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[lagirl1966]

Hello. My name is Trish and I just Joined. I am to the point where I am desperate. In 2005 I became seriously ill with 3 different digestive disorders. I started gaining weight and didn't know why. I have finally figured out that my medications have caused this. I am in pain, struggle to even take a bath. My knees hurt, my back hurts, and I cant stand for longer than 10 minutes at a time. And my stomach is huge. I have NEVER been this big in my life. I used to exercise 6 days a week before I got sick. I need to get this off if I am going to be around for my son. I don't want to get diabetes. Or heart problems. I am 42 years old. My question is, if I exercise will that get the weight off if I am still on these medications? I have checked and there is any other meds I can take for my conditions. I am discusted by how I look. Please someone give me some advice!!!
Trish

[swanso5]

this is probably out of out league...you masy ned to see a dietician and have your doctor confer with them about food and medications

you say you can't stand for 10mins so i'm not sure how much exercise you can do and be comfortable either

above else get your eating in order...you need at least 5 meals a day like this:

1 - fruit, solid protein
2 - same
3 - solid protein, veg, salad
4 - same
5 - same

lots and lots and lots of water cutting out all soft drink alcohol caffeine and any food thatis "made"

[lagirl1966]

swanso5,
Thankyou for the advice. Unfortunately I can not eat any vegetables or fruits. I am fruitose intollorant and I have gastroparesis (a severe condition where my stomach does not empty right. veggies are off limits because they cannot digest) so it is not a good situation. However, I am able to do at least 5 minutes of aerobics and I can do toning for a few minutes to. If I start out slow do you think I can take it off? I really miss eating salads so much. I used to eat them almost everyday before I got this. I cant hardly eat much at all. I only eat two meals a day and that consists of half of a sandwich and a lite pudding cup, and then for supper I have pasta (palm size) or fish or something. That is all I eat. My stomach cant hold much.
Thanks
Trish

[Boss Man]

I've heard of Gastroparesis to some exent. Fructose intolerance, and Gastroparesis together is a pretty hard combination.

You're fortunate when you say you don't want Diabetes, as Gastroparesis is often linked to Diabetes, but also medications, so the fact you got the latter cause, I would think makes your situation a little easier.

There are ways you can get around some of this though.

You obviously need foods then, that have a limited macronutrient profile so to speak, so they can break down faster, I.E. one Macronutrient, or not much of a second more often than not.

Chicken is a good one as it's vitrually Carb and virtually Fat free.

Also Egg Whites, which are a good Protein source of the same nature.

As for Carbs, surely you can have things like Tomatos and Peppers, both Fruits, both shouldn't contain Fructose.

Tomatos, also don't need seperating to digest properly, they work quite well with Salad type foods and inded Meats.

Also try some of the Pro-biotic yoghurts. Try searching out the small ones in a bottle that you drink, not the thick ones you eat with a spoon. The Yoghurts will help with digestive Flora, and also the extra Calcium is good, as the Danes proved, high Calcium diets help excrete more Fat.

The thinner ones should hopefully break down a bit quicker. You might possibly get a little less Protein and Carb content, than thicker ones, but if they're low fat all the better.

Also I would look into something like Coconut Oil for your food. The Fats convert into energy, which seeing as you have a Carb issue might be something to consider. Being a semi-liquid, breakdown should be quicker than most spreadable fats, and for energy requirement, it would be the best bet, as other oils like Oilve Oil, Sesame Oil etc etc, don't work that way after breaking down.

It will still take about the same time in the Intestines to absorb, as other Fats, but that's the only similarity really. Good healthy Fat converting to energy.

I would surmise Lettuce leaves would be okay, as they're only 1 calorie per leaf, but at least you get some Vitamin E, amongst other things.

Also here's a little trick that might work. If you are someone that eats random mouthfuls of food, don't do that, eat a meal like it's a 3 course dinner.

So you eat say all the Protein source first, then the Carb source second, as then the different foods shouldn't mix up in the stomach too much, making it easier, (in theory), for the enzymes to work more efficiently.

I do that, been doing it all my life, just never got out of the habit.

You might also want to consider staggering your meal content. So give your Protein about 15-20 minutes first, so the Stomach, Pancreas and Duodenum tract, have chance to register what's there, and produce adequate amounts of enzymes, and enzyme stimulators, then eat the Carbs afterwards, so the body doesn't start producing differing enzymes at the same time.

Possibly by the time the Stomach has registered the Carbs, the Proteases will already be secreted and working, hopefully allowing the Stomach, Pancreas and Duodenum, to secrete enzymes in a more managable way.

Also if you drink Tea and Coffee stop. Caffeien and Tannic Acid, interefere with things like Iron absorption, and Caffeine Vasoconstricts Bloodvessels, and if you do this, you increase Bloodflow, allowing better Oxygenation of Organs, and giving them more optimal ability to function.

