Afraid of more weight gain during treatment

Earlier on 2021, I had a big move which was stressful and seemed to make my Lyme worse. Since then, I’ve quickly gained almost 20 lbs and cannot shake for anything. The most weight has been in my hips and thighs. I’ve gone up several inches and clothing sizes.
I eat super clean, organic, lots of low carb vegetables, grass fed meats, bone broth, and only small amounts of low sugar fruits like blueberries. Exercise has been inconsistent because of fatigue and joint pain.
I’m starting official Lyme treatment this week with my LLMD. It includes azithromyacin, doxycycline, powerful herbal protocol, and a gut healing protocol.
I’m worried about gaining even more weight starting the abx. Can anyone give any advice?

Before being bitten by a tick, my interest for many years was in diet and exercise. Later on, around 2009, I fell into low-carb diets, the idea of "clean eating," and how restrictive diets can lead to disordered eating and even eating disorders (two different things). I experienced it myself, so the topic is quite personal to me. Plus, over the years, I've read about others who end up struggling with it, too. Not everyone does, of course.

Whether it's low-carb, keto(genic), carnivore, "plant-based," LCHF, HCLF, ancestral, Paleo, primal, Weston A. Price, Blue Zones, vegan, raw vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, fruitarian, etc., chances are, I've read something about it. None of this makes me an expert, though. But, it does give me some perspective I didn't have 10 or 20 years ago.

With all that stated, here are some things I offer for your consideration:

1. There are people all over the world that eat in different ways -- some diametrically opposed to each other -- and that still enjoy good health.

2. While exercise is good for overall health, it's not a great tool for weight loss. That's not to say it isn't important, because it is important. It's just not a great lever for weight loss. This will likely be an unpopular opinion.

3. In addition to exercise, the other half of the equation we always hear about is calories. We're told "Eat less, move more." Calories, unquestionably, do matter. But, that phrase is incomplete and largely unhelpful.

4. Processed "food" aside, I don't classify foods as "good," "bad," "clean," or "dirty." This has to do with my comments about restriction and disordered eating. I also don't believe in "superfoods." See Point #1.

5. There are many factors that affect weight. It's not simply calories and exercise. While it's often repeated so much as to nearly put us into a coma, factors like sleep, stress, light exposure, age, sex, hormones (and many more) matter greatly.

6. Another axiom I hate to repeat -- but, it's true -- is that no one diet works for everyone. Plus, what works for us now may stop working for us, so I encourage trying different dietary approaches. See Point #1.

7. Some have suggested, in the course of their treating Lyme and Coinfections, that they will avoid certain foods or nutrients, in hopes of "starving" pathogens. I disagree with this idea, because the person also starves themselves.

8. While the extra weight may be causing you untold frustration in a variety of ways, you can always work on weight loss later. Rather than splitting your time, energy, and focus, I would make getting well your priority.

Again, I'm not an expert. These are just a few of the many opinions I have on the matter. Other may disagree with them and offer different views. That's most welcome. We all learn from each other.

Best of luck,
Dude

I lost a huge chunk of weight within a month when I treated gut dysbiosis (with herbal antimicrobials and probiotics). I had eaten fewer than 400 calories per day for a year due to gastroparesis, but hadn't lost an ounce of weight. Really weird! But then I treated gut dysbiosis - which was discovered via stool analysis, and asymptomatic - and 25 pounds flew off, from all over my body. I don't know how generalizable this example is, but I share it because an unhealthy gut biome can change how you metabolize things, and your treatment might have a different effect that you are expecting.

You're starting a lot all at once! Good luck, and don't be afraid to slow down if you need to.

WalkingbyFaith said...
Look into leptin resistance, Dr Ritchie Shoemaker.

Shoemaker actually wrote a book about it. Look at the reviews, especially the one by Sponaugle - https://www.amazon.com/lose-weight-hate-ritchie-shoemaker-ebook/dp/b004nsviy2/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=2fz7zu6dchpuf&keywords=ritchie+shoemaker&qid=1641822520&s=books&sprefix=ritchie+sh%2cstripbooks%2c134&sr=1-6

Oh this is awesome, thank you. I have often wondered about leptin resistance.

saraeli: That's a remarkable story! I appreciate your sharing it!

RainyCloud: Thanks for the kind remarks. I didn't know (or, didn't remember) that you were an athlete. You and astroman have that in common. Like you, I also don't like the "Calories In/Calories Out" model. Certainly, it can work. But, it's rarely an effective long-term strategy -- which is what really matters.

Within the past month or so, I was listening to a podcast and one of the speakers stated there were over one hundred factors that affect a body's weight and setpoint. Now, weeks later, I cannot remember in which podcast I heard that remark or who said it. I've been trying to remember, but haven't yet had any luck.

Since people like simple answers to complex problems, the diet industry will continue to proliferate and more books, programs, and supplements will continue to be sold and sow further confusion and division. Some of the diet camps are as bad as political parties.

Here's one person I think takes a empirical, non-hysterical approach:

http://www.stephanguyenet.com/thehungrybrain
http://www.stephanguyenet.com/ideal-weight-program
https://www.humanos.me

It's not just "Eat Less, Move More."

Pre Lyme I did use excercise to lose weight. We were going to a sunny destination and I wanted to look good in my bikini. Lol
I exercised on the elliptical pretty much daily along with other exercises (sit-ups, weights)
I didn’t make a big change in my diet.
I didn’t have a lot of weight to lose and it worked well.

Then when Lyme symptoms happened several years later I lost weight - too much weight. Lost all my tone.

Now Im having trouble with motivation to exercise.
I’m maintaining a healthy weight but not as toned as I’d like to be.