HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Losing weight problems (need advice)

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/25/2008 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Ive actually asked about this before but after acouple of months, I am still not seeing results!!

Ive tried so many different forms of exercising in the past 2 years and results are taking a long time. I've done walking, running, on a bike, different forms of personal fitness, and even had a personal trainer but still Im getting results slowly. I don't know what to do! And it doesn't help that Im in a relapse of UC right now. Currently I am taking Asacol, Azothioprine(sp?), and hydrocortisone (enema). I haven't taken prednisone in pretty much a year.

Currently I am doing a 2 mile walk everyday. That workout has given me results, but it isn't so much results that I have gone down a size. I can tell the walking has made me lose weight, but it isn't working fast enough!

Is it possible to lose 20-30 pounds by sept? Or am I just dreaming? Id like to at least go through my senior year of high school back at my original weight.   

 

Posted 6/25/2008 10:28 AM (GMT 0)
In my experience, I've found that true weight loss comes very slowly. I lost about 15 lbs but took almost a year. I ran and also weight lifted. I find that weight lifting really was the trigger to lose the weight. Initially running lost about 5 lbs but then I plateaued pretty quickly after that. I now run about 3 times/week and lift about 3x/week also.

The other BIG component is diet. Have you ever read Eating Clean or Clean Dieting something like that. It has sound nutritious advice and is more about lifestyle changes but this also made a Huge difference to me.

Anyway, don't get too discouraged, it takes time to see results and you'll feel better for it. I think to lose 20 by Sept requires crash dieting which I don't recommend at all. At most you'll get firmed up and start feeling great. Also, I should mention that for me, the number on the scale now has less significance because although I'm not what I want to weigh, I have gotten smaller overall ie) I still weigh about 125lb but my measurements are smaller in the thighs and hips than what I used to be. This is more important to me because it means that I've gained muscle.
Posted 6/25/2008 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
a healthy weight loss is 1-1.5 lbs a week. Trying to lose more than that may cause other health problems.

Ask your GI. There are programs that are like slimfast that are carefully monitored by docs. You can have two shakes for breakfast and lunch and have a healthy dinner. I think it's called medfast. My mom and sister did it many years ago though gained all the weight back eventually becuase it doens't teach you how to eat right or excerccise properly.
Posted 6/25/2008 12:39 PM (GMT 0)

about a pound a week is healthy.  Anything more than that and it's likely water, which will always come back.

If you've run before, you might add some intervals to your daily walk.  Run periodically during your walk.  It can be telephone pole to telephone pole, or you could time it.  Many people swear by that for weight and fat loss.

Some weight training might also add muscle, which will burn more calories.

Posted 6/25/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
The best weight loss program i was ever on is from a guy named Jorge Cruise. You can purchase his books in any book store. or order online. I tried this diet and it worked for me. I lost 2lbs a week.
Posted 6/25/2008 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies everyone :)

I cant really diet right now since Im having a flare up. And because of that, I have to eat carbs only for the next couple of days (Ive been eating rice pasta soup only since yesterday). So getting on a good diet wont work until I fix my UC status.

I think Ill try running on my daily walk! But the thing is I dont like to run in public. I guess Ill have to do it anyway. Would it be a good idea to just run for part of the walk? I know on my walk path there is another pathway for bikes/walking/running/etc and I could just go that way and do my running there. Less people and no cars to see me :P 

Posted 6/25/2008 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I know this might sound arragant, but losing weight has a lot to do with diet as well.

I would rather focus on diet before exercise because you can exercise regulary and still not lose weight if your diet isn't the best. I knew an female hurdler who was overweight and she ran cross country, ran several miles with the track team daily and didn't lose a pound...until her diet changed by force (a flu). Exercise is important, but eating less starches, sugary foods and fatty foods are better in my humble opinion.

ps.

Sometimes when you go to the grocery you can buy foods that say low fat or 10% less fat, etc.


good luck,

NBT

Posted 6/25/2008 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Until you can choose better foods cut your portion sizes and increase the exercise. Walk 3 miles instead of 2 miles, work out with weights, and get 6 days of exercise in. There is not secret to weight loss, it's all about reducing calories and increasing exercise.

Sue
Posted 6/25/2008 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I do a somewhat good diet overall. It's just my stupid UC acting up and making me have to eat only rice pasta/carbs. I hate it. I would prefer fruits and veggies over that.