Another trick is a glass of water with your food. Not only will you not add calories to the meal, but although you increase overall stomach contents, water is not as molecularly dense as food, so the overall molecular density of the stomach contents, should be reduced, hopefully making digestion a bit easier, and as Gastroparesis is linked to GERD, water should temporarily aid to reduce Stomach PH, and therefore GERD risk.

Also perhaps for energy sources consider something like Honey, as it's semi-liquid, so it's a good boost of energy, and a good way to help regulate Bloodsugar, just don't have too much, incase some Honey Sugar converts to Fat in the Liver.

This might work before exercise, to give you energy to burn.

You might also benefit from taking a Protein Powder. I would in your case if possible, opt for a Whey Isolate, to cut down on the Casein content, and aid digestion, as the less Casein the better. It will breakdown fast because of the water content.

Go Carb free obviously, and if possible try to find one with with Vits and Mins in it.

You don't need a truck load of Protein, as although RNI for women is 45g, (15g per 3 meals), I would say double that, as I think 45 is too low anyway, but as you're female and don't require much Protein anyway, don't go for the full 25-30g's per scoop. Those scoops are quite big so I'd have half, or as a test, get a Tspn, don't heap your serving keep it fairly level, and fill up your scoop with the Tspn, then you know how many Tspn's roughly equates to a scoop, then measure your doses with a Tspn, as trying to get 1/2 a scoop at once is hard, but level Tspn's should be easier to work out, once you know what you're dealing with.

Also a few other things to ask.

1. Can you tolerate things like Rice, Mushrooms, Whole-grain Cereals?

Obviously if you can, then Whole-grain with water would be suitable, not least for the reasons stated earlier, about possible water and food benefit.

2. Have you been told that something like a Digestive enzyme supplement, might help with the Gastroparesis?

[lagirl1966]

Boss Man,

WOW. That was alot to take in. I have never heard of alot of what you talked about. But I can check it out. I also have IBS on top of the other things, and depression, which has not helped my situation. I used to exercise everyday, 6 days aweek. Denise austin was my favorite and I did lose weight doing her exercises. I can not eat any type of lettuce as it does not digest well. I could get bzores which are masses of food buildup and that would be very serious. I will try eliminating carbs, I did that before years ago and had success with it. I can eat whole grain cereals like chex, which I like, and I can eat rice, but that is high in fat. Egg whites I think I can eat I havent tried eggs at all. however I hate mushrooms so they are out. I will do some research on the things you suggested.
Thankyou
Trish

[Boss Man]

Good about the Whole-grains.

As for Rice, perhaps experiment with something like Wild Rice or Brown, if you have't. You can also get Gluten free as well, which might help.

You'll be advised to stay away from Soy, for no other reason than they have Carbs, Proteins and Fats in them, so a lot of digestive activity may be required to break them down.

The Whole-grain and Rice will give you Complex Carbs, and you need them, otherwise, eliminating Carbs, could contribute to Diabetes.

Whole-grain is also an ecellent source of Iron and B Vits.

Another suggestion is you try something like Fibre Sure, or Benefibre, the ones that dissolve in Water. A good way to get Fibre, and help with Digestive transit and provide energy.

Not sure if you've considered this, as I know Veggies are difficult, but what about Jucing your Veggies with a Juicer. You will some some nurtition, but is that possible at all?

[vamp]

Boss man, the juicer sounds like a good way to go. Its the cellulose and fiber that make vegies difficult to digest and brake down, so by juicing you keep the water value and the basic nutrients without the extra. Although she will still have to watch for veggies that contain fructose.

Cheers

[swanso5]

get to the dietician asap

[Boss Man]

Well there shouldn't be much Fructose in any Veggies, as Fructose is a simple sugar, and many Veggies are highly fiberous.

Fructose is also fast digesting, so any Veggies that had a bit of simple Sugar shouldn't be much of a worry, as the content would be very minimla I would have thought.

[vamp]

"fruitose intollorant" -- sorry mistook this for fructose, read it too fast.

cheers

[lagirl1966]

Thankyou everyone for the advice. Unfortunately I don't have a juicer, and cant afford to buy one. I am only living on child support because I can't work from all my disabilities. I get severe daily abdominal bloating. Which brings me to my next question. If I do ab exercises will it do any good with all the bloating I have? The bloating is from the IBS and I seriously look 7 months pregnant! It does go down if I do certain exercises though. If you have an answer to this, it would really help. I cant eat soy at all. Gives me diarreah. Also, I can't afford to buy any fiber supplements other wise I would have tried them long ago. I am waiting to hear from disability as I have applied. But it is a long process. When I am approved I hope it will allow me to live a little better. Financially. I am going to see my GI doctor next month as they have told they a medication for me to try for the IBS. I hope it will take all of this away, then I will be able to exercise more, and hopefully take this weight off. I did find out that all of my medications have caused my weight gain. But I have to stay on them unfortunately.
Thanks again for all your advice.
Trish

[swanso5]

emasil john berardi, the best nutritionist in the business, he may be able to help over the net

http://www.johnberardi.com/