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[esteloca]

Hi, does anyone here suffer from chronic illness and feel like they can't lose weight?

I weighed 150 pounds in 2018. Now I weigh 265. During the time I was gaining weight I was eating healthier than I have my entire life because I'd just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Pernicious Anemia along w chronic severe iron deficiency anemia I've suffered from most of my life and multiple other vitamin deficiencies... & I was looking forward to finally feeling better and being healthy.

I gained most of the hundred pounds in the 7months after diagnosis and my doctors told me it was a combination of my body absorbing everything after not being able to my whole life and not being able to exercise and my thyroid fluctuating bk and forth plus gluten free bread etc usually has more calories... So many possible reasons but I still can't believe how big I am.

I was even buying all organic fruits and veggies and filling up on them daily. I stopped eating meat other than maybe once every month or 2 and this went on for at least a year. Then I stopped trying so hard bc it was just disheartening to put all that energy into shopping for fruits and vegetables and filling up on them when why in the world do I look like I eat Big Macs and fries all day every day!???

Now in the last 4-6mos I've been eating garbage. I'm hungry all the time, I feel like crap, I'm even to the point where when I'm able to cook I keep eating past the point of being full bc for 1thing, I'm never full & another, it makes me feel better.

I'm smart enough to know that the feeling better is at least partly emotional and that's not good. I do have gastritis and for some reason my stomach feels better full than it does empty but still.

Idk what else to do but share here. I'm going to start buying fresh fruits and vegetables again and trying to eat healthy like I was but again, if I'm not feeling better or losing weight, it's going to be hard to stay motivated.

Most ppl don't think B12 makes you gain weight but one of my nurses thinks that's contributing my weight too. My B12 injections are weekly and sometimes every other day when symptoms are bad. That's the only other change that happened 2yrs ago.

I really can't for the life of me understand why I gained so much weight in the first place when as I said, I was eating so healthy and had good portion control too.

Well thanks for reading. Hope everyone's doing well.

I'm just tired of feeling and being like this.

[SofaJockey]

I've certainly been there esteloca . August 2019 I weighed around 280 pounds, today I'm around 185. I was eating garbage. I know how I got to 280 pounds. It went in through my face and I sat on the couch. I'm also an asthmatic (less so now) which I was treating as an excuse. Doctors told me I couldn't lose weight dosed up on steroids. After a 'rock bottom' moment, I swapped to protein and veggies (low carb, low sugar). I can't say it was a trivial process, but the most important step is to start. Reading your post sounds like a start to me. Many people on this forum have made the journey. The trick now is to find a nutrition method that works for your medical circumstances. Good luck with next steps.

[esteloca in reply to SofaJockey]

🤯🤯🤯 Wow SofaJockey!!! Thanks so much for your kind reply. That's incredible! I'm happy you were able to lose the weight you lost.

Oh and steroids are one I left out. Between the shots I get every 3 months to the IV steroids for autoimmune disease I have every now and then, that's one more thing to add to my list.

I will definitely remember that if you can do it, I can. ~ I hope! 😭🥰 (Said as I sit here ON THE COUCH, thinking 🤔 I'm hungry, what can I eat?)

I really hope I can join you on the other side.

Thanks again 💗

[SofaJockey in reply to esteloca]

If you are thinking ‘I’m hungry’ that might be the sugar addiction. Have you seen the LCHF forum on here. Overall calorie intake is important but I don’t believe it’s the whole answer. If you are hungry outside of mealtime I think that’s nutritionally solvable. I’m still on steroids. But have reduced from 15mg/day to only 1mg/day. Small steps. My own experience is only that. Good to get a range of perspectives and ideas.

[esteloca in reply to SofaJockey]

Hey, great point!! No but I'll check it out. I was into Mark Hyman's The Sugar Solution etc right after I was diagnosed and quit drinking cokes, sugar in my coffee etc for the year I was gaining weight & I didn't feel hungry all the time like I do now so that's definitely eye opening. Of course I know I need to quit sugar/cokes again but I hadn't put the two together (hunger/sugar addiction) you mentioned it.

Thank you so much 💕 huge help really!

I've got to do better. I'm trying to live.

