Fast metabolism + Crohn's Disease

I've always had a very fast metabolism and so I've been thin my whole life. I'm 6'5" and was at an all time high of 173 pounds back in 2006. I was 23 years old at that time. To get to that point required that I eat 6 times a day, totaling around 4,000 calories.

Crohn's Disease came on slowly for me and I started showing symptoms and losing weight over the next few years. Finally, I reached an all time low of my adult life at 137 pounds. After being diagnosed and treated with medication this has allowed my intestines to heal somewhat and I've bounced back to around 153 pounds. Still, it's very difficult for me to gain weight and I'm not sure if I'll be able to put much more on.

Right now I'm on Remicade and 10mg/day of Prednisone. Most of the time I'm actually doing quite well. I feel good. I lift weights 3 times a week, and ride my bike a couple times a week. Then I eat as much as is comfortable. I consistently eat over 3,000 calories a day, and sometimes as much as 4,000.

Seeing as how 153 pounds is still underweight for my height, I'd like to gain more weight. Has anyone here had such a problem and overcome it?

Post Edited (TheSteve) : 2/18/2013 1:05:09 PM (GMT-7)

it would be good to have a thyroid panel done, especially if you are in remission and still aren't gaining weight.

I have a hard time gaining, too. at my lowest in august 2012, I was 84 lbs (i'm 5'4"). I've gotten up to 91 lbs since I started the paleo diet. I think the diet just has so many nutrient dense foods that even though I have severe absorption problems, I at least absorb a little of what I eat. I also weight train but don't do any cardio activities like running, biking, or swimming anymore. I used to do these for at least 6-10 hours a week, but I've stopped. they just burn too many calories. weight training just adds muscle to my small frame.

just wanted to say that you aren't alone. i'm flaring, but when I am in remission, gaining is pretty easy for me.

Me too porkysgal, i'm overweight and i'm always complaining that the only symptom of crohns i would like is the only one i don't have!

Well, I'm not quite as tall as you, and I'm female and after a bowel obstruction and starting 6mp this past summer, I dropped down to 75 lbs. Soon after my mom got sick, and she passed away just after Christmas, so that was a stress and took a toll on me, so the couple pounds I put on went right back to 75 lbs.
Three weeks ago, I took the bull by the horns, in spite of the diarrhea and increased my calories, enough to gain a pound a week. I cannot explain how hard it is to force feed oneself, but I'm doing it. I am now approx 78 lbs and weigh in day is on Thurs so hopefully I will be at least another pound (or more) with each passing week. I want to gain enough to go over my desired weight like 5 to 10 Lbs over, so when I do get sick, I will have some reserve to work on. The one thing I'm finding, is that as I get older, when I get real bad attacks, it takes off weight which is very hard to replace, perhaps because one loses it off their fat stores or even atrophies the muscle which also is a part of one's natural weight. I have to work very hard to replace it.

Good luck, I hope you can gain some more weight. Keep up the weights. They say it takes a long time, but muscle does put on dense solid toned weight which is far better for you than the fatty weight.

Mommyof2Little1s said...
No matter how many calories I eat or what I eat. I can't gain weight. I'm 5-9 and I'm usually between 103-108lbs. I would love to gain a little and I've tried eating breakfast, lunch dinner, desert after each and snacks all day and it really does nothing. My thyroid has been checked more than once and is normal.

I forgot to mention I've always had a fast metabolism as well, and at one point it was a benefit because I could eat what I wanted without gaining.

I stood on the scale today, and gained one pound, but I shudder what I had to take in over the week to gain that one pound. So far, over the course of 3 weeks, I gained 3 pounds but honestly, I don't know how long I can do this?

It takes a lot of work and determination to gain weight. On top of your fast metabolism, us crohnies, might have even a harder time to gain, because our adversities are inflammation and faulty absorption and diarrhea, at least for some. I encourage you both, you and Steve to keep trying, that's what I'm going to do. I guess you already know that you need to add 3500 calories extra to your usual calories per week to gain one pound. I break it up over 7 days adding 500 calories extra per day. Good luck.
I also had my thyroid checked and everything came back okay. My adrenal function was borderline the last they checked.

hey steve. i came across an article today on this website and i figured i'd tell you about it. it was on gaining muscle weight. besides eating A LOT, the author mark sisson says to do this workout plan:

5 sets of 5 reps of 3 exercises 3 times a week (not consecutive days). do all 5 sets of one exercise with short breaks in between sets and the move onto next exercise.

the main muscle building exercises are deadlifts, squats, pull ups, dips, push ups. he mentions adding weight to all bodyweight exercises to make them challenging. you should only be able to pump out 5 reps per set because the weight is heavy.

i don't have a gym membership so not sure how i can do this yet (don't have heavy weights at home), but i figured you might be interested!

the website is called mark's daily apple.

The thing is that in 2005 (before I had Crohn's) I got serious about weight training and managed to gain 20 pounds of muscle and 10 pounds of fat in 10 months.

From my experience the intricacies of the workout plan is really not as important as the diet. The main thing was to lift heavy 3 days a week, and change your routine every few weeks so you don't plateau.

Then the diet involved 6 meals a day, shooting for a 40% carb / 30% protein / 30% fat caloric breakdown. Eating 6 meals a day worked well because you eventually develop this habit of eating before you're hungry. And by the end of the day you'll have eaten more food than you ever would have by sticking to just 3 meals.

In theory the same thing could work for me now, assuming I can stay in remission long enough.

i think where all diiferent in how we gain and lose weight. maintaing a good healthy weight is almost darn near impossible for me, it seems that everytime you get to the weight you want you flare and then have to gain it all back again...crohns for me is almost like a roller coaster.