Any ways to gain weight or at least maintain weight?

So is it just fat that you seem to be losing? What about muscle?

The first symptom I had many years ago was loss of fat all around muscles. There is no problem with muscles. A lot of people mention Lyme likes collagen, but this seems to be more than collagen, though I've lost a lot of skin elasticity from the mid-dermis of my sin.

For me, I lost a lot of weight (22 pounds) over a few years early on, then gained back 17 of it, though the loss of fat in may areas was still evident. Then a surgery started it all back and now I've lost most fat and workout to keep areas fuller with muscle.

How long has the fat loss been going on, and in what areas?

Your pattern and mine are very similar. There are others who are on or have been on this site who experienced the same thing.

When I first looked into it, I thought it was form a European strain of Lyme named Borrelia afzelii, which produces Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans. That will cause subcutaneous atrophy of skin, but it is mainly on hands, feet, elbows, knees but rarely on face or trunk of body. I have it everywhere. It also causes crepe like skin, which I also have and a good number on this site have had. It also takes away body hair

Your theory about the immune system is interesting. When I felt about 85% better between January of 2015 and June of 2016, that is when I gained most of the weight back, though I still had areas of fat loss, like in my temples, around leg muscles, elbows. Still have that, but in the last three years it has taken away the fat above my chest and, like you mentioned, in my neck.

A skin biopsy showed it has destroyed the mid-dermal elasticity, which there is no cure for. It's frustrating. My thought it is is directly related to Lyme, rather than a co-infection. Do you, by chance, get migraines?

Brandi I've told this story before. I was 190lbs before I got sick. I dropped all the way down to 163 lbs over the course of 1.5y. My stomach was a mess. I then decided to go ketogenic and see if that helped. I dropped to 156 lbs at my lowest, but once my stomach started to improve i started to gain weight back to 167 even while in ketosis. I came off ketogenic and w/ the increased calorie intake was able to get up to 176 (i actually consider 175-180 to be an ideal weight as i was a bit too heavy at 190). After 3m off ketosis and eating horribly (i really went from one extreme to the other), my stomach started to get bad again and i started dropping weight again. I decided to go back into ketosis, and I'm currently 165. I have no doubt in my mind when I finish w/ ketosis, plan to do 6m-1y this time, and increase my calorie intake ill be heavier than where I began this round of ketosis i.e. you drop weight initially, but as the stomach heals and malabsorption issues dissipate its a net gain.

It's my view that the food we eat is part of what makes us vulnerable to infection in the first place. In addition to all the chemical toxins we absorb on a daily basis, the food we eat is just deadly. From hydrogenated oils to large amounts of sugar to processed additives to plant based lectins, oxalates and gluten, these are all toxins that lower the WBC and immune system. Then an infection comes along, and wham, system cant handle it. This didnt happen to pre-historic man. Yes there were deadly plagues, but this idea of living in chronic ill health and autoimmunity is a recent phenomenon.

Post Edited (dcd2103) : 7/12/2021 1:43:45 PM (GMT-6)

Probably fat and muscle RW. You def seem to have a unique autoimmune fat/collagen issue w/ the fat loss and skin elasticity issues. Doesnt mean it cant be reversed.

I dont think eating ketogenic is a problem w/ the kidney issues. You clearly have an inflammatory problem which is whats damaging them. Lowering inflammation should be a good thing. Some people say that too much protein is unhealthy for kidneys, dunno if i buy it. And you dont have to eat a lot of protein, its mostly fat.

I linked to this podcast before. Was hoping you'd listen as Mary R was in kidney failure after her infection and reversed it with ketosis. Her story starts like 26 min in.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4254686

I can give you a simple protocol that saved her life. Its very easy to implement, mostly fat and no risk to the kidneys. But the self restraint it takes isnt easy. But beating these diseases isnt easy.

You mentioned how you have lots of bloating, which is a huge clue right there. The thing i read over and over, not you but from others i've seen say, is "oh well I eat healthy so its not that". Ehhh. I mean what most people consider "healthy" is not going to solve an issue like this. Its about removing all sources of toxicity long enough for the immune system and gut to heal.

Post Edited (dcd2103) : 7/12/2021 2:09:30 PM (GMT-6)

If you can't gain any weight by eating, try gaining weight by exercising a little bit every day. The idea is to build up muscles and maintain your weight that way. It won't bring back the fat on your cheekbones but it could help halt the vicious weight loss cycle.

These pathogens sure like those fatty tissues don't they? And malabsorption in the gut also plays an important role in this.

