how to loose weight with irritable bowel

Hi jimmy,
What type of IBS do you have? I have the IBS-C and it is so difficult to lose weight. I usually end up 2-3 lbs heavier when I go to bed and wake up back to normal. Its mostly from all the gas and bloating that I get. Maybe talk to your doctor about getting on medication if you aren't already. Many people on Zelnorm lose the weight because they become more regular which helps tremendously.

Hi Jimmy, welcome back (we haven't seen you in a couple weeks). I'm at a loss to this weight loss question because I can't seem to keep weight on. As soon as I start feeling terrific, and gain a couple pounds, I have an attack and lose it all again.
I think maybe if you have IBS-C it is harder to lose weight. ???

Hi dlo, welcome to HealingWell! In my opinion, don't let IBS take all the blame for your weight gain. A lot can play into it (for "normal" people too) : age, bearing children, not exercising, eating too much, etc. I'd have to agree with what dbab mentioned... GAS. Gas can actually add a couple pounds. And yes, I feel bloated ALL THE TIME.
BTW - Exercising is not only GREAT for losing weight but it also helps IBS.

Nice to see you two... keep posting. :)

Hello,

I don't think IBS is totally to blame for my weight gain.. However, per postings from several people, I am learning that perhaps IBS has something to do with my uncontrollable cravings and you said it yourself, the gas and bloating must add some weight. 

I don't have answers, that is why I posted my question.  Also, I'm hoping I could learn more about this condition.  I have talked to several doctor's;however, I haven't gotten any good answers. The only thing everyone tells me, is to cut down on eating and exercise daily.  Also, I am constantly feeling tired. Extremely tired.  Again, doctors don't have anything to offer me. 

I am told that I am burnt out and stressed. Yes, I am quite aware of that.  However, I don't have a way of changing my situation.  Everyday I go through the same routine and there's never enough time to just relax.  Discovering this website was the only thing that put a smile on my face...Sad, but true.   

HW has helped many of us... I am glad you found your way here.

If you are not already on a multi-vitamin you may want to try it. I know it helps me keep my energy up.

Hello All:

Thanks for all your kind words.  I am currently reading the Oprah Winfrey book, Make the Connection.  I've decided I will start walk/running.  I think I have to take care of myself and because I cannot afford to go to the gym, I will do what's free.  By the way, I did try a nutritionist. However, she cost $110.00 an hour and she was out of the way from work and home.  She basically told me to divide my plate into four quarters.  One quarter should be the meat, one quarter the carbs, and the half would be your veggies. Great advise, but $110.00 was not in my budget. 

I really appreciate this website and all of you.  I feel uncomfortable telling people around me of how depressed I get and I don't want to talk about the IBS.  Working in an office enviornment, I can't stand all the gossip around the building.  This way, I could open up and not worry about my business being the topic in the lunchroom or around the cubicles. 

I want to share two horrible IBS attacks I've had.  One time, during a New Year's Eve party, I went to a great restaurant bar in San Francisco.  It was fun and I was having the best time.  All of a sudden, pain struck and I was trying to rush to the ladies room, only to find a long line!  I knew I couldn't wait and didn't want to announce that I was having an IBS attack.  I quickly asked my husband to escort me to the men's room.  Without hesitation, we both went in and he guarded my stall and I was able to rid myself of the evil in me.  I was so relieved that no one cared that I was there!!!  Another time, it was during my trip to China. I was on tour, going from city to city.  During a long ride from the airport to the country road, while heading towards our hotel.  I started feeling pain and I told everyone I needed the restroom. Unfortunately, they kept telling me to wait a little.  It felt like we were driving endlessly and I was starting to feel labor pains.  I was sweating and dying, but still the driver wouldn't stop. At this point, I was ready to swat anywhere.  However, we continued for an hour!!!  I could bearly talk and I had started to punch my husband on his arm.  I didn't want to go on this trip and he had convinced me to go; therefore, just like during labor-I wanted to hurt him!  Well, finallly we reached the hotel.  I didn't say a word to anyone, just went straight to the restroom and swore I would never go back to China...

dlo

***HUG****
Dlo, I'm sorry this IBS is getting you so down.... I totally understand (I think all of us do).  I've learn to accept it and know my limits.  It really frustrates me when people don't get it; my family will bug me when I don't want to take a long car drive with them, or go to Dim Sum (are they crazy?), and I'm sure my coworkers think I'm a b*tch because I hardly ever go out to lunch with them or join them for drinks after work.  This is what we have to deal with.

I think you are sooooo right about the office gossip thing.  I couldn't believe it when I started... I felt like I was back in high school.  Good for you that you are not "fanning the flames."  I try not to give them too much to talk about, but sometimes it's hard when I'm having problems.

