he said it in such a mean tone! And it was my first (and last) time going to him.

I hate being overweight with crohns plus the constant losing and gaining weight, I feel like it messes up my body. I have a flare up, boom, lose 10 pounds, then feel better gain it all back, then flare, lose 15, then steroids, gain 30, etc. I was really sick the past few months, lost around 20, then I weighed myself after only a week of feeling better and eating normally and gained back 4-5 pounds already! And I didn't think I overate...Its like awesome, unless I'm barely eating and throwing up, I'm gaining. And I try not to focus on the weight and just focus with getting healthy but at the same time...I'm a girl! Of course I'm going to care about the weight too!

And, on another note, wii fit totally promotes unhealthy weight loss, haha. If I gain a pound or two it makes me give a reason why I gained weight (and no, there's no "I'm on prednisone right now" reason or "I just starting feeling better after a really bad flare and can finally eat again" reason, heh) but yet I'll lose 8 pounds in a week and it will be like "well, I was a little worried about you losing weight so quickly but congrats!! you've reached your goal!" and then fireworks will pop out. It does mess with your mind a little bit!

I find with crohns, its hard to lose weight because of the fatigue and tiredness i can't work out the way I used to, I also find it hard to do core exercises because my stomach area always feels sore. (I usually wear skirts for that reason because anything tight on my stomach area can hurt.) Also, when my stomach is hurting and its usually easier on my stomach to eat foods like white bread, pasta, rice, etc. But now that I'm feeling better I'm going to try to hopefully slowly start to work out again...Just like someone else said, you dont have to go crazy and run, I'm going to try to start slow and just walk or something, because i don't want to get myself sick again. (Like the day i felt better I went from being housebound lying around for months and they went out to lunch with a friend, ran tons of errands...and yea i overdid it!)

We can do it! (I hope! haha)