I've been diagnosed with Crohns for a couple of years, prior to that, I've had a colon resection from a bad flair, that resulted in a perforation of my bowl... I've always been a fitness fanatic.. Currently I've had a bad flair, which has taken me outta of the gym for a month, I've lost nearly 20 pounds during that time, as I couldn't eat, and what I did eat was not being absorbed... I am on my 3rd week of prednisone 40mgs a day, and just now starting a tapper, along with continuing with my Lialda.
I am 53 y/o, 5'5",before the flair I was weighing 162# at 11% BF... I was in a bulking phase in prep for a show in March 2016... My cal were about 4000cal per day, while eating clean. I believe that the constant pressure of eating lead to this flair, which was the worst I've ever had. So while I was working on recovery, and thanks to the insomnia from the prednisone, I've been researching, diet, supplements, and exercise.
I researched how to spike and when to spike insulin through diet to inrease muscle gains, and fat loss..I am also convinced that not all supplements and foods are equal, and those of us with Crohns and the like we need to very careful of what we put in our bodies, more so than otherwise healthy people.
I eat only grass fed beef, or buffalo, no meats with antibiotic, or hormones, no farm raised fish, because protein from dairy is superior I researched and now buy my supplements and protein from RawDynamix... This is easiest stuff for me to digest, (they are a group of Dr's that have put together a product line)... Anyway.. You can research this on your own. As I am not shilling for them, it's just my own research, and personal results.
On top of various form of proteins, amino acids, I have added fish oil, cissus, B vit., probiotics, Lactase, carbs, all to mix my drinks, I eat 4-5 real foods meals per day, I keep the meals small for now because I am still scared of another flair. The prednisone has me working out every other day, because it has slowed my ability to recover, and prednisone is very catabolic, so I need the extra time to build or maintain muscle and not lose muscle.
Since I've changed my diet, changed my supplements and started the insulin spiking, I've am happy to say I am not typical of a person on high dose prednisone, my BF is about 9%, and I am now 155#, I am still in remission, I have months to go before I am off prednisone, my Dr. Wants to keep me on on it until I start Remicade/Imuron, and proof of it is working. I have always done 3 days on with one day off, but it is not going to happen until I'm off the prednisone.
But I do believe, and it is working that having a super clean diet, proper timing of supplements, carbs, and protein along with a solid workout plan, not only will I preserve what I have but I will continue to improve in size and strength.
People pretty much think having Crohns means being skinny-fat, because of the difficulty digesting foods and malnutrition issues.... To me it just means we have to work harder on diet, and be smart about what we put in our bodies, more so than those without this disease.