Gym and putting on muscle

[David Abe's]

Is there anyone who goes to the gym and struggle to keep the muscle and weight on?

 

[zilla7777]

I have been going to the gym for almost a year now, and I have been in a constant struggle to keep my weight on. It's a hard battle, but with proper control of your disease and a good diet there are people that have managed to even go as far as to body build with crohn's.

I have put on 10kg this year roughly even despite multiple flare ups. (Mind you, I was quite underweight at 173cm and 49kg.) Not all of it is muscle of course, but a noticeable amount definitely is.

I know Bobby Parker on here is a good example, but I think he may be inactive.

Personally I found when I had a flare, Enteral Nutrition (modulen) helped me hit two birds with one stone in both gaining weight and achieving remission.

If you are trying to build muscle, Crohn's does not mean you can't achieve it! Just think of it as a bit of a bump in the road. Even if a hefty one, it's just a bump.

Also, welcome to the forum.

 

[David Abe's]

Thanks for the welcome, I have had crohns for 15 years and I am a personal trainer, I would love I help anyone with advice in putting weight on and the sort of training they can do, I used to be 9 stone but now weigh 12 1/2 stone, it does take it's toll in regards to fatigue but it's something I have learnt to deal with

 

[shamrock15]

I don't body build - my elbows and knees are in rough shape these days, but I was finally able to gain back much of my previously lost body mass and most has gone on as muscle. I find that aggressive exercise tends to move my bowels, and one really good workout can stress my bowels literally for weeks after. That all said, I am probably in my best shape in the last 25 years.

 

[i_eat_constantly]

david please provide input on what you can and cannot eat. for me, the only way to cram enough calories in effectively and do it without destroying my intestines was shakes. lots of calorie packed shakes. i rarely check into this forum anymore, but please run through some of my posts. there is a very detailed regimen you can follow in one of them--simply substitute what i eat for things you CAN eat. i was at the point where i was having 4-5 shakes a day, i gained more than 24 lbs in 5 months, steroid free, somewhere in the 10-12% body fat range. its all about getting caloric surplus each day (take in more than you burn). working out stimulates growth and testosterone. make sure to get your vitamin d3 and make sure to squat and deadlift.

good luck