Weight loss due to chronic illness -tips appreciated

comptonelizabeth
comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
edited December 2024 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
I suffer from ulcerative colitis (similar to crohn's disease)I've always been slim but gained weight after my diagnosis 15 years ago because the medications (steroids )increased my appetite. Now I've been put on different medication which is working but having to come off steroids. I now have very poor appetite and have lost around 5-7 kilos over the past year. I'm female, aged 60, 5 foot 3 inches and weigh 51 kilos. Not officially underweight but feel and look it! I'd like to regain the weight I've lost but my problem is that because of my gut I can't tolerate a lot of the higher calory foods (eg nuts,dried fruit etc) Plus steroids have led to reduced muscle tone in my arms and legs. Oh and I have back problems!
The my fitness app calculates I need 1900 calories daily to reach my goal in 3 months but to me that doesn't sound like enough! I've exceeded that each day so far but no weight gain yet and I'm clueless about what type of exercise I should do to build muscle without using up calories!

Replies

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    edited September 2016
    How are you with full fat dairy and avocados? They will give you a good boost in your calories as well as add a good portion of protein to your diet.
    Meats with a higher fat content should help as well.

    With your age and muscle loss it is important to get plenty of protein. Aim for .85-1g per lbs bodyweight, we need more as we age.
    Make healthy fats you second most important nutrient. They help with nutrient absorption and brain function.

    As far as strength training is concerned try starting with the HasFit beginners programme (post below) or the nerd fitness bodyweight programme. They are both designed for beginners but don't be afraid to simplify any move until you build up some strength.
    The 'New Rules Of Lifting For Life' programme/book I have heard is excellent, but I haven't read it.

    I am a little older, shorter and lighter than you and have found adding 100 cals a day (700 a week) helps keep me maintaining when I lift 3x a week, so upping your intake to 2000 may work for you.

    Cheers, h.

    HasFit
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U0bhE67HuDY

    Edit: here is a list of popular strength training programmes. Have a look at them and see if any suit your needs. I started with HasFit (above) and Nerdfitness then moved on to AllPro.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
  • SkyMaiden007
    SkyMaiden007 Posts: 25 Member
    My biggest downfall is olive oil. That stuff has 500 cals per quarter cup! Lightly fry some eggs (yes, you CAN fry with it) and get some nice bread to dip into yolks. I like lemn squeezed on top.
    I have a severely underweight friend ( and I mean severely on the official scale), and I convinced her to dry dipping sourbread into olive oil with a squeeze of lemon.

    She's definitely gained weight, but we don't know how much as she wont weigh.

    But that doesn't matter, she looks and feels better.


    Don't drink water, only milk and orange juice.


    I have several recipes based on olive oil, if you like :)
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Mmmm @SkyMaiden007 I love dipping a nice fresh loaf in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Bake a head of garlic, doused in olive oil, to go with it and it is heaven :)

    I agree, frying in olive oil is an easy way to add calories.

    Cheers, h.
  • SkyMaiden007
    SkyMaiden007 Posts: 25 Member
    I wish I could afford the calories! I restrict myself, otherwise gawd knows how big I would get! :o
  • SkyMaiden007
    SkyMaiden007 Posts: 25 Member
    Here's a couple recipes to get you started :)
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Wow - thanks so much to everyone for the tips.
    Sadly I can't eat avocados - they give me serious gut ache:( I am frying pretty much everything that can be fried and am also adding protein powder to drinks etc.
    I weighed myself this morning and after a week have gained nearly 2 pounds. One problem I have is I get full pretty quickly but trying to train myself to eat more.
    Thanks again and I'll look at the links and recipes!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Peanut butter is usually ok for my Crohn's and white carbs. Lots and lots of white carbs.


    Your doctor kept you on steroids for 15 years?!?! That's crazy. I'm surprised you weren't started on steroid sparring meds way before now.....
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Yes it's crazy - it was only when I switched hospitals that things changed I'm now on entyvio and doing OK.
    I'm OK with peanut butter and yes, white carbs!
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    SkyMaiden007 wrote: »
    Here's a couple recipes to get you started :)

    Thank you!
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    SkyMaiden007 wrote: »
    My biggest downfall is olive oil. That stuff has 500 cals per quarter cup! Lightly fry some eggs (yes, you CAN fry with it) and get some nice bread to dip into yolks. I like lemn squeezed on top.
    I have a severely underweight friend ( and I mean severely on the official scale), and I convinced her to dry dipping sourbread into olive oil with a squeeze of lemon.

    She's definitely gained weight, but we don't know how much as she wont weigh.

    But that doesn't matter, she looks and feels better.


    Don't drink water, only milk and orange juice.