As for my normal diet (when im not plagued with UC), I don't ever eat dairy, whey, sugarcane, or eggs; most of what I eat is healthy. I didn't cut out those foods to lose weight, I did so since I seem to be allergic to them. Ever since I had UC my intestines can't tolerate those foods.

Also, out of all the exercising ive done, my weight on the scale has stayed the same. Ever since my prednisone weight gain from 2006 my weight has been 150-155. At some points it did get down to 142-ish, but then a flare up would cause my weight to go back to 150.

But I think my problem resides not just in my UC, but more over with my obsession with wanting to lose weight. I think that stress causes it to be slower. Does anyone have any tips to stop thinking this way? 

Posted 6/25/2008 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
You might start by planning to run five 30-second intervals and adjust from there.  There are also a number of books (and probably websites) that outline strategies for run-walk programs and interval training.

Suebear makes some excellent points that I didn't think to mention.  I exercise six days a week, for instance.  I also watch what I eat.  (But if anyone offers me a cupcake, I will always, always eat it.)

I wouldn't worry about what you look like when you run.  I'm pretty sure I look silly when I run.

Posted 6/26/2008 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Five 30-second intervals? That sounds like a good idea. I did something different from that today though. I did my normal walk, but I added in running. I only ran twice, but both were long runs...Would that be something that is good to lose weight? Or would doing many intervals be better?
Posted 6/26/2008 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
In my experience, rice and pasta are just as bad for UC as they are for putting weight on. Lean, tender chicken and turkey breast and soft-cooked veggies like green beans, carrots, peeled zuchinni are great low carb choices for eating while flaring. Baked apples and pears and very ripe bananas are also easy on the digestion. I also disagree with the low fat advice. Many low fat items are full of sugar and additives. You NEED healthy fats in your diet: Udo's, fish, flax and olive oils, nuts and nut butters, and avacado.

As far as working out goes, I agree with the advice to try to work in some interval cardio training and some weight training to increase muscle mass, which will raise your resting metabolism.

Posted 6/26/2008 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, there's a lot of really good advice in this thread...there really isn't much I can add to it, especially since you've done most of the exercises already, but the question is how did you exercise when you ran or rode a bike for example?

Bike riding out doors can be very exhausting if you're riding up hills or riding in a low gear. However, if you've been riding your bike in a high gear (where pedaling is very easy) and you rode; let's say for an hour each time...that would be better. Also in terms of running, I don't know what kind of shape you're in so it's hard to gauge what to suggest, but maybe you can try jogging very slowly (slow enough where people who are walking quickly will pass you) and just try to stay on your feet for half an hour...do this for 5 or 6 days a week and then take a rest day. After a period of time (a few weeks maybe) you will be able to increase the time to an hour each time; using this approach is less strenuous than vigorous exercise and will most likely give you better results. If you jog, try to stay on the grass as much as possible to avoid shin splints...if you have an indoor bicycle it might be more convenient for you time wise.

You may have done all the right things, but sometimes is how you do it that makes the difference. If you're jogging, your top priority should be "mileage" and you should keep a log of how far you've ran and how long you were on your feet...interval training can be added once your in good shape but not before.

Good luck,

NBT
Posted 6/26/2008 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was waiting for a return email to recommend a book.  A friend of mine recommended "A Beginning Runner's Handbook."  It's a run-walk program that covers interval training and also includes a fairly extensive walk-only program.  You might find it useful.

As for five 30-second runs, it's a place to start.  Do it for a week and then, the week after, add another.  Or, try to up the pace on the same five. The same friend swears by interval training to burn calories.  I use it to increase speed.  (Well, I try, anyway.)

Another line of thought -- and you should do this only after you've warmed up properly and are acclimated to exercise -- is to go as fast as you can for only two or three miles.  The same friend does this when she runs.  She's a very lean buck-twenty.

 

Posted 6/26/2008 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Princessa: I know rice and pasta are bad for gaining weight, but it is the only foods that seem to make my UC better. If I eat anything else it is just hard on my colon. I stopped just eating rice pasta last night though. But I don't think my body is ready to leave that diet since my UC still isnt gone (and I feel bad for breaking the carb diet now)

NuttinButtrouble: I have an indoor bicycle and it has been the one I was using awhile back.

And I also have a question, once ive dropped all the weight I want gone, and i dont exercise as religiously as i am, will i gain the weight back? I don't eat alot to begin with, and my extra weight is just from the prednisone.

