Is there a diet you can safely use with your crohns to lose weight?

[Vivvian's Mommy]

I have gained 75lbs in the last year from steriod use.Has anyone have any idea if you can go on a diet.I just can't seem to get it off and it makes me feel even sicker.I also found out at the doctor's that I gained another 8lbs in the last month.I had lost 5 lbs when we first moved here and now I gain 8lbs back.I feel like crying.It makes me aggravated that I can't seem to lose it as fast as I did when I was younger and on steriods.Also doesn't help that with my stomach stretching my stoma has been giving me problems too.So does anyone know some kind out diet out there thats safe?I am on humira,imuran and now an antidepressant.

 

[Silvermoon]

Following Canada's Food Guide and getting regular exercise is about the best thing I can recommend, as a nurse AND as a patient. Some modifications may be needed... ie: can't handle fresh fruit/veggies? Try canned fruit (canned in water) or lightly steamed veggies to help break down the fiber a bit. Also, no after supper snacking! The calories from these foods tend to be the ones the body "hoardes" lol. If you feel you need a snack before bed, try something light, like a piece of toast and fruit, or a small bowl of cereal.

Exercise can be a bit of an issue with us needing to stay close to the bathroom. I actually went and bought a treadmill, so I could still walk, but be close to the toilet if I need to be. Although if you have a stoma, this might not be an issue. lol.

Of course, there is the tiredness we battle as well. Walks don't have to be long... maybe small walks more often. You may even find that it gives you a bit more energy after a while. Might help a bit with the depression too!

 

[Vivvian's Mommy]

Yeah I have a hard time with exercising because I have a hernia they said they can not repair as I have less then half my small intestines left.They said no heavy lifting ect. ect. but I have 8 month old baby to take care of.

 

[CodeBrown]

Sylvia, I'm battling the same thing...it sucks! I am going to start trying some aquatic type workouts now that its summer...hopefully something will work...I feel horrible not only from the Crohn's but from the extra weight I am carrying. If you find out any information, please keep us posted!

 

[katiesue1506]

I've really found that the easiest way to lose weight is through diligent calorie counting and exercise. I mean a pound of body fat equals 3500 calories, so if you cut your daily intake by 500 calories a day, you'll lose a pound a week (in simplest terms) Unless your weight gain is just water weight, then you can limit sodium and salt intake as well as drink more water. I noticed after counting calories how out of whack my portion sizes were. I mean a bowl of cereal to me and a serving size of cereal are WAYY different. I was eating 2.5 servings of cereal. I just got out the measuring cup and did all my meals that way. I also substituted a serving of oatmeal with 50 calories of brown sugar in for some meals.

The hardest part about this weight loss plan is the diligence part- I usually do fine for a couple days and then forget to count. I tried to burn 250 calories in exercise and lose 250 by cutting caloric intake.

You really have to assess whether you're in a position to lose weight though, if you aren't healthy and if you are thinking you are pregnant, you may want to consult a doctor on the best weightloss plan. Sometimes with crohn's you just have to let your body do what it wants until you're healthy enough to mold it.

 

[Vivvian's Mommy]

See thats the thing I do count calories.I had to do all the calorie counting for my hubby to lose weight when he was in the ARMY and its stuck with me.Sodium and salt actually makes my tongue swell.I have to watch how much I intake on that too.I have to drink 2 gallons of water a day as is.So maybe its the combination of pills.I don't know what else to do.Like I said I can't exercise much because of my hernia and as is I would love to do water activities but I am allergic to the adhesive on my bag as is so when I do bathe I have to immediately change it because it hangs.So I guess what I am really asking is, is there a dietary supplement that is safe out there that might help me out some?I feel so crappy and sick at this weight,I have never in my entire time been this heavy in all the 13years I have been sick.

 

[CodeBrown]

I would be very hesitant to take over the counter weight loss pills...just too dangerous. There are prescription weight-loss pills (Adipex) that work great at reducing your appetite if you're overeating (but it doesn't sound like that's your case). I would suggest talking to you doctor about your options...there are things out there, but with Crohn's you have to play it safe. I have taken Adipex and it worked great for me...but then I went on steroids and gained it all back and then some. I am now on Entocort...it's not as bad as prednisone.

As for exercising, how would walking effect you? It is truly the best exercise - especially if you are overweight. I am not sure how exercise effects stomas...don't have one.

 

[Crohns08]

Definitely go to your Doctor and make sure that you're healthy enough to lose the weight by exercising. Maybe you could try the SCD? It's a very strict diet and the whole time I've been on it I've maintained 110-115 lbs on my 5'3" frame and I don't work out much. You could add in foods that aren't legal so long as they don't irritate you obviously. As far as working out goes, you could walk small distances until you build endurance.

 

[Nyx]

Do you eat processed, convenience or frozen foods? What about sugars? Those are the worst. Also, how many meals do you eat a day? I find that if I eat 5 or 6 small meals a day, I do much better than if I eat 3 bigger meals a day.

I also have a stoma, and find that walking is a very low impact way to exercise. Even 10 minutes a day would help. I don't have the problems with adhesives that you do, so swimming is fine for me. But, I would think that walking, or low impact yoga would be ok, even with your hernia (they have yoga for seniors, yoga for people with arthritis...both are great for a low impact workout).

 

[MisB]

I'm trying to lose weight too, and I just found a website - EVERYDAYHEALTH.COM. It seems really easy to use and helps keep track of calorie intake balanced against calories burned. I just started using it a couple of days ago initially to keep up with a food diary, but it is so much more. It has a daily journal for food and exercise that I find very easy to use. And it offers all kinds of health and diet information I haven't even looked at yet. Thanks for putting this out there. It's a good topic. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you.

 

[Manzyb]

What about Weight Watchers? That's something that you would kind of be able to tweak as to things that you can eat that don't hurt your stomach. A lot of people do really well with that.

One of the biggest contributors to weight loss is exercise. I would try to do some walking. As others have said, you can start small and work up to it. You do not have to lift weights or anything like that. There is this lady Leslie Sansone that has these indoor walking tapes, and they are really good! When I was really sick I did some of her tapes every day just to keep myself moving. Exercising always helps me feel better.

I would definitely talk to your doctor if you are thinking about a weight loss pill. I have heard bad things about a lot of the OTC ones.

Good luck!

 

[cheeky]

yeah, i gained 80 pounds over the last 15 months... i'm just starting to lose weight by counting calories and exercising. it is all math... it's very true about 3500 calories = 1 pound.

i felt discouraged at first because it used to be so easy to lose weight, but when i exercised and reduced calories, within 2 weeks i lost 6 pounds... i'm gonna try not to focus on the scale so much and just keep at it... the weight will eventually drop off, even if it's not as quickly as i'm used to.

just hang in there.

 

[Guest]

hi Sylvia.. it always astounds me how easy and quick it is to put weight on, and how slow and difficult it is to lose!

i'm doing a cutting down diet right now, but for me, the minute i think 'diet' i crave naughty foods, so what i do is substitute healthier options, and try not to miss out on too many things. for example, i don't have bread any more - i have crackers (cream crackers are soft, so are those maize ones) for breakfast and lunch with various toppings on.. or i have yoghurt with or without rice flake cereal (can't tolerate milk on cereal).. i've bought a load of low calorie cereal bars to snack on, and kiddie sized boxes of raisins, low fat crisps (potato chips). for main family meals i eat whatever i cook for everyone else, usually, but i just don't have the potato or pasta or rice, or just have a tiny amount of it. i only have fully skimmed milk in tea & coffee, & drink diet coke. i also stopped having any kind of margarine or butter spread on crackers, just the topping.

i also can't exercise much, partly because i've had a few abdo operations and my stomach muscles are just rubbish.. i've also had one hernia and don't want another! also, my stamina and energy are low right now... so my options for exercise aren't great. i have a Wii Fit, and i'm trying to do half an hour every day - the step aerobic one is really good.

regarding your stoma appliance adhesive - what appliance are you using? & are you allergic to that 2nd skin type of stuff that is used in hospitals to secure cannulas?

 

[Lucy]

Walk away the pounds

I started using the Walk away the pounds DVD by Leslie Sansone so I could exercise at home. I lost 7 lbs. in a month. It wasn't much but better than nothing. I'm still working on it, but it's a slow process. Chicken and green beans, yogurt and applesauce almost everyday for lunch. Good Luck.
Lucy

 

[Dexky]

Sylvia, When EJ began having liver problems we met w/ a nutritionist who told us not to let him eat bread, pasta or anything else made from grains. My wife and I try to only eat what EJ can eat. We still have an occasional piece of bread or a few crackers but rarely. Long story short, 6 mos. later I've lost over 30 pounds. I am wearing the same waist size now that I wore in high school nearly 30 years ago. I also stopped eating potatoes as I read that they caused joint inflammation and my knees stopped hurting. My wife says it's because they carry 30 fewer pounds but I'm still not going back to potatoes.

So I agree with Ding on the bread but I'd add crackers and pasta to the rarely eaten list as well.

 

[Vivvian's Mommy]

Ahhh...see we had to cut down on grains,wheat,starches because my husband has a mild gluten problem...We were told I was not pregnant but they only did the urine test and being I gained 8 pounds after just losing 5lbs in a month they are talking about the blood test happening next week...so we will see.I have been nauseated and tired and clammy feeling every morning now since Tuesday.

 

[crohnsmomma]

weight loss

just wanted to say hi and good luck with the weight loss issues. I am struggling to shed weight after gaining a ton post spinal cord injury/surgeries. It is so hard to focus on weight loss, for me anyway, when I am dealing with pain and other issues- but I know it is important. I was thinking of trying Weight Watchers- they have a sensible program plus it will get me out of the house and talking to others which is always nice. In the past I have lost by walking (maybe walk the baby for a few short walks -even ten minutes at a time- throughout the day?) I think the hardest part is getting into a new routine. I also find that if I walk I dont tend to eat the snacks or sweets as much because I think- 'this will undue that walking I just did!'
I'll let you know how weight watchers goes if you want. Best of luck.

 

[Lucy]

Just FYI
Weight Watchers is all about fiber, and my GI doc told me when I had my obstruction to go on a low fiber diet 10mg or less per day. She said fiber bulks up your stool and if you have a narrowing it will be harder to pass thru. I have stayed on low fiber ever since. That was my one and only obstruction so far. Good luck and let us know how it goes for you.
Lucy

 

[Mountaingem]

I started using the Walk away the pounds DVD by Leslie Sansone so I could exercise at home. I lost 7 lbs. in a month. It wasn't much but better than nothing. I'm still working on it, but it's a slow process. Chicken and green beans, yogurt and applesauce almost everyday for lunch. Good Luck.
Lucy

I second-LOVE it!

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

If you have active Crohn's, one of the key issues becomes malabsorption of nutrients. Therefore, eat sensibly within the limitations of your various symptoms and look at supplements to compensate.

I'm with the nurse here. Use the basic food guide as a starting point, and exercise as energy dictates.

Good luck with the battle.

 

[Zalanicht]

I'm confused. I lost 30 pounds because of Crohn's simply because I couldn't eat. Even with Prednisone munchies I didn't gain weight..too painful.
After my surgery now I'm gaining weight like maaaad and it's awesome!!! 30 pounds in 2 months! I've always been skinny and I absolutely love bulking up!

But I guess the key to weight gain and weight loss is exercise. The gym is always good to hit up.

 

[Christina]

I've gained so much weight since I have been diagnosed with Crohn's. I lose weight when I flare, but it always comes back in double. I am currently losing weight the old-fashioned way (counting calories and exercise) with some help from Weight Watchers and my mom. And yes! I have run into trouble with the fiber thing. Everyone says eat fiber when you are trying to lose weight, but avoid fiber if you've got Crohn's. Honestly, I avoid the fiber and feel hungry a lot. But I am gonna stick with it. Good luck! PS I drink a lot of Slim Fast to help ease the hunger. It has some fiber, but it doesn't seem to bother me.

 

[Entchen]

So...I've been going to spin class, swimming, and playing tennis religiously for two weeks, even since my energy came back after a several month hiatus (thanks, meds!). Eating great, including lots and lots of fish and other seafood. And guess what? I've gained weight! No, not muscle, either. I'm choosing to laugh and to believe that next week will be better.

 

[Christina]

I didn't lose any weight for 2 weeks after starting my diet and then lost 6 lbs at the third week. Hang in there.

 

[Sophia]

Dear Sylvia,

I just recently sought advice from a nutritionist, and started on a diet with no gluten, no milk/cream (cheese is okay for me), no sugar, no potatoes and no bread/flour/grains. I'm only allowed one fruit a day. This probably sounds like a horrible diet that no one would ever try unless they knew it worked. Well, good news! This diet works so well for me, it seems. I've only been on it for two weeks, but I feel tons better from my symptoms. This diet is also designed to help you lose weight. I actually put on 8 kgs from being on Prednisone for so long, and this made me get a BMI of 27. So a diet that would help me lose weight was also something I wanted.

I don't know if a strict diet like that will help anyone with Crohn's. I have Crohn's colitis, and maybe those of you who have inflammations in your small intestine won't have such a good effect from this. All I know is, it worked for me, and maybe it would be worth a try for you too?

I don't necessarily think it's a must to remove all of the above-mentioned foods at the same time, as this can be difficult. Maybe trying a diet with no bread/flour/gluten/grains would be enough to start off with and then you could see how that goes?

I wish you the best of luck! Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

 

[Entchen]

I didn't lose any weight for 2 weeks after starting my diet and then lost 6 lbs at the third week. Hang in there.

Thanks so much Christina - I appreciate your encouragement! Was relieved to see that my weight was almost back down to par today, so maybe weight loss will come soon. I miss my cute suits for work. Frills and ribbons and ruffles, oh my!

 

[dustydshook]

@viv's mommy, I have struggled with the same problem. I started by counting calories and found out I wasn't eating enough so the doctor bumped me up and i lost five pounds. I also trained for and ran a 5k, I am a dancer and have classes twice a week and an avid yoga lover but no matter what I did all i could loose was that five pounds. My doctors were scratching their heads and just couldn't figure out what was going on. After a year on steroids I am finally off as I just had my surgery and have dropped 7 pounds in about two weeks without even trying. So maybe now that I am off the steroids exercise might help I cant wait till i am feeling better to try as i am still healing from the surgery. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Vivvian's Mommy]

Ahhh....So went in and had a blood test taken.Not pregnant,so now I am starting something hopefully it works.My sister in law lent me her P-90 video.And I talked to the doctor about slimfast and he said I could give it a shot and see what happens.Being that I already count calories and am on a somewhat gluten free diet because of my husband's problem I am hoping it works.I will let ya all know for certain if I get any results!I am at 178lbs. now.

 

[Entchen]

Good stuff, Sylvia! So happy that you have a plan.

I am HOPING to reach somewhere around your weight by the end of summer (sighs).

 

[cheeky]

wow, i haven't been on for a while... but i see i replied in this thread about my 80 pound weight gain... well the update is, i'm down 17 pounds.. but i've been exercising at least 30-45 min cardio 6 days a week... my calorie intake is around 1200-1400 avg, but i really don't cut anything out...i just try to be more conscious if i've already had a fair amount of carbs, not to over do it..or over eat.

at first, it felt weird having the weight seem to come off slowly...but i kept at it, and now i'm seeing the results.

eventually, i'll improve my diet and cut out the sweets. but for now, i have sweets whenever i feel i can afford to...or if i've eaten a lot one day, the next day i compensate by eating less...everything balances out in the end.

it's taken almost 8 weeks to lose 17 pounds.

 

[Christina]

That's excellent! Good job! I am especially impressed at your exercise regime. That's where I really fail. I'm on vacation now, but when I get back, I'll try to hit the treadmill.

My Crohn's is flaring now so the weight is coming off easier than before when I was just dieting, but as soon as they fix my flare, I'll be back to the old-fashioned way. Too bad I can't have my cake and eat it too!

Christina