Hello all CLL friends, Healthy Happy Safe New Year to all and your respective families.
I was diagnosed with CLL 5 years ago. I also have a small chance of having a few mantle cells as well. In any event, I am monitored and have been on "wait & watch" ! I have lost about 15 pounds over the last 5 years. My Doctor is not concerned, as my white cell count is 52,000, yet all other values good. What healthy diet can I eat to help me regain some weight. I feel I have also lost some muscle mass. Any suggestions. Cheers & Regards to all.
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CouldBworse
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I lost weight throughout my ten year watch and wait period. That stopped with (FCR) treatment. I imagine the more modern treatments would have the same effect. It is worth noting that muscle loss happens as we age anyway. The best way to reduce the effect is to exercise - e.g. weight training (although I find that gentle pushups against a table works wonders for my upper arm muscles! So I guess any weight working will do - no need to knock yourself out with heavy weights). Diets are always a bit dodgy - best to eat a variety of different foods, avoiding the 'junk' foods where you can.
To gain weight I might try chicken and sausage gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp etoufee, crab bisque, boudin, redfish court bouillon, fried seafood platters with beignets and king cake with every meal.
Oh wait, sorry, you wanted healthy options😎.
It’s just a matter of taking in more calories than you burn. Proteins are a good start by eating more eggs and meat. Starches like potatoes and rice add weight. Adding more milk and cheese to your diet can help.
Healthy cereals are good for calories. Avocados have healthy oils. I think a key is gradually adding these type foods and trying to limit sugars an processed foods as an option. Incorporating exercise is important.
Most people struggle to keep weight off, so it’s hard to imagine what it’s like trying to keep weight on. I lost a lot of weight this past year the hard way, I had a stomach infection that robbed my appetite.
Once the infection resolved, I picked the weight back on, too fast, over the holidays. Now I’m sick with Covid and losing weight again. Not the best way to lose weight, for sure.
To prevent loss of muscle mass you need to exercise with weights. This strengthens your bones too. At the same time consume adequate animal based proteins. At least fish and fowl if you are afraid of red meat which you should not be. Lots of good fats too. By which I mean real butter , coconut fat and cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. And pork lard too. Crispy pork belly anyone? 🙂 Sign me up please! Get your carbs in the form of vegetables. If that's not enough then starchy tubers too. Weight gain for weight gains sake is not a good idea unless you are underweight. It is better to be wiry muscular than powerlifter strong. Your body is either in an anabolic state or a catabolic state. Anabolic means your muscles grow and so does everything else grow. Even stuff you don't want to grow. Catabolic means nothing grows much. In which case muscles don't grow much either. But who needs big muscles. They have to be strong and functional not big. Think Clint Eastwood in Bridges of Madison.
Right on the money! I eat nothing but red meat. I've gained a few pounds, but have become much leaner and ripped eating this way. The extra weight is all muscle. What little flab I had is gone. I work out with dumbells daily for about 30 minutes.
First to keep your musculature you must use the muscles and feed them. Lift heavy things every day. Whatever that is for you. Lift your body, dumbbells, a tire or a can of beans. You also must be taking in enough food calories and it must contain protein. Make sure you are not inappropriately avoiding healthy fats and protein foods. Add protein to every meal. Add healthy fats to maintain a healthy amount of calories. It's important to eat a variety of real food and reduce anything that does not offer nutrients.
Barbeque and beer seem to work for me but in all seriousness, I’d look into kettlebells. They are cheap, can be kept in a closet at home, and will build and maintain muscle like nobody’s business.
Do 75 kettlebell swings 2-3 times a week and some decent daily yoga/flexibility and you will notice a big difference. There are some nice variable weight kettlebells that let you ramp up and are good starter equipment.
Two caveats:
1) Proper form is important. Be very precise in learning, or talk to a trainer.
2) This may be contraindicated if you have substantial spleen swelling.
I’m struggling to put weight on for 10 years, continually suffering from nausea . I’m on Venetoclax treatment for 24 months and I’m half way through. When I’m feeling better, trying to live healthy life- walks, healthy food, yoga. Before Christmas my oncologist referred me to Nutritionist, she prescribed me Aymes nutritionally balanced Shake Powder, which was working, but my oncologist realized my calcium in the blood becomes a problem. I stopped taking sachets for some time, still think it works for me.
You have that right, could be worse. Cancers produce enzymes which tend to kill appetite. Red meat is best source of protein and iron. All your cells are made of protein which includes your muscles. Both age, nonuse and lack of protein can cause robbing of protein from muscles to produce other new cells like white and red cells. My weight increased with exercise and CLL treatments. I have gained 10 pounds since I started V&O.
Adding high calories smoothies (~1000 cal) to your diet is an easy, healthy and nutritious way to gain weight.
You can use the following to make smoothies:
Oats,
Bananas,
Avocado,
NutButters, such as peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. or Nuts, like walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, etc.
Full-fat milk instead of low-fat versions or Full-fat yogurt (until your weight begins to rise then switch to low-fat versions),
Seeds such as chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds etc.
Dried Fruit, such as dates, figs, raisins, and apricots.
There are many healthy high calories smoothies recipes for weight gain online. Homemade smoothies are much better option then store bought nutritional drinks and shakes.
Also, eating more of starchy food like potatoes, bread, pasta and rice for carbs and beans, eggs, pulses, meat and fish for protein can boost your calorie intake and help you gain weight.
I highly recommend tracking your calorie intake. I used MyNetDiary app, free to download. It is a great app with a calorie counter, a barcode scanner, food log, and recipes.
All of this helped my underweight teen daughter gain weight.
I have to work to keep the weight on. I love peanut butter (no salt or sugar added). When I was working I used to have a nice peanut butter or almond butter with home made jam sandwich on whole wheat seed bread for lunch each day and that helped me a lot. I eat a lot of nuts and seeds. Hemp seed is easy to add to lots of foods and it doesn't seem to have much flavor, high in protein and healthy fats. I don't eat animal products. I try to eat about 5 small meals a day. I'm a small person though so I don't need to eat as much as some people might. Wishing you well!
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but in all seriousness, I’d look into kettlebells. They are cheap, can be kept in a closet at home, and will build and maintain muscle like nobody’s business. 
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