Newbie question
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Newbie question
How much to eat and how often is something I can't find. Gabes once told me the portion of meat to eat in a day but how often to eat and how much of the veggies to eat in a serving. Would like to not lose any more weight. Could someone put in some recommendations on ounces of meat and cups of veggies. Also like every 3 or 4 hours, or 3 times a day. I am just having veggies and meat and bone broth. TMI BM is sorta new norman. Should I try something new like rice bread etc.
Janie
Janie,
For most of us it helps to first stop the inflammation and give our gut a little time to heal so that digestion is better (and malabsorption is less of a problem) before adding foods in order to help gain weight. Back when I was recovering, I gained weight by eating as much as I could of the few foods that I could safely eat, and then I ate a little more for good measure. I developed that habit after going through so many extended periods of losing weight and getting really run down before I changed my diet.
When we eat less (as many of us do in order to try to minimize the trips to the bathroom), our stomach shrinks. As a result, we feel full too soon. When that's the case, some of us do better if we eat 4–6 smaller meals each day rather than 2 or 3 larger ones, but we have to sort of figure out what our body prefers. At any rate, a shrunken stomach is likely to stay shrunken until it is stretched back to its normal size by eating a bit more after we feel full.
You might review your daily calorie intake. Weight gain is almost entirely a function of calorie intake. And calorie needs depend on body size/weight. We can't gain weight if we're not ingesting more calories than we need to replace the calories that we burn each day. But remember that protein is the most important part of the diet because extra protein is required in order to heal our intestines. While we are recovering, the carbs and fiber are only there for looks or personal preferences. The protein does the healing. And as much fat as we can tolerate helps to keep our organs healthy. Once our gut heals enough to allow improved digestion, weight gain will become much easier. When most of the nutrients in our food are going straight to the toilet, weight gain can be mighty tough for some of us, and trying to gain during that phase of recovery is usually an exercise in futility.
It sounds as though you are healing though, and getting closer to remission.
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Tex
For most of us it helps to first stop the inflammation and give our gut a little time to heal so that digestion is better (and malabsorption is less of a problem) before adding foods in order to help gain weight. Back when I was recovering, I gained weight by eating as much as I could of the few foods that I could safely eat, and then I ate a little more for good measure. I developed that habit after going through so many extended periods of losing weight and getting really run down before I changed my diet.
When we eat less (as many of us do in order to try to minimize the trips to the bathroom), our stomach shrinks. As a result, we feel full too soon. When that's the case, some of us do better if we eat 4–6 smaller meals each day rather than 2 or 3 larger ones, but we have to sort of figure out what our body prefers. At any rate, a shrunken stomach is likely to stay shrunken until it is stretched back to its normal size by eating a bit more after we feel full.
You might review your daily calorie intake. Weight gain is almost entirely a function of calorie intake. And calorie needs depend on body size/weight. We can't gain weight if we're not ingesting more calories than we need to replace the calories that we burn each day. But remember that protein is the most important part of the diet because extra protein is required in order to heal our intestines. While we are recovering, the carbs and fiber are only there for looks or personal preferences. The protein does the healing. And as much fat as we can tolerate helps to keep our organs healthy. Once our gut heals enough to allow improved digestion, weight gain will become much easier. When most of the nutrients in our food are going straight to the toilet, weight gain can be mighty tough for some of us, and trying to gain during that phase of recovery is usually an exercise in futility.
It sounds as though you are healing though, and getting closer to remission.
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
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in line with tex's reply, meals sizes is up to the individual, the best motto is - listen to your body..
there are days where I will eat less, rest etc and on busy days I make sure I have good meals sizes early in the day (breakfast and lunch)
I wouldnt rush into something like rice bread just yet.. expanding your eating plan with additional proteins and vegetables is a better option (more nutritional value)
the other thing would be maybe looking at making paleo muffins with coconut flour.
The weight gain will come when the gut has improved, and the mental and emotional aspects of life with MC are at a good stage, not stressing, being at peace with what is, life is in flow (eating, relaxation, social etc)
there are days where I will eat less, rest etc and on busy days I make sure I have good meals sizes early in the day (breakfast and lunch)
I wouldnt rush into something like rice bread just yet.. expanding your eating plan with additional proteins and vegetables is a better option (more nutritional value)
the other thing would be maybe looking at making paleo muffins with coconut flour.