[SofaJockey in reply to esteloca]

Your positivity is awesome. I was given a 5mg/100mg sugar target for sugar which has worked well for me these last months. It did rule our some foods, but I found (after some cold turkey) I was able to not eat/drink those things. I swapped sparkling water for the cokes (I find 'flat' water so dull) and fruit juices are also problematic due to natural sugars. Good luck.

[esteloca in reply to SofaJockey]

Thank you so much!! 🥰

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to esteloca]

Hi, this might explain the connection between sugar and feelings of hunger well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013...

Welcome to the forum and I hope you'll get involved; a weekly weigh in and the Daily Diary are a good place to start

[esteloca in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you!!! 😍

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to esteloca]

You're welcome This is a great place for sharing information and I hope it sheds some light on the sort of things you were referring to

[SofaJockey in reply to BridgeGirl]

I agree with Bridge, there are wonderful ideas shared on the forum. So long as you remember that posters aren't nutritional specialists (unless they say they are) so they are sharing what worked for them personally. There is not only one solution, so if something doesn't work for you, something else will. 😄

[Diane2]

Hello esteloca and welcome to this Forum!

We have other members on here who havd gluten free diet which I believe can help those with coeliac (it certainly helps my sister having gluten free foods) but you need to be guided by your medical specialists who know YOU- here it is peer to peer support and although members build up a lot of knowledge from their own conditions, do seek advice from your own GP.

There is also a separate Forum relevant to Coeliac run by HU, I'll try and find you a ink.

People adopt a mix of approaches on here which you will see as you explore this site. We strongly recommend new members make use of one of our Weekly Weigh In pages and the Daily Diary posts. You will find these via this link following which takes you to our Pinned Posts section. There you will find a Welcome message,general advice (eg: internet safety)and guide to our site plus links to a range of groups which we hope will interest you as well as the key Weigh In and Daily Diary pages.....

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

....it can take a bit to learn how to find one's way around so please read the material carefully and also note, don't use the HU App, it is much easier to use the website.

As explained above, we recommend that members join a Weekly Weigh-In, on the day of your choice, and also use the Daily Diary, where members share their meal plans and get useful feedback. They are found under Pinned Posts (go back to the link I gave you above)

A special feature of our Forum is the degree of support between members which you will experience (and add to yourself !) as you join in and chat with others.

Here are 2 other HealthUnlocked sites you might find useful..

This one is linked to Pernicious Anemia

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

And this to Coeliac

healthunlocked.com/glutenfr...

All the best on your weight-loss journey ! 😊

[esteloca in reply to Diane2]

Hi! Yes thank you so much!! I've been a Pernicious Anemia and Celiac member for a couple years now and adhd, anxiety and depression, thyroid and Idk what else lol but my main groups are the PA & CELIAC groups. They've been a life saver for me in so many ways. Honestly HU has helped me more than any other site. Especially back when I had no idea what was wrong with me and was desperate for help.

I will definitely check out everything here and try to keep up with anything that's recommended.

I can definitely understand the recommendation that I follow up with my gp and I do on a regular basis.

I'm at the doctor anywhere from 2-16 times a month and I always mention advice and any ideas I have etc.

There are some things they don't think of and I also feel the need for encouragement in the form of reading what works for others. Not necessarily even direct support.

Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to say hi and share the ins and outs etc.

I really appreciate it 😊

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to esteloca]

Just as an aside, doctors learn very little about nutrition during their training bbc.co.uk/news/health-43504125 I hope your GP is one of those who has recognised how important this is

[esteloca in reply to BridgeGirl]

Oh my gosh YES! Isn't it sad and infuriating that they don't know about nutrition?!

It took years of me being sick and almost dying before finding a nurse practitioner who is awesome. All my doctors are great now (finally) but she's more knowledgeable than them when it comes to what our bodies need as far as nutrients and their role in every aspect of our health. And the opposite end of that being sugar and processed poison we put in our bodies.

For years I was seeing specialists that couldn't figure out that the lack of b12 in my body is what was keeping me severely anemic despite dozens of iron infusions and blood transfusions.

Uh oh I'll stop there lol I tend to go on and on when I think about doctors who know nothing more than what they learned to pass exams.