    I have several recipes based on olive oil, if you like :)

    Thank you - yes please!
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    I have Crohn's, and I am on a more restricted diet for the time being, but I hope some of my suggestions help. Good fats in protein sources with carbs that you can handle. An example would be grilled chicken thighs (thighs in any meat always has the most fat) with mashed white or sweet potatoes. If you can tolerate dairy, go for full fat/grassfed if possible. Canned Coconut milk is full fat, non dairy, and great for smoothies. You said you have a hard time with nuts, but can handle peanut butter. How about other nut butters, like almond or cashews? Seed butters like sunflower is also pretty good as well.
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Hamsibian wrote: »
    I have Crohn's, and I am on a more restricted diet for the time being, but I hope some of my suggestions help. Good fats in protein sources with carbs that you can handle. An example would be grilled chicken thighs (thighs in any meat always has the most fat) with mashed white or sweet potatoes. If you can tolerate dairy, go for full fat/grassfed if possible. Canned Coconut milk is full fat, non dairy, and great for smoothies. You said you have a hard time with nuts, but can handle peanut butter. How about other nut butters, like almond or cashews? Seed butters like sunflower is also pretty good as well.

    Thank you - I'm OK with small amounts of dairy but hadn't thought about coconut milk. Also almond butter etc - I'll try it.
    Chicken thighs are my favourite part of chicken!
    One thing the app has shown me is that I'm not getting enough iron,though I know I'm not anaemic, and also not enough potassium - which I'm guessing is because I don't eat enough green veg (most of which I can't tolerate) - I'm not sure what the health implications are of that though.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    No offense to your doctor but that is crazy. You should have started a biologic a long time ago. I'm on Remicade. I'm low residue so can't do most raw vegetables and fruits, no nuts, seeds, legumes, red meat, whole grains, garlic, lactose, um lots of stuff.
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Yes it's crazy - it was only when I switched hospitals that things changed I'm now on entyvio and doing OK.
    I'm OK with peanut butter and yes, white carbs!

  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    No offense to your doctor but that is crazy. You should have started a biologic a long time ago. I'm on Remicade. I'm low residue so can't do most raw vegetables and fruits, no nuts, seeds, legumes, red meat, whole grains, garlic, lactose, um lots of stuff.
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Yes it's crazy - it was only when I switched hospitals that things changed I'm now on entyvio and doing OK.
    I'm OK with peanut butter and yes, white carbs!

    I agree! My current doctor is great and it's down to him that I've avoided surgery. Entyvio is a biological and has pretty much got me into remission - I'm finding I can tolerate a wider range of foods but like you, I can't do raw foods or legumes. And have to be careful with too much lactose - a lot of protein powders are whey based which is tricky!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Entyvio is an awesome drug. Once Remicade stops working I want to try it. Good luck!
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Hamsibian wrote: »
    I have Crohn's, and I am on a more restricted diet for the time being, but I hope some of my suggestions help. Good fats in protein sources with carbs that you can handle. An example would be grilled chicken thighs (thighs in any meat always has the most fat) with mashed white or sweet potatoes. If you can tolerate dairy, go for full fat/grassfed if possible. Canned Coconut milk is full fat, non dairy, and great for smoothies. You said you have a hard time with nuts, but can handle peanut butter. How about other nut butters, like almond or cashews? Seed butters like sunflower is also pretty good as well.

    Thank you - I'm OK with small amounts of dairy but hadn't thought about coconut milk. Also almond butter etc - I'll try it.
    Chicken thighs are my favourite part of chicken!
    One thing the app has shown me is that I'm not getting enough iron,though I know I'm not anaemic, and also not enough potassium - which I'm guessing is because I don't eat enough green veg (most of which I can't tolerate) - I'm not sure what the health implications are of that though.

    If you are not anemic, I wouldn't worry too much about what the tracker says. I don't think a lot of people entering foods into the database realize you can get your iron intake from sources other than meat, so what you're going to get is probably lower than what you're actually consuming. Can you tolerate green veggies if they're cooked? I only eat cooked veggies because I can't handle raw at all. Cook them to be super soft, like in soup or steamed (drink the water if you steam them to get all of the nutrients).
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    No offense to your doctor but that is crazy. You should have started a biologic a long time ago. I'm on Remicade. I'm low residue so can't do most raw vegetables and fruits, no nuts, seeds, legumes, red meat, whole grains, garlic, lactose, um lots of stuff.
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Yes it's crazy - it was only when I switched hospitals that things changed I'm now on entyvio and doing OK.
    I'm OK with peanut butter and yes, white carbs!

    I also couldn't believe the 15 years on steroids. Who prescribes that?! I am glad you switched over and that you're doing well on Entyvio (I am on that drug too).

  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Thanks Hamsibian.
    I can tolerate some green veg if cooked. Yes I guessed that about iron to be honest. It's calculated by the app when I do my diary - and I don't eat much red meat.
    Entyvio has been my life saver. Glad ots helping you too.To be fair biologicals have only recently been approved for uc in the UK. The main problem I now have,with bumping up calories, is that I get very bloated and full of wind! Did try the fodmap diet last year which seemed to help but made me lose weight
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