The weight gain will come when the gut has improved, and the mental and emotional aspects of life with MC are at a good stage, not stressing, being at peace with what is, life is in flow (eating, relaxation, social etc)
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi, Janie. As Tex and Gabes said, the weight will come back on. I was too thin and I was tired of people looking at me and wondering what was wrong. But as my gut healed I put weight back on. I still am about 5 lbs. less than I was before but I feel good at this weight. I was always a big eater (which surprised people because I am small) but I no longer eat a lot at one meal. I spread it out throughout the day and eat when I'm hungry. Your body will let you know what works. If you can tolerate sweet potatoes and bananas I find that they help me keep the weight on. Some people have histamine problems with bananas but I am okay with them.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
Gosh, Janie, I can relate and so can so many others! I've received such great advice about just having to let go of a lot of social engagements and/or other activities that might cause stress. Such good advice, and my body is telling me it is right on. Yet, I have so little social life, it's scary to withdraw completely. I just love Gabes' "go with the flow" ... and I suspect that was NOT an easy way of life and being for her to come to!!
This hasn't been one of my best days either. There's a saying that old age isn't for sissies ... well, neither is MC!! That's for sure!! I think it's important to give yourself credit when you make ANY forward progress in any part of your life with MC. To me, people who can do now what used to be the easiest simplest things for me, seem like superheroes!! I know I've got a long ways to go; just ordered the EnteroLabs, in fact, as I really want to fine tune my eating. From the wonderful responses from this group, I've still got a lot of symptoms of quite a bit of inflammation, and just going off of the results from my blood work for food allergies (and even though I've eliminated 99% of gluten, dairy, soy and 100% of eggs from my diet) hasn't been enough.
My weight went way down in initial months of MC, before and during diagnosis time; now, since taking digestive enzymes (and perhaps being on the Budesonide 8 weeks, although I've been off for 5), it's higher than it was before. What a roller coaster ride!! I believe edema is a factor in this.
Anyway, just wishing you well, sending some empathy and compassion, and letting you know that so many on this forum, including me, are with you!! Everyone here says things do get better as we stop struggling, learn ways to relax while we learn how to still love our bodies, rather than fight them, and learn what it is they need to heal. That takes time for sure, money many of us don't have, and is definitely, as I said earlier, "not for sissies". I don't think a "sissy" would get MC, actually ... we're both relative newbies, and I agree wholeheartedly with everything that's been said and shared here ... malabsorption, histamine, leaky gut ... my goodness, there's so much our bodies are trying to deal with. If others don't understand, we have to let that go, and always know we can come here for the support and wisdom we need.
Hugs,
~ Holly
This hasn't been one of my best days either. There's a saying that old age isn't for sissies ... well, neither is MC!! That's for sure!! I think it's important to give yourself credit when you make ANY forward progress in any part of your life with MC. To me, people who can do now what used to be the easiest simplest things for me, seem like superheroes!! I know I've got a long ways to go; just ordered the EnteroLabs, in fact, as I really want to fine tune my eating. From the wonderful responses from this group, I've still got a lot of symptoms of quite a bit of inflammation, and just going off of the results from my blood work for food allergies (and even though I've eliminated 99% of gluten, dairy, soy and 100% of eggs from my diet) hasn't been enough.
My weight went way down in initial months of MC, before and during diagnosis time; now, since taking digestive enzymes (and perhaps being on the Budesonide 8 weeks, although I've been off for 5), it's higher than it was before. What a roller coaster ride!! I believe edema is a factor in this.
Anyway, just wishing you well, sending some empathy and compassion, and letting you know that so many on this forum, including me, are with you!! Everyone here says things do get better as we stop struggling, learn ways to relax while we learn how to still love our bodies, rather than fight them, and learn what it is they need to heal. That takes time for sure, money many of us don't have, and is definitely, as I said earlier, "not for sissies". I don't think a "sissy" would get MC, actually ... we're both relative newbies, and I agree wholeheartedly with everything that's been said and shared here ... malabsorption, histamine, leaky gut ... my goodness, there's so much our bodies are trying to deal with. If others don't understand, we have to let that go, and always know we can come here for the support and wisdom we need.
Hugs,
~ Holly
2015 Hashimoto's, MTHFR
2016 LMC, Malabsorption
2017 Lymphocytic Dermatologic Vasculitis
"I strive to live in my heart, not in my head!"
2016 LMC, Malabsorption
2017 Lymphocytic Dermatologic Vasculitis
"I strive to live in my heart, not in my head!"