Im 23 and have had symptoms but just overlooked them for awhile. Went to G.I and did the testing and got the diagnosis. as someone very into fitness and being a aspiring bodybuilder, it has been devastating. The ability to maintain weight has been so tough, weight literally fluctuates so much regardless of the lymphocytic colitis. I was 230, now im barely 220 almost two months later. Being into bodybuilding, my diet is regimented but is 3500-4000 cals to maintain weight but im now coming to realize its time to make changes with diet. Right now im at 110 fat, 230 protein and 390 carbs. Usually my diet is chicken, ground turkey, eggs, brown rice, broccoli, asparagus, sweet potato, cinnamon bread, rice cake, and for my shake just whey protein, almond milk, greek yogurt, strawberries, and a banana.
My GI recommended some medication but i really want to find away to not use medication. Would rather see if theres anything i can do with my diet or supplementation. The only supplements i take are a multi vitamin, fiber, fish oil and creatine. Going to see a nutritionist soon. Im honestly at the point where it is really taking a toll on me not just physically but emotionally. I work so hard on my body through diet and training and have so much drive and motivation but then i have flare up drop weight and dont eat bc of it. I never let anything get in the way of any of my dreams or goals but when something like this happens to you...it gets me upset to the point of tears bc i cant control it...just very frustrated. Not sure if anyone has ideas.
Newly diagnosed. 23 aspiring body builder. Needs advice
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thomaswalker21
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2020 4:19 am
- Location: 06357
Hello Thomas,
Welcome to the group. I hear you. This disease is not only frustrating, but it's life-changing. But it can be controlled, and it can be done by making diet changes alone (no medications). Assuming that you're avoiding all gluten, you may be reacting to the chicken eggs, the Greek yogurt, and the whey protein. Also, we can't tolerate any significant amount of fiber unless we're in remission. Assuming that you're not sensitive to rice, you need to switch to white rice — brown rice contains too much fiber for us. After we've been in remission for a while, most of us can tolerate brown rice again.
When our intestines are inflamed, we are unable to produce normal amounts of the enzymes needed to digest carbs. Therefore, most of us can only tolerate relatively small servings of carbs while we're still reacting. We do better if we eat smaller meals, more frequently, so that we don't run out of enzymes before we get the food digested.
This will definitely be a setback for your bodybuilding goals. But if you are diligent with your diet, the good news is that young people heal much faster than older people, and once you get the disease into remission, then you can proceed to pack on the pounds again (as long as you avoid the foods that cause your immune system to produce antibodies against them). IOW, once you perfect the diet you need so that you stop reacting, you will be able to get past this major bump in the road, and proceed to get your life back on track.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. I hear you. This disease is not only frustrating, but it's life-changing. But it can be controlled, and it can be done by making diet changes alone (no medications). Assuming that you're avoiding all gluten, you may be reacting to the chicken eggs, the Greek yogurt, and the whey protein. Also, we can't tolerate any significant amount of fiber unless we're in remission. Assuming that you're not sensitive to rice, you need to switch to white rice — brown rice contains too much fiber for us. After we've been in remission for a while, most of us can tolerate brown rice again.
When our intestines are inflamed, we are unable to produce normal amounts of the enzymes needed to digest carbs. Therefore, most of us can only tolerate relatively small servings of carbs while we're still reacting. We do better if we eat smaller meals, more frequently, so that we don't run out of enzymes before we get the food digested.
This will definitely be a setback for your bodybuilding goals. But if you are diligent with your diet, the good news is that young people heal much faster than older people, and once you get the disease into remission, then you can proceed to pack on the pounds again (as long as you avoid the foods that cause your immune system to produce antibodies against them). IOW, once you perfect the diet you need so that you stop reacting, you will be able to get past this major bump in the road, and proceed to get your life back on track.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Hi Thomas,
Don't fret!
It appears you may be able to eat quite a few of the things you have been, it's just a matter of removing anything Gluten (breads, cakes), Dairy (whey) and possibly the Egg. This is a beginning suggestion because if you are reacting to Egg, then Chicken may not be helping you at this point either. Switching to just lots of Turkey, lamb, and any protein that is wild is advisable.
The next set of foods that I see in your list that may need to be dialed back on would be fruit but that depends on how your body reacts to the removal of the above items. Also check any vitamins to make sure they are gluten, dairy, soy, egg free.
If you have the financial resources to get the Enterolab tests A1 + C1 I would do that and directly pinpoint what is reacting in your gut. (this is a test you can order direct from Enterolab - insurance does not normally cover this test but you are welcome to check to see if your Dr will prescribe it). At the time I did it my cost was around $539, I wish I had done that one test and not all the unnecessary food tests etc as they were a waste of time.
