Weight loss

[michaela13]

I have lost 30 pounds in 4 years and can't gain weight. I first had breast cancer, chemo, radiation, and Parkinson's. I need to gain weight. I have a good appetite, but was a light eater to begin with and skinny, but not underweight. Someone please help. And nutritionists cost more than $100 a session not covered by insurance.

[Pete-1]

Try learning to eat fast such that you consume much more food than your body / mind, think they need. Normally the I am full message arrives at the brain 20 minutes after you are really full. So in that 20 minutes you can really stuff yourself. You will of course feel uncomfortably full later but so what. Gradually your stomach will get bigger with more capacity for those meals that are really more than is normally needed and if you feed yourself with large helpings of carbohydrates then all the better.

[quirkyme]

my husband lost about that much and we were scared he'd fade away but now he's exercising, doing PT, engaged, has new med regimen, etc. I really think it was a stage of his PD. On the other hand a person's stomach can shrink and all they can eat is a little.

Did you have nausea with your breast cancer treatment? do you get nausea now? or might that be part of the problem, lingering attitudes about eating? Talk to your doctor. There are appetite stimulants that are prescribed that usually work.

Finally, how can you relax around mealtimes? Do you have tasty food? Do you eat things you crave? Is there pleasure involved? Can you make it a ritual like fine dining, with a small glass of wine and a nice place setting and fresh, appetizing, colorful fruits and veggies? Can you make eating a reward or a treat?

My husbands PCP told him, 'you can eat whatever you want' which was wonderful (!!!) permission giving on his part. My husband had been chunky as a child and as a teen so he internalized that less weight was a good thing. He was able to see the wisdom in what the Dr. was saying. Plus I added more spices and taste to his food, since I think the PD (and/or depression) can reduce a person's appetite. Please think what might work for you...and give it a try.

[michaela13 in reply to quirkyme]

I have an appetite, but lately no food really is appetizing except for those little chobani yogurts. I mean i get hungry and snack all the time but never gain weight. Think i need a supplement but they're so full of sugar.

[Pete-1 in reply to michaela13]

micheala13

Supplements full of sugar. PERFECT. That's what is needed here, sugar, and loads of the stuff and bread and pasta and food with not much fat so that it is not very satisfying so you eat more of it in order to get satisfied.

Come on stuff yourself with meals, big meals, stretch that stomach. It's no good snacking except snacking when you are already full and you want to continue the pleasure of eating just because you want to. Chobani yoghurts, little. Thery're no good then are they? Buy those bigger containers of yoghurt, mug sized. Loads of sugar, great, Eat one full one every day.

Fruit, .... FRUIT, don't touch it. Nasty stuff, gives you the squits does that, keep well away. Exercise, aaaaaaarrrrrrg, no , no keep piling on the calories. You've worked hard to accumulate them don't what ever you do, do anything to diminish your little nest egg of calories.

Vegetables, good grief, they're nearly as bad as fruit. The only vegetable with merit here is the potato. Tons of 'em and bread and gravy and yorkshire puddings - get em all down yer neck. Fast as you can - got to make that stomach bigger. Remember that 20 minutes delay.

Alcohol, quit a bit but don't go mad just enough to give you an appetite again, You had a big tea but don't miss this opportunity to have some more grub. At least 2 sandwiches (4 slices) with bucket loads of cheese. Or a nice big juicy Donner Kebab, not forgetting the accompanying bag of chips (fries if you are in the USA.). Come on, you've been to the pub had two or three drinks and now your digestive system is screaming out for more food. Don't disappoint- you have a duty here.

You've got to work at this and don't plan your extra curricular eating just take any and every opportunity to gain some more calories. Yum yum. and you have to dispense with the old discipline and reform your ideas applying your discipline with this new requirement instead.

LOL Although I have been a little flippant here there is, I believe some merit in most of the ideas suggested herein. But you have to keep at it even if you know that you will be uncomfortably full.

Anyway, happy eating and good luck.

[michaela13 in reply to Pete-1]

Thanks Pete. I became deathly afraid of sugar after the cancer as I had a very aggressive one. As you may know sugar fuels cancer. So I stayed away for quite a while. My fear has left me though so now I'm not afraid to eat most things.

[Pete-1 in reply to michaela13]

Yes sugar seems to be the dietry equivalent of tobacco or asbestos on the lungs.

I am sorry that you have these concerns regarding your diet. I think as with most things what is really needed is a happy medium.

Now the body's immune system is rather susceptible to an unhappy state of mind and the worst thing is to worry. I'm not surprised that with what you have recently been struggling with that you have a legacy as you described.

This is not unlike those who have a heart attack and afterwards find themselves constantly fearful of a recurrence and that constant nagging fear results in that most feared thing, a recurrent heart attack .

But I believe that the worst thing is worrying about you diet because the very worst thing is worry. Try to relax a little. Have you ever heard of the 80 / 20 rule. If 80% of the time you eat at least moderately well then for the remaining 20% you can eat as much crap as you want and should feel no concern about that.

Just relax and know that being relaxed is one of the best things that you can do for your health.

[michaela13 in reply to Pete-1]

Sounds good Pete! I'm more relaxed now than ever in my life after retiring from teaching.

[Pete-1 in reply to michaela13]

I should imagine that is about as big a contrast as its possible to get.

My eldest daughter is about to start year 2 of Primary school training.

[quirkyme]

there are diets to help you gain weight

My husband started with frappes loaded with real ice cream

from the stand where he went as a kid. Good memories.

I''m not an expert on diet. Maybe others can help.

what country are you from?

[michaela13 in reply to quirkyme]

US

[LauraL]

I know that no two Parkinson's patients symptoms are the same so it is hard for me to relate to weight loss. I have gained approximately 50 lbs. since I was diagnosed. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and treated with radioactive iodine when the cause of the tremor in my right hand was being investigated. Because the weight gain has been slow but steady, I have had a hard time convincing my doctors that I do not eat enough to be gaining weight. Wouldn't it be great if I could box you up some of my excess and solve both of our problems.