As for what my weight is/what I look like. I am 150 pounds, but I don't look very fat. (my face looks thin) I just look slightly overweight. My only weight areas are my legs/thighs, and waist.
Posted 6/26/2008 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
NEM,

Others with more experience maybe able to give a better answer, but I think there are a few answers that can be given.

I've been a cyclist since the age of nine and an athlete throughout high school and college and from what I've experienced and seen is that each person has a different metabolism; mine is very fast so I can eat like a horse and not gain much...some people have fast metabolisms, but there getting older so it has slowed down a bit. Then you have those who have slow metabolisms period. If your metabolism is slow it becomes easier for you to gain weight and exercise/diet becomes more important to you than for others. I agree with Princessa about the rice and pasta, but I wonder if you can reduce the portions of rice and/or pasta and maybe increase veggies or some of the other food items mentioned by Princessa? Another good reason to look into Princessa's suggestion is constipation, starches have a tendency to cause stool to bind together, which is why vegetables are so important to keep the bowels moving.

It's a shame you can't 'magically' transfer some of that weight to me…lol

Since I stopped eating starches a couple of months ago, I've lost a lot of weight, but I only have two more weeks to go on this Candida elimination diet I'm on. One last thing about exercise, even if you're very slim, it's always good to exercise; when you exercise you are actually oxygenating your body, which kills bacteria; it expands the lungs, strengthens the heart and clears the arteries…but the key in my humble opinion starts with diet.

Ps.
Too many fruits taken at once may cause a problem for UC since some of them are high in sugar even though it's not processed sugar.

Good luck and I'm sure you can and will lose the weight you desire,

:-)  
NBT

Posted 6/26/2008 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'm fighting a losing battle where weight loss is concerned. I do not overeat, I am always up doing something at home in the evening. I cannot walk all the time for exercise but do when I can. My breakfast and supper usually just consist of a bowl of cereal. I eat my biggest meal at lunch. I can guarantee you I do not consume over 1200-1300 calories a day and still am barely losing any weight. I would totally have to not eat for a month to lose half of what I need to. Really frustrating.

 

Posted 6/26/2008 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
at wit's end,

I'm really sorry...losing weight isn't easy, but at least you're giving it your best shot; after that what else can you do? Life has so many challenges that it's sometimes hard to handle them all because there isn't enough time in the day. I really want to learn music theory, but my schedule is just too busy to hire a teacher...but...after some thinking I found a way to improvise...I purchased some teaching DVD's. It's not perfect, but at least I can learn when it's convenient for me. I may not be able to watch them all of the time, but it's much more convenient than before. I'd like to recommend using an indoor bicycle to exercise, instead of walking because it will consume less of your time (you won't need to leave the house, etc.) and it will definitely burn much more calories within a shorter time frame. Another good thing about indoor bikes is that you can position them in front of the TV and watch a show while you're riding, then before you know it you've been peddling away for half an hour. I don't know how much this will help, but it will burn more calories within the same time frame.

NBT
Posted 6/27/2008 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Nuffinbuttrouble:

I get what you mean and I was totally thinking the same way. Also, after a day and a half I stopped my carb only diet. I went back to eating regular foods and Im doing ok (you were right about the constapation--yikes!). I only went on that diet since I was experiencing slight pain in my colon, so I had to give it a rest ya know? But all is well now since Im eating whatever I want again (even though I still have UC flare).

But the odd thing was, while being forced to only eat carbs, it made me depressed. Like, I wanted to eat other stuff like chicken, veggies, fruits, but I couldnt for that time being. I just think it is strange how it could emotionally effect me that way.

at wit's end:

You should try eating small meals throughout the day instead of small meals in morning and night, and then a big meal in the afternoon. Try having 4-6 meals a day in small portion. Or, just eat small portions every 2-3 hours. I did that while I was in school and I lost weight.  

Posted 6/27/2008 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
You could consider joining a program like Weight Watchers; where you are given a total amount of "points" per day to eat. Every food is given a certain number of points. You can eat what you want as long as you're within your daily points.

Also, talk to your GP about your concerns. He/she can help you.
I don't think eating rice pasta is all that bad unless you're eating tons in a day. ie: more than one cup per meal
Have you tried eating rice bread? If you haven't--make sure you toast it first.
Posted 6/27/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Asia,

I already watch what I eat and eat small portions usually. And about the rice pasta, I ate a good amount so I don't think it was bad at all. And yes, I have had rice bread, but I dont buy it much anymore because Im trying to not eat as much carbs anymore.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply