How can I gain weight?

[Minxy]

Hi All,

I have Crohn's affecting my small bowel. For the past year I followed the LOFFLEX Diet and was doing pretty well. Then 3 months ago I got Campylobacteriosis, after eating contaminated food in a restaurant.
I lost over 14lbs body weight in 2 weeks, which I could ill afford to lose. Now, although I have been eating normally for the past month > small nutritious meals up to 5 times a day< my weight is stubbornly staying the same. It is very frustrating!

I would be pleased if anyone can suggest ways I can increase my weight, bearing in mind the only cereal I can eat is white rice in small quantities,
that I am allergic to dairy products, and soy, and that my diet has to be low fat.

 

[Rebecca85]

Maybe you need to increase the number of meals you eat? How many were you having to maintain your weight before? And what do you normally drink?

 

[Minxy]

Hi, before I got ill with the food poisoning, I was eating 3 meals a day plus snacks, and maintaining a good weight. Now I am eating 5 meals a day, plus snacks.

I drink only water at home, but when out I drink weak green tea.

 

[Rebecca85]

Do you have diarrhea on a regular basis? I would be concerned that the food poisoning has made your Crohn's worse, so you aren't absorbing food properly. Could you drink things like fruit juice to try to squeeze in some extra calories?

 

[Minxy]

No I never usually have diarrhea at all. But during the period I was infected with Campylobacter, I had violent diarrhea for several weeks, as my gut tried to clear the poisonous bacteria. I also passed blood several times a day, which is common with that kind of food poisoning....

I think you are right, I am not absorbing nutrients properly since the illness. My GP seems unconcerned about it though.

I love fresh fruit juice and I have a juicer, so I will try some fresh juices, thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Cooro]

Ensure plus and drinking lactose free melted ice cream are probably the quickest way. But drinking the lactose free melted ice cream is...a bit extreme. lol

 

[wolfem]

You should try adding coconut oil to things. That should help you gain weight. I probably eat 11 meals a day and I've gradually gained weight but it has been taking forever. I haven't passed the 102lb mark yet. I can't have dairy or high fat foods either. Well, here is a list of some of the foods that I eat:

Avacados (eat lots)
Almond butter
Meat (lean)
Cannellini beans
Quinoa
Lentils
Buckwheat

Hope this helps

-Mary

____________________________
Diagnosed: Crohn’s December ‘09
Gastritis August ’09, TMJD 1992
Surgeries: 1-terminal ileum removal+abscess
Treatments: Current- pentasa
Past- pred. aciphex, ranitidine
Other: Multi-vitamin, calcium,
digestive enzymes, probiotics,
fish oil, and ginger:biggrin:

 

[Minxy]

Thank you for the suggestions Mary.

Of the items you mention, I use some coconut oil, but have been concerned about using more as it is very high in saturated fat.

I love avocados and eat 2 a day, and am OK with lean meat. Unfortunately I can't tolerate any kind of nuts, as they cause my enteropathic arthritis symptoms to erupt.
I do not seem able to digest any of the pulses such as lentils, cannellini beans, chickpeas etc, and if I eat them I get agonising pain from trapped gas for days at a time. Also I do not seem able to digest any cereals at all (including buckwheat) except white rice.... though with Quinoa I have not actually tried it in the past 5 years since my symptoms got much worse, so it might be worth me giving it a try again at some stage.

Thanks again.

 

[Minxy]

Hi Cooro, thank you for your suggestions. I would be happy to give Ensure Plus a try, but do not know what it contains. Does it contain protein from sources of dairy, soy or eggs do you know? I can not tolerate any of those.

I tried a few dairy free ice-creams in the past, but found they all contained soy or almonds instead, so I reacted badly to them. I have my own icecream maker and have made icecream with rice milk, but it is very thin and watery, so not wonderful!

 

[Manimation]

Smoothies. When I'm workn on bulkn up and getn weight back I'll get some Jamba Juice or Robekz and get protien boosts and such. You can get them nondairy as well. Maybe that'd help put you over the top?

 

[Minxy]

Hi, Thanks for the suggestion. I do have non-dairy fruit smoothies quite often. I have found some makes contain soy instead of dairy, which is not
good .......

I think I am beginning to conclude I need to eat more often to gain weight. like ....have 5 meals a day, and snack constantly between mealtimes.

 

[Lisa]

Aside from the meals - what is your calorie intake? I think you should take a look at that too - if you are not taking in enough calories (more than you are expending) it will be very hard to gain weight.....

 

[Minxy]

pasobuff ~ that is a good point ~ I will definitely do a calorie count over the next week. Thank you!

 

[Crohn's 35]

I was going to suggest Smoothies but it has been mentioned. Lots of people do that on a flare situation. Either that or come to my house, I never have a problem gaining weight! Wish I could lose some. Wanna trade? Just kidding , I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Minxy]

Thanks Pen.
I feel OK healthwise, the Crohn's is manageable at present. I just dislike being so underweight. It does not suit me, and leads to friends commenting on it frequently, which is no fun.....

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hey Minx, dont worry about outsiders, they have no clue, and you need to look after you. Always be true to yourself and that is number one priority. Some people never get it and stressing about it make you worse. :hang: What country are you from?

 

[Minxy]

Hi Pen, yes, you are right it is not helpful to stress about my weight. I have stopped weighing myself every day, as the lack of change was depressing me! But it is still annoying that all my clothes are too big, as I can't afford to buy a new wardrobe at the moment........

Fortunately I do feel well enough at the moment to get on with some good stuff in my life, and just let my weight take care of itself.

Thanks for your support.

 

[Crohn's 35]

No worries, we are here for you. I see you are on 5-htp because? I have it but never found it worked for me...like I need to pop another pill....

 

[bobby.parker]

Some good advice.

My personal opinion and what has worked for me is to eat small/medium meals regular. Include lots of carbs, protein and good fats(ones listed by mary are great!).

 

[Minxy]

Some good advice.

My personal opinion and what has worked for me is to eat small/medium meals regular. Include lots of carbs, protein and good fats(ones listed by mary are great!).

Thank you for your comments.:ysmile:

The healthiest carbs are complex carbs, which are found in whole grain cereals. But in my case the fiber in all types of whole grain cereals causes an obstruction in my small intestine, due to narrowing (stricture).

So I am just left with Simple carbs, which are found mainly in fruit, also in potatoes, yams and white rice.

I eat white rice quite often, but I cannot tolerate either potatoes or yams, as they cause severe trapped gas for days at a time.

So, my main source of carbs is sugars, such as in fruit, and although I love fruit and could eat it all day, there is the fact that eating a lot of fruit causes frequent spikes in blood sugar levels, with a risk of causing insulin resistance to develop. So I have to eat fruit in moderation.

With the fats, I cannot digest much fat, but have started having a little more coconut oil following Mary's suggestion. :thumright:

Thanks again.

 

[Minxy]

Hi Pen,

Tbh, I am not sure whether 5-HTP has done much for me. I started taking it a year ago to help with fatigue, as it converts to serotonin in the body, and a shortage of serotonin is associated with fatigue and various other symptoms.

Apparently it needs to be taken for about 3 months before any effect is noticed. I think after 3 months I did feel a bit less tired, but it may have been a coincidence! I am not taking at the moment because I ran out of supplies, but will probably try it again soon.

 

[Astra]

Hiya Minx

there are some good tips in this link

http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/f/GainWeight.htm

good luck
xxx

 

[Minxy]

Thanks for the link Joan --- it's an interesting site, with very good advice re: gaining weight through diet.

I also like its advice about exercise, re: not doing aerobic exercise such as cycling which will make you lose weight, but instead doing resistance exercises to help build muscle size and strength, thereby increasing body weight.

Thanks again.

 

[Poppysocks]

I'm at a loss.

 

[Minxy]

Marcos -- I beg your pardon, I don't understand -- is it a joke? :ylol: