Posting Some Pics Today

[solisspirit]

I know this sounds dumb, but I want to post a few pictures of me so you guys can see what I see. I am posting different angles because you can see the sunken in-ness better this way. I would like to know if you guys had it to this extent, those of you that have had facial weight loss, and get your thoughts. I don't know what I plan to achieve in doing this, its just nice to share and know others also have had to deal with the same. I have to post the pictures when I get back though because I'm about to run to the store, then have to upload them. Should be around 9-10 CST. Thanks.

[solisspirit]

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Here's the pictures. Notice the contrast in some I look fine and others you can see the sunken in look. Thanks for your thoughts in advance. [/img][/url]

[CathyMe.]

I know this sounds dumb, but I want to post a few pictures of me so you guys can see what I see. I am posting different angles because you can see the sunken in-ness better this way. I would like to know if you guys had it to this extent, those of you that have had facial weight loss, and get your thoughts. I don't know what I plan to achieve in doing this, its just nice to share and know others also have had to deal with the same. I have to post the pictures when I get back though because I'm about to run to the store, then have to upload them. Should be around 9-10 CST. Thanks.

Hi there,
First off, you look like a really nice guy!! Love to see picture of folks here so thanks for sharing. How much weight have you lost? I don't see a huge amount of sunken in-ness but I guess I'd need to see a, "before" picture to see what you see. When I flared in the Fall of last year, I lost a good 20-25 lbs. at an alarmingly quick rate. It seemed I would get on the scale every day and see the number drop several pounds and I really scared myself as I got down to 100 lbs. I definitely lost weight in my face, looked gaunt but lost it all over my body as well.

[JFR]

I can see some sunken in-ness but from your pictures it isn't all that obvious if that's what you are worried about. The reason for weight loss is the inability of the intestines to absorb the nutrients from food combined with loss of appetite so if you address the primary problem, inflammation in the intestines, then you will also address the weight loss problem and your cheeks might just pop right out again. This can be accomplished by figuring out your food sensitivities, being scrupulous in your diet by avoiding all foods suspected of causing problems, and not taking any medications that can also cause problems. I understand that you don't like what you see when you look in the mirror (even though you look ok to me), but the issue of your looks is really a secondary issue. How are you doing with your diet? None of this is fun but the dietary measures do work and if you concentrate on that good things are bound to happen.

Jean

[lorimoose]

Hi Soli,

I think you look great. Good coloring, no wrinkles and nice cheek bones. I don't not know what you looked like before, but you present as an attractive person in the world. People would not look at you and declare, that you are struggling with a difficult disease.

Hopefully, once you regain some of your weight, you will be pleased with what you see.

I agree with Jean. Work with your diet and good things will happen.

Lori

[humbird753]

First of all I'd like to say "nothing sounds dumb."

You haven't said how much weight you've lost, but I agree with others in that you look really good in your pictures. When I look back at pictures of me before I lost weight, I was fuller in my face as well. I think I lost about 20 pounds. I've been GF/DF/SF for a long time (well over a year). I am sure a lot of healing is going on because my symptoms have improved, but I still have not been able to gain any of my weight back. I am sure in time I will be able to.

Please let us know how much weight you've lost, and if you've made changes to your diet are you seeing any improvements with your symptoms yet. If you have seen improvements, in time you will be putting weight back on. One thing I know for sure is there are less calories in whole foods!

Paula

[Lesley]

Paula! Welcome back!

I also think you look great. I can't see much sunken in at all. Your color is good and you don't look like you are feeling horrible at all. When mine is flaring I go grey.

And as Paula said - nothing is dumb.

[solisspirit]

Thanks guys for the support.


Well, in all, I lost eight pounds, then regained 7 pounds by drinking Ensure's and eating a high calorie diet. However, although I manage to hold on to my overall weight by eating a lot of calories, I still manage to lose weight in my face, which doesn't make much sense to me. My face used to be fuller, and I'll see if I can post a picture on here of then, about two and half years ago. I do appreciate the feedback.

One other question though. Currently, I'm on the GF diet because I don't know if I' gluten intolerant or celiac or not yet, but what type of diets are you guys on? I'm interested in eating right, but lately this GF diet is hard because even when I eat GF, I find it hard to find anything I can eat because almost everything has some form of gluten in it. Also, on the GF diet I learned I'm highly intolerant of soy, which gives me watery "D", so I guess it has helped in figuring out some things. Thanks again.

[mzh]

You look slim, not gaunt. Let's say you have that chiseled look.

That said - I looked at pics of myself back in 2002 3 months after my MC started and I looked very gaunt. No one else ever said that to me though so it may be a matter of perception.

[JenniferS]

Hello! I concur with the others who've commented on your thread, it's always nice to have a face to go with a post. :) Welcome to the stinkiest, fartiest family ever. lol.

I also agree, without knowing what you looked like before, there's no way to know if you look gaunt. I know last year, I looked like death warmed over and had many comment. It was quite hurtful, actually. I went from a muscular and fit 135 triathlete (most thought I was 110 or so, but I actually weighed a fair amount, but it was muscle. I had very low body fat), to 120. What frustrated me most is I lost a good deal of muscle. Interesting enough, I'm still hovering between 120-124, but my face has filled out and I feel I look relatively healthy. The difference? I've gained some fat cells (I think) and haven't regained the muscle.

I do think this disease can be extremely hard on the self-esteem, and I also think people don't realize it can be just as hurtful to tell people they "look so thin" as to tell them they are fat.

I hope you find health (and retain calories!) soon!

[MBombardier]

Hi there... I agree with Paula, nothing sounds dumb. I was wondering, are you married? I see a photo of a baby behind you, so I suspect so. What does your wife think? She's really the only one that matters.

That being said, I think you look very nice. I also wanted to say that as we age, we lose fullness in our faces. I know that you are only 34, but your weight loss may have accelerated that process. Here is a photo of my gauntness, which shocked me because I am not a slender woman.

[MBombardier]

To answer your other question, a lot of us, including me, are on a Paleo or Primal diet. Paleo means meat, poultry, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, spices. Primal adds dairy to that. So if you eat plain meals of some meat, a lot of vegetables, and some fruit, you should do well. Some of us cannot tolerate other things (I can't do eggs or vegetables/fruit from the nightshade family, or nuts). A lot of us can tolerate other grains like corn or rice.

I think most of us try to keep the ingredients in what we eat down to about three or four. For example, oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins, or roasted cauliflower with coconut oil, salt, and pepper. That way if we react to something, we're not trying to figure out which one of numerous things it could be.

If you look up "paleo" or "primal" online, there are lots and lots of blogs with delicious recipes. Not to mention, there is Dee's Kitchen here on the forum.

Hope this helps...

[JenniferS]

Marliss, you don't have problems with fruit, nuts, and veggies?

[MBombardier]

Hi Jennifer, I do have problems with veggies/fruit from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.) and nuts, most recently almond and macadamia. I'm not sure what you mean about not having problems? Do you mean what did I eat when I first started trying to heal my gut? Or do you mean the fiber?

[solisspirit]

Thanks!

Yes I am married with two kids. As for the diet, I've noticed I have problems with some vegetables causing excess gas, like broccoli, cauliflower, etc. I also can't have too many undercooked peas, or rice, as they end up coming out like corn sometimes, undigested. Though, I haven't had the rice or peas things for a while. As for dairy, I really don't know how I should feel. I mean, when I do eat ice cream, plain with chocolate coating, for instance, it does give me gas more than usual, which tells me I'm having issues with it, but I still eat it anyway because I'm under the impression dairy is okay. I do like meat, eggs, potatoes, yogurt (Fage), frozen yogurt ice cream, rice, beans, and those sorts of things and try to eat them as much as possible, staying away from gluten triggers in the ingredients list. I'm still learning, but I've come a long way in knowing what I can and cannot eat.

I'll also post a picture of me two years ago here. Let me know what you guys think. I did have more color here because I actually got out in the sun more. Now I work third shift and I don't get much sun at all.

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