Once, dlo, I almost had an accident because I got lost looking for a house in Tahoe.  The drive to Tahoe is almost 4 hours for me; just as I approached the 3 hour mark my tummy started to rumble.  I knew I could hold it for another 30-40 min.  Then we got lost in the middle of the mountains, at night, with not flashlight or toilet paper.  I thought I would die of pain.  I made it but just barely.  I think i was walking hunched over for sevaral hours afterwads, the cramps just wouldn't go away.

OK, so I've written a book... sorry.
Dlo, I hope you feel better.  Walking should help you.  And that husband of yours... He's a keeper.   

i have suspected ibs and a fe3w months ago lost about 1/2 a stone

i love yoga!
first you should ask anyone in your area that does yoga where they like to go. if you don't know anyone there is a magazine, yoga journal, it is also online. every so often they do "recommended" yoga studios for every state in the us (though i don't know where you are located). i enjoy the magazine and there is more stuff online too. i started yoga with the dvd's, some friends of mine started that way too--it can be easier than trying to get yourself to a class on time--just causes more stress! also i have stopped people on the subway that i saw carrying a mat, they have always been willing to tell me of the studio they frequent. most studios let you do a "drop in", just go to a class once to try out the studio/class/teacher. i have found that with yoga it is not necessarily a business competition like joining a gym--though a lot of gyms have yoga, that is another option.
on the yoga journal website you can also look up what type of yoga you want to do, even what fits your personallity--that will help you find a studio too.

as for the two kinds of IBS: Diarrhea and Constipation. and i believe you can float between the two.

take care! and i hope my rambling helped... yoga has helped me, i also run and have a physically demanding job but the yoga really calms me--there are even poses specific for digestion and menstrual cramps... i recomend practicing yoga...
--bunny

Isn't a stone 13 pounds? Some leftover measurement from the middle ages to be sure. Just like the fact than an acre was how much land a man could plow in a day (since standerdized, of course).

Jimmy, have you had your gall bladder out? I have learned that those of us with no gall bladders have a hard time regulating our appetites since our bile production is thrown off. There are some days I can eat and eat forever without ever feeling "full." And somedays you never really get hungry. Unfortunately, I have very few of the latter kinds of days. Also, I find that when I have to go without food because of stomach problems, as soon as I get straightened out I overeat to make up for it. This problem isn't necessarily linked to those with no gall bladders.

I have been having good luck lately with the French diet. Basic concept is to eat a lot of fat, eat small portions slowly and eat a wide variety of foods each meal. I have found that a lot of my problem was the fact that I wasn't diversifying my diet enough and so was eating a huge portion of one thing, only to eat something else on top of it because I was craving variety. Also, it is very true that fat fills you up. I can eat 4-5 tablespoons of plain yogurt with some sweetened granola in it and stay full all morning. This is about 1/4th a cup of no-fat, no-sugar yogurt that I used to inhale!

A word of warning, though. People without gall bladders do not digest fat well. A lot of people with IBS do not handle fats well. I have had to up my Welchol and calcium pills to compensate for the extra fat. However I have gotten since adjusted and am not having problems anymore (provided I don't have any caffiene except for my green tea).

I have not lost any weight on this diet, but I have not gained any either. Given that I was starting to gain weight again, not gaining any is progress. If I could add more exercise to my day, I would probably start to lose. I also need to work on gradually shrinking my portion sizes as well. Stomach shrinking can take a while, but I figure it will eventually happen since I am eating less food and the fat is keeping me fuller longer. I would like to lose more weight, but right now I'm learning to difersify my diet and pay more money for better food. I've doubled my grocery budget and started buying my food at an expensive store, but man is it good! I look forward to my meals much more now that I've found "real" food (i.e. food that's not full of partially hydrogenated chemicals and over processed in order to remove fat). And it's a known fact that rich people are thinner than poor people. Not because they can hire expensive personal trainers, but because they buy good-tasting, expensive real food and can eat less of it and derive better nutrients. So, once I get over being cheap with my food and get used to fixing several dishes for each meal, then I will work on reducing my portions slowly and hopefully start to lose weight.

Man I lost weight having IBS.It's called "Afraid to eat or I will poop my pants" That's enough to starve me skinny!!!

Every time I have ANY sort of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory I get D. Maybe it's the fat because I'm not lactose intolerant. But, it is soooo good that I don't care; I'll "treat" myself on occasion.

Dlo, I'm sure most of us will eat the Halloween candy anyway... and suffer later.     I know I will anyway.  I can never resist a good Twix or Reeses.  Not to mention those Skittles, I can eat those by the handful (picking out the yellow and green though of course).