One last thought would be...how is your Vitamin D and Magnesium intake? There is much to learn in this area especially for healing purposes. If you have not done so I recommend getting Tex's book which you can click on in the upper right of this site and absorb as much information as you can. This will get you set up and on your way to healing so you can resume what you love
Keep the questions coming, you'll turn the corner on this sooner than you realize!
Cheers
Erica
Don't fret!
It appears you may be able to eat quite a few of the things you have been, it's just a matter of removing anything Gluten (breads, cakes), Dairy (whey) and possibly the Egg. This is a beginning suggestion because if you are reacting to Egg, then Chicken may not be helping you at this point either. Switching to just lots of Turkey, lamb, and any protein that is wild is advisable.
The next set of foods that I see in your list that may need to be dialed back on would be fruit but that depends on how your body reacts to the removal of the above items. Also check any vitamins to make sure they are gluten, dairy, soy, egg free.
If you have the financial resources to get the Enterolab tests A1 + C1 I would do that and directly pinpoint what is reacting in your gut. (this is a test you can order direct from Enterolab - insurance does not normally cover this test but you are welcome to check to see if your Dr will prescribe it). At the time I did it my cost was around $539, I wish I had done that one test and not all the unnecessary food tests etc as they were a waste of time.
One last thought would be...how is your Vitamin D and Magnesium intake? There is much to learn in this area especially for healing purposes. If you have not done so I recommend getting Tex's book which you can click on in the upper right of this site and absorb as much information as you can. This will get you set up and on your way to healing so you can resume what you love
Keep the questions coming, you'll turn the corner on this sooner than you realize!
Cheers
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Hi Thomas,
You are young which means you heal faster. Many people can get into remission without meds.
Have you bought Tex's book? Link is in upper right hand corner. It is highly recommended.
Dairy is problematic for us thus the need to delete the whey protein and greek yogurt. Strawberries have those microscopic seeds that make it tough for us to digest even when blendered.
You are young which means you heal faster. Many people can get into remission without meds.
Have you bought Tex's book? Link is in upper right hand corner. It is highly recommended.
Re: your diet--switch brown rice to white rice (brown has to much fiber for us), if you want to keep the broccoli and asparagus then overcook them until they are very mushy, safer veggies might be green beans, carrots and squash but overcook them until they are mushy, delete the cinnamon bread if it contains gluten, instead of the cinnamon bread have rice, sweet potato or white potato, for your shake stick with almond milk and a banana, delete the whey protein, greek yogurt and strawberries.Usually my diet is chicken, ground turkey, eggs, brown rice, broccoli, asparagus, sweet potato, cinnamon bread, rice cake, and for my shake just whey protein, almond milk, greek yogurt, strawberries, and a banana.
My GI recommended some medication but i really want to find away to not use medication. Would rather see if theres anything i can do with my diet or supplementation. The only supplements i take are a multi vitamin, fiber, fish oil and creatine.
Dairy is problematic for us thus the need to delete the whey protein and greek yogurt. Strawberries have those microscopic seeds that make it tough for us to digest even when blendered.
Thomas,
In lieu of the protein powder eat more real animal protein. The problem with the formulate protein powders for us is that they have a lot of ingredients. We do better eating real food that does not have an ingredient list.
Once you are in remission you can test and can probably add a protein powder back in but if you are having WD then
real animal protein is safer and will help you heal faster.
I think we are also supposed to eliminate fiber supplements. Maybe someone else can clarify.
Eat smaller meals all day even if you are not hungry to keep up calorie count.
Also, you might be interested in Robb Wolf's story. He is one of the paleo gurus. He had ulcerative colitis. The docs had him scheduled for major bowel surgery due to the UC. He was in his 20's and a heavy lifter for his age bracket. I think he had awards for his class of lifting in Washington State. Anyways, he changed his diet to paleo and his UC went into remission. No drugs and no surgery needed. Google him.
In lieu of the protein powder eat more real animal protein. The problem with the formulate protein powders for us is that they have a lot of ingredients. We do better eating real food that does not have an ingredient list.
Once you are in remission you can test and can probably add a protein powder back in but if you are having WD then
real animal protein is safer and will help you heal faster.
I think we are also supposed to eliminate fiber supplements. Maybe someone else can clarify.
Eat smaller meals all day even if you are not hungry to keep up calorie count.
Also, you might be interested in Robb Wolf's story. He is one of the paleo gurus. He had ulcerative colitis. The docs had him scheduled for major bowel surgery due to the UC. He was in his 20's and a heavy lifter for his age bracket. I think he had awards for his class of lifting in Washington State. Anyways, he changed his diet to paleo and his UC went into remission. No drugs and no surgery needed. Google him.
Here is our success story threads.
https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=71
I've read every one of them at some point.
https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=71
I've read every one of them at some point.
