Weight gain

[Sallen]

weight gain

Hey, i was wondering if anybody had any tips for putting on weight (and muscle)

Im 23years old and have had crohns since i was 17, had an op at 18. im 6ft and weigh 114lbs/8stone/52kg, so im very slim. Obviously i dont expect to get big and stocky but i'd love to not look so malnurished hehe. Appearence is half the issue (important tho, as its a big factor in my mental health) but i think if i had more weight on me i'd also have more energy, i can only work part time cause im left quite tired.

Im useless with a diet, i dont know what to eat, i know i should try to eat little and often though. I'm keen to do some weight training and cardio too, any advice will be apprieciated.

 

[soupdragon69]

Hi Sallen,

Welcome to the forum!

Are you still seeing a gastro team for your crohns? If so could they or your gp refer you to a dietitian so things can be more tailored for you.

The boys on here are well experienced too so I am sure they will input here also.

Alot of us go for low residue which is low fat low fibre foods and high protein.

Hope that kick starts you. It depends also on what you already know triggers or aggravates your symptoms.

Good to see you here. Keep posting and asking questions. Looking forward to seeing you around more!

 

[Sallen]

thanks for the welcome

Not seeing the hospital specialist but im really lucky because my gp actually trained for awhile in crohns dep at my hospital. I tried a dietitian for awhile after my op but i didnt really get on with her, she'd say the same things every time i went, doesnt really help to be told to eat little and often every visit and just list what i've been eating. And she'd always tell me to try things that i knew i couldnt eat well at the time, like sugaring foods (i know the plan was to give me energy but just felt like a waste going there)

Triggers are a pain in the arse, i know i cant eat fatty or spicy foods but the rest is almost a daily change, its like a lottery haha. But even with stuff that doesnt go down well (except spicy foods) i can manage, its not even remotely close to before i had it bad

 

[BWS1982]

I'll link you to 2 threads at the bottom, hopefully it'll get you started, I've got to get going, but one thing also: no cardio, you're going to just burn up needed calories that you're obviouly missing out on....you'll get plenty of cardiac benefit (and even still calorie burning, but it's acceptable for the results it'll give) from lifting weights, still good for the heart/body, but will force your body to adapt by adding size/weight/muscle and give you needed energy/metabolic boosts

(think of it this way: the body adapts to a rough environment on the sole of the foot by building calouses on your skin, it adapts the same when building muscles, you're giving it an environment/stimulus, and it's simply adapting by building muscle bigger and better for the next time you lift heavy objects, with proper nutrition and rest of course)

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=3482

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=3343

 

[soupdragon69]

Yay Benson!

I hoped you and a couple of the other guys would spot this thread by Sallen!

 

[Sallen]

thank you, im bookingmarking the links, i'll have a good read

sad you advise no cardio tho, i quited enjoyed running years ago

 

[BWS1982]

well, cardio is an effective way to burn calories, and so is heavy weight training, the thing is that with weight training, it will burn them but then have the result of causing the body hypertrophy (fancy way of "muscle building")....cardio does very little to build muscle, it more actually trains it to run efficiently and use glycogen stores effectively (muscle fuel is glycogen, basically similar to glucose, only in the form the body converted it into for storage)...not to make you sad about restricting cardio, it's just that your original post gave me the impression you have issues putting on weight OR muscle, and calories will be a valuable comodity for you, cardio will expend them a good bit without yielding any significant weight gain/muscle gain in return...if you can find a way to say, eat 500 calories extra a day, and only burn, say 250 through cardio every other day, you'll still be intaking 750 extra every 2 days (1000 extra from eating in 2 days, -250 from cardio in those two days)...this should be a good amount to still put some muscle on if you lift weights too....so to reword this, you can do your cardio still if you can overcompensate to have a surplus of cals still, but only by eating a lot of food, the body needs a surplus... just like money, spending a little isn't a big deal if you can create a big enough "income"...