Again thanks sorry for rambling

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to esteloca]

Ramble as much as you want - lots of us do

[Happybutterfly 7lbs]

Hello there. I understand how it feels from my childhood, early teens i have suffered with: hypermobility, various bones missing which is replaced with extra muscle, depression, anxiety and asthma and vitamin deficiances. So i feel you. Ive learnt recently that you are only meant to have a cup full of fruit a day because of all the natural sugars that are in them! So even though they are healthy they are only healthy to an extent, the other thing is you can eat all the veg you want in the day so maybe dont buy sugar and junk in the house if its not there you cant eat it and buy thing like raw carrots and other pieces of veg therefore if you get hungry your eating healthily.

If you look on my page you will see a post i have posted about one of my latest buys, they are portion control cups and these are really good at showing you what you are meant to eat and how much per meal (although there is a fruit one you should only use that once a day) they were only 7pound on amazon prime so they also come next day if you have prime video.

Also its not just about food but fluids it maybe that your body thinks its hungry but is mistaking it for thirst so before eating meals you should have a pint of water and when you get hungry again you should drink water and see if the hunger goes away.

Exercise is also key because whilst your eating healthy your body needs to tone and i get that you dont want to due to ache and fatigue but even in the darkest times its best even if its just doing a few squats or walking around the block.

You will start to feel better in no time. Stay positive, im always here if you want a chat feel free to message me anytime, anything is possible just a challenge to be overcome, youve got this!😊

[esteloca in reply to Happybutterfly]

Hello! That's something I have to keep in mind about fruit. Every time I think I know something I find out it was wrong. Between gluten free and remembering whether it's raw or cooked spinach that inhibits iron absorption and all the extra little things I thought I knew but didn't, it's exhausting.

Ohhh! I've seen the portion control things years ago and forgot about them!! I have prime so I'll definitely see if I can find those. I like the idea of seeing what I can have in a day and not going over it.

I have trouble chewing hard foods but I can manage cucumber, bell peppers and tomatoes. I even like plain romaine lettuce and I try to be conscious of any dressing when I have salad or stick to evoo and red wine vinegar.

Thank you so much for all your help. I agree about the exercise but I honestly can't. I used to turn random things into exercise. I'd get squats in while doing laundry etc. I'm disabled though. I have neurological/nerve damage that makes it hard to walk to the bathroom. I use a cane and a shower chair... When I do leg raises or even move my arms around or don't use shower chair etc it takes days sometimes weeks to recover.

I experience more weakness and all my symptoms are worse during that time. So much so that I have trouble dressing myself or anything.

I only mention that because I am open to suggestions and will try anything within reason.

I know that losing weight will help me tremendously but my neurologist says that the weakness is permanent and may even worsen.

Thank you again and sorry my reply is so long.

[esteloca]

Hi everybody! I just wanted to thank everyone here for welcoming me and for all the wonderful advice! 🥰💕🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 You guys have helped me tremendously in just one day and I've had a smile on my face all day.

I'm not someone who requires alot of attention so please ever feel like you have to respond, but I'll definitely be sticking around and I'm so glad to be a part of this group!!

Thanks again everybody.

[Hidden]

Nothing to add, except that sounds a stinker & you sound the most amazing person to be so positive after all you have been though. You are an inspiration.

I had B12 injections last year but I can’t reasonably blame my HughJarse of the time on them. That was all the cake... 🤣 I have iron transfusions now & they make me feel like Popeye, but I’m going a bit off topic now...

[esteloca in reply to Hidden]

Hahahaha 😂 THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! 😍🥰🤗

Aw man I wish mine made me feel like Popeye! I usually feel like I'm dying after. It took years to get my iron up to low normal. Infusions & b12 stimulated my bone marrow to make more hemoglobin too so I finally have enough but even now that everything's relatively normal my iron saturation is only 10-12%. 25-40% is normal... So Idk that just seems really weird to me.

Not sure why I felt the need to include that but who knows. Maybe someone will see it and know what's going on.

Anyway, thanks again!!!

[Hidden in reply to esteloca]

I know nothing about iron absorption i’m afraid. I have a very rare thing (wouldn’t you know it) where I twitch at night like I have epilepsy when my iron is too low. So I get plugged in every now & then & have to explain to the fresh batch of nurses why I am there. Ooh never heard of that. And I look like a complete fraud because everyone else there is properly frail/seriously unwell. And I turn down the biscuit at the end because Hugh Jarse.... and then I bounce into work & scare everyone. But obviously that’s not a normal reaction either...