Is the disease preventing me from gaining weight?

[LuisCMartins]

I have been working out since April 2011, and althou I look quite bigger than I was, my weight hasn't incresed by a single kg. Can this be due to the disease and/or the medication? I'm on Pentasa (mesalamine) and Imuran (Azathioprine).

 

[Rebecca85]

If your muscle mass in increasing then I guess your body fat must be decreasing to keep your weight steady. Have you found that your body shape has changed (eg less around your waist)?

Although Crohn's can prevent weight gain due to malabsorption this would also mean you wouldn't increase in size. So I don't know that it would be a factor in your case.

 

[LuisCMartins]

I don't think my body fat has changed at all, really.
Maybe I'm not getting enough food? I'm pretty sure I'm eating plenty thou

 

[Rebecca85]

Are you eating plenty of protein? I do know protein is important for muscle.

I don't understand how you can 'look bigger' but not gain weight. Unless it's fat not muscle you're gaining (as happened to me :s) maybe you ought to keep track of body fat and measurements of your body see if you can work out what is happening. And have your diet checked by someone who is knowledgeable about body building and weight gain.

 

[Mr Bedfordshire]

Muscle weighs more than fat doesn't it?!

 

[rygon]

It does. May be worth looking on body building sites to see how they do it (www.bodybuilding.com comes to mind) Although you dont have to be as enthusiastic as they are it does help to give some pointers

 

[Mr Bedfordshire]

It does. May be worth looking on body building sites to see how they do it (www.bodybuilding.com comes to mind) Although you dont have to be as enthusiastic as they are it does help to give some pointers

Good advice!

That website is in my opinion by far the best for anyone who works out, big or small as its jammed packed with all kinds of info, hints and tips!

 

[hugh]

I'd be very cautious about bodybuilding supplements.

If you are not absorbing then it doesn't matter how much you eat.

Personally, i'd look at paleo (i put on 8kg by not eating grains, legumes, processed food and dairy)

 

[rygon]

I have tried a couple of suppliments which have helped (but be wary they can cause problems with the bowels), but by far the biggest gains have been by following a proper exercise plan rather than just an adhoc training regime when I went to the gym. This has helped maximise my efforts into areas I want to see improvement (mainly strength rather than bulk)

Also it shows that a lot of small meals (normally high in protein) are better than a few big meals.

I wouldnt go as far to say that people "do not" absorb some nutrients, but they find it "hard" to absorb them. If you do increase the amount of nutrients then theres more possibility that you will get the right amount

 

[Rain]

maybe you should go to a different doctor. I didn't get any help from mine though. I just researched things on the internet. I too go to the bathroom three times a day. Ever since I had my colon removed I have had a much harder time gaining. Sorry I couldn't be helpful.

 

[DanHerefordshire]

i find it impossible to gain weight with crohns... them bodybulding suplements are really no good for it.
no matter how much you eat it dosent seam to get turned into fat or muscle or fat... either would do lol

the only way to do it is on the steroids but i find it takes me a very high dose for about two months before my weight gain comes and the doctors dont like giving that many unless im in a bad flair.. and evan then there is risk of the weight being put in places you dont really want it..

 

[rygon]

Weight gain and all muscle / lean mass suppliment have a notorious history due to a lot being bulked up with rubbish. If you research into them you will see the cheap ones are infact rubbish. They all come with this scientifically designed etc. Even if they are good, they may not be good for crohns.

All I can say is my mate has a j pouch, and has always found it hard to put on weight. Hes now taking Sci-mx omni hardcore and is very pleased with the results. Ive also tried their omni pro and found it really good without any bad side effects.

One thing I will say, theres no point in bothering taking any of this stuff if you arent exercising correctly. I follow proper exercise routines now and have noticed a real difference (even though they are shorter than my ad-hoc ones). Look on that website I posted above. Try and get a personal training session at the gym (30mins will be fine). I did 3 x 30mins and he showed me what exercises to do to get the results I want, worth every penny

 

[DanHerefordshire]

Hi Rygon

Thanks for the info about the Sci-mx omni looks very intresting

i will do some recearch into that and seriously consider giving it a go ready for the summer :smile:

just from being curious how long did you take it for? and what gains did you have..

 

[rygon]

I cant really say as I just came out of hospital and started Remicade. About a month after that I started exercising proprly again but taking omni pro I didnt feel any aches or pains like I did before I was diagnosed with crohns (2yrs ago) and was taking generic healthstore whey protein then. I had 2 tubs of it (4kg - 28servings each) they lasted me 4mnths approx (using it after exercising and day after when i remembered). In that time i went from 10st to 11.5st but a lot due to feeling better and eating more

I just found omni pro was good on my stomach and I felt more energy and less aching the next day. Im now trying PHd synergy but not finding that as good (which im suprised at as I thought they were a better make).

Once I finish this stuff im defo going back to Omni again.

My mate has given me some USN hyperbolic mass which is 1100Kcals per serving (1500 with milk). Its totally fine on my stomach but as im not a harcore trainer (do exercise 3 time a week) i find im putting the weigh on around my stomach instead. he gave me it as it has gluten in which hes intolerant to

 

[DanHerefordshire]

Okay thankyou, thats a good weight gain 1.5 stone.. think id be happy to get half a stone extra in say 3 months.

 

[rygon]

my mate whos taking the hardcore version had a 2kg increase in 1-2mnths (cant remember what he said) and with his j-pouch hes never been able to put on weight before.

You can buy it in tescos but i'd look online for the cheapest. Hope it heps

 

[rygon]

oops sorry I bought the 2.1kg version which was 30servings

 

[LuisCMartins]

That gainer has basically the same stuff as the one I'm taking right now, so how can I be sure that my body will absorb all the stuff there's in it, unlike with the one I'm taking?

 

[rygon]

Unfortunately I dont htink you can. Its a lot of trial and error with these thing (as well as foods) but obviously these are more expensive to do it with.

I'd persoanlly look at your exercise routine in more detail and make sure you are getting the most out of that

 

[Catherine]

My 16 year old daughter is taking Ensure, to help with weight gain. She is gaining about 1kg per week. She is also taking predisone. She is very under weight now 48kg (about 105 lb) and 5ft 8.

We were told if we didn't get weight again to increase Ensure to twice daily.

Catherine

 

[Rain]

Thats great that it's working for her! It never worked for me for some reason, but it does provide nutrition.