I’ve been off line pretty much since Christmas as I’ve either been looking after my 88 yr old Dad in the U.K. (with no broadband) or been at home in France catching up with work and life! Now we’ve sorted out live in care (and broadband) for my Dad so things have finally calmed down.
I am not the mentally strongest of people and ate loads of junk while my Dad was in hospital (3 times in 2 months) as I wasn’t drinking and needed something. Also I was alone. Let’s just say my diet was more fatty than veggie. I am now paying the price as the weight gain I have post transplant has become problematic and My specialist has rapped me over the knuckles and told me to lose 12kg ( slowly but surely). Any of my fellow transplantees had similar reprimands? As I have been away I haven’t been going to the gym 🙊🙊
Isabelle xx
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Isabelle2
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Hi Isabelle2. I haven't exactly been rapped over the knuckles over my weight but they did tell me at clinic that I'd put weight on and to take care. so I decided to lose some weight and get down to 13 stone (I'm 5' 11"). Medical charts would probably say I should be below 13 stone for my height but I think I would be comfortable at 13 stone. I've just got 4 lb more to lose now. I've had some problems that have made exercising very difficult so I've just been eating healthily but with smaller meals and losing it slowly. I am nearly 7 months post transplant. Regards Alf
You are certainly right there,!! My hubby can eat anything but he does cut down not cos of weight but he said I don't know what everything is doing to my heart etc. Take care Lynne
Hi yes it is difficult if you like your food as I do I'm 5 11 and 13 stone seven but I have a fairly physical job I'm a tree surgeon transplanted nearly two years ago it' the risk of diabetes that'our problem but dont to too hard on yourself you'e been through a lot
Hi Treeclimber. I had great news very recently ,because of my healthy eating over the last few years of illness and through transplant, I have now, after 20 years of being diabetic been told that I am In remission.
When I first gave up alcohol the pounds fell off me. But since my arthritis became very painful, and after my hip replacement op, I was pretty immobile for some months. So the weight piled on! I'm now on the 5:2 diet - if you haven't heard of this, you eat normally (but not excessively!) for 5 days, then consume only 500 cals (600 if you're male) on the other 2. The weight comes off slowly but surely. If you spread your diet days out across the week you know you're only going to have to deprive yourself until tomorrow. It's a great diet for foodies, obviously, but I know it won't work for everyone.
Hiya isabelle I got the same telling off last September and they done a scan and said I had fatty liver again 🤔
Anyway I was enjoying my food because I hadn't eaten for years lol
I have made small but they happened to be big changes and I am doing slowly I have lost 9kg I have been stagnant last 2 months but I have just joined the gym last week so fingers crossed I will lose some more
Don't beat yourself up over it we are all guilty of getting carried away I am positive you will make changes and lose it x
Hi. I haven't had a transplant but, going on what I've learnt here, have compensated liver disease. Weight gain is beginning to get me down a bit. It's quite hard when your on your own. I tend not to cook and there's no one to encourage or nag lol. At one point I was trying to gain a bit and now its like hhmmm, a bit too much. I have a friend who was on the 5:2 diet and it worked well for them so maybe it's worth a go. I'm pleased you've got your dad settled and sorted. That should help things all round. Best wishes.
I adopted a low fat whole food plant based diet after gaining a lot of weight post transplant. The results were fantastic! I’m 6’2’’ and now weigh 13st 2lb. I’m diabetic but have gone from around 70 units of insulin down to Metformin tablets and finally to no diabetes meds at all!
I had high blood pressure post op(many people do) but now it’s normal and once again, no meds.
Give it a go, I think you’ll be surprised at how great you feel - your energy levels will probably go through the roof! Plus you can eat a lot of food because generally speaking, whole plant foods have lower calorie density. That isn’t true of nuts and nut butters but I still enjoy them too.
I eat loads of fruit, loads of grains(pasta, bread, oatmeal breakfast cereals etc), soups, veggies, chickpeas beans and lentils. I’m not too keen on green veggies but I eat quite a bit of salad and put kale, spinach and broccoli in smoothies with bananas pineapple and fruit juice. My favourite smoothie for nutrition is as follows, it’s a great meal to start the day...
Tenderstem broccoli, baby leaf spinach, avocado, soya beans, fresh ginger, mango, pineapple, banana and ground flax seed. All this blended up with apple and mango juice.
This smoothie has lots of protein and carbohydrates, some healthy fats, massive amounts of fibre, essential omega 3s and an enormous range of phyto nutrients.
My diet has been an incredibly important part of my physical and mental recovery from illness and surgery. Back in October on my two year transplant anniversary I set out to do a hundred mile walk over four days in honour of my donor. I injured my knee on the first day walking on sand dunes but I still managed 90 miles in four days. I believe that nutrition played a major part in making it possible.
Another aspect that I have come to appreciate is the fact that my diet no longer involves the taking of life to create the food. Having come so close to losing my life I realise how precious it is. I wanted to keep living and I’m pretty sure animals feel the same!!!
If you fancy giving this way of eating a try and want some recipes or any other information message me at paulwebb303@gmail.com
Keep up the positivity Isabelle. Youll get where you wanna be soon enough. You've had alot on your plate no doubt. It will be nice to see you get a little time for you to worry about you. 😊
This is very interesting and I think a lot of people could benefit from this diet. I wonder if you would mind me using this email at some point possibly, as I might find it useful. Totally understand if not, since it was offered to another member.
It was mentioned to my hubby by a locum gp who hadn't checked his notes. His body was effectively starved for 3 years due to the illness & his body using his muscle for energy
Hubby eats healthy & does to the gym & looks good, his issue as his specialists have said is that when you have had a prolonged period of effectively being starved then your body will keep hold of what it can in case you are ill again like before. Mind you his middle bulge tends to move, some days it's high up some days it's low down & some days it's not there at all. What we didn't know is that the lining of the stomach gets thin due to your insides being poked about with & it can take up to a year to go back to normal. We are just under 2 months away from his first liverversary, just hoping there isn't nay fluid in there as well
I’m just 3 months away from my second. I found my first liverversay felt strange. I was a real mix of emotions. Happiness to be alive, sadness for my donor’s family and everything inbetween.
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