Post Edited (Babesia) : 7/12/2021 5:39:20 PM (GMT-6)

hi Brandi

if you have issues with carbs anyway - as others have said - that all points to gut issues / auto-immunity / sibo etc and a proper keto style diet can make a huge difference to all of those.

to simplify that - once you are not getting the majority of calories/energy from carbs - and since we cannot digest huge amounts of protein, even if we were to eat it - the only thing left is fats - and so gaining or losing weight is all about how much fat you eat - the good news is healthy fats are relative inert in the digestive system - so they reduce symptoms and lower inflammation.

some good, easy and tasty options are
-good quality extra virgin olive oil
-extra virgin coconut oil
-butter - or if you are milk intolerant or just not sure - clarified butter

i have been wholefood keto for years now and just regulate my weight by how much of each of these i consume - typically a tablespoon with each meal

Garzie said...
hi Brandi

if you have issues with carbs anyway - as others have said - that all points to gut issues / auto-immunity / sibo etc and a proper keto style diet can make a huge difference to all of those.

to simplify that - once you are not getting the majority of calories/energy from carbs - and since we cannot digest huge amounts of protein, even if we were to eat it - the only thing left is fats - and so gaining or losing weight is all about how much fat you eat - the good news is healthy fats are relative inert in the digestive system - so they reduce symptoms and lower inflammation.

some good, easy and tasty options are
-good quality extra virgin olive oil
-extra virgin coconut oil
-butter - or if you are milk intolerant or just not sure - clarified butter

i have been wholefood keto for years now and just regulate my weight by how much of each of these i consume - typically a tablespoon with each meal

Good point about fats being "inert", I like that way of putting it! If you think about it, you can leave fat out at room temperature and nothing really happens to it. Now imagine doing the same thing with most carbohydrates. Bacteria, yeasts and insects galore!

I've been doing 6 cups of homemade meat broth a day, w/ added EVO for extra calories. For dinner a protein smothered in butter (steak, ground turkey w/ diced onions, salmon), sometimes w/ a vegetable on the side. So far it seems to be working, stools have turned solid and neuropathy is improving. Looooong way to go though, question is can I get to the point where homeostasis is restored and I can loosen restrictions. Based on others experiences doing this diet, the answer is yes.

My weakness has been coffee, this is the one thing I'm having trouble kicking. It's technically allowed by the rules of the diet I'm following, and is allowed on most keto/paleo diets, but I do not think its good for my autonomics.

Post Edited (dcd2103) : 7/13/2021 11:43:06 AM (GMT-6)

running wild said...
The malabsorption issue is a very good point, and it seems Lyme does like fatty tissue/collagen.

Garzie - what is clarified butter?

hi RW
its just butter that's been melted and the water and water soluble stuff and proteins skimmed off ( butter is about 20% water in emulsion with some milk proteins) - so clarified butter is a clear yellow colour and has no milk proteins or milk sugars left in it - just pure fat.

the benefit is - its normally the proteins or lactose in dairy that people react to - not the fat (the fat is actually anti-inflammatory) so by consuming butter this way you get all the benefits - even if you are intolerant to dairy

up clean energy like white rice

It is awesome you have more energy and building up on workouts. With taking so much, did you do a lot of detoxing to handle it? Whatever you have done, it's great to see you are experiencing good results. You help a lot of people on this site with some real; good information.

The amount of protein the nephrologist wants me on is not sustainable and not look like I've been starved in a cave. With the loss of fat, there is already enough weight loss. I am trying to figure out more ways to reduce animal protein. The fat program would help that. Tomorrow I am going to try and find a renal dietician who also can work with avoidance of gluten, sugar and dairy. Tried it before, but it was hard to get the two I tried to understand the problem with Lyme.

I'm hoping Brandiwine is following this as it is good information for her, and I didn't mean to hijack her post. Just with similar problems, I could see it being of benefit to her, also.

Dmitry said...
up clean energy like white rice

Is rice considered a clean energy?
I was always told to avoid rice because of its high carbohydrate content.
Ugh this illness causes so much food for you you never know what you should eat.

rice was good for me pre-lyme - but now like many others here - all cabs especially complex cabs/ starches and resistant starch ( these are all categories of carbohydrates ) cause me bloating, discomfort, gurgling, fatigue weakness etc etc.

this is why i tried ketogenic diet - and it worked for both my partner and i - for her it was near a complete cure all on its own - i was resistant to the idea - but it was so striking a change that that convinced me