Does anyone else have Hypoglycaemia, I... - Weight Loss Support

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Does anyone else have Hypoglycaemia, IBS, stomach issues, & intolerances?

ANB80 profile image
30 Replies

Hi All,

I find losing weight a major problem for me as I have so many issues (Hypoglycaemia, IBS, stomach issues [reflux], & intolerances [yeast & lactose]). All of which limit what I can eat or drink. So, I am just wondering if anyone else is like me and suffers with these same issues but have managed to find a suitable diet to follow to lose weight.

I am a 40yo male. My ideal weight is apparently something like 12st. According to my scales I am just under 17st, although I would say I don't look it.

I changed my diet last summer to try to follow FODMAP and gluten free, which certainly helped, and I lost almost a stone but that has slowly crept back on, even though my diet hasn't really changed.

Anyway, I am just wondering and hoping that there is someone else out there suffering the same as me. May be we can help each other through it.

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ANB80
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30 Replies
lucigret profile image
lucigret

Hello and welcome to the forum ANB80

I am sure there will be plenty of people around the forum that will be able to answer your questions.

I am a fellow sufferer of IBS and I used to suffer with reflux. I also used to think I had an intolerance to lactose and gluten, but found that in fact it was probably an intolerance of Carbs. I tried following FODMAP but found that some of the foods that were supposed to be ok, weren't and vice versa so gave up!

This is solely from my experience and not me trying to push a certain way of eating on to you, I have found that following a Low Carb, Healthy Fat diet has improved the IBS way beyond my expectations and I do not suffer with reflux at all and haven't done for a couple of years now. My 'intolerance' to foods has also diminished, I am not going to say I never have a flair up of IBS, I do but they are very rare and don't knock me of my feet for a couple of days, as they did before and the pain doesn't cause me to pass out, as it did before! I can usually work out the reason they happen as well.

Here is the link to all of the information you will need to navigate the forum, which is best achieved by using the full web site not the app. Please take the time to read the Welcome newbie post,

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

You will see that we have a lot of Events, Clubs and Challenges for you to take part in and recommend that you at least join a Weigh In day of your choice and the Daily Diary.

If you haven’t already taken it, here is a link to a tour of the forum,

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Participation is key to success, we all benefit from encouragement and support. By joining in you will build friendships with like minded people and find plenty of inspiration along the way :)

Wishing you all the best on your weight loss journey :)

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to lucigret

Hi Lucigret,

Thank you for your warm welcome :)

And thank you for sharing your experiences.

It is very interesting that you discovered you were actually intolerant to carbs. I find carbs is the only thing that fills me up, most of the time. But I wouldn't be surprised if I was intolerant to carbs.

I drew up a spreadsheet in Summer of 2019 to cross-reference which foods were allowed for each of my conditions, so I ended up with a very limited set.

I don't believe I am fully gluten intolerant. I only started on that because it seemed all gluten free food were low FODMAP. I found having gluten free food significantly improved my IBS. Although I am not entirely gluten free. I have cereals and lunch with gluten in, so I think I can tolerate some. But if on one day I have too much gluten then the next day my IBS is bad.

I feel like I have everything mainly under control, except for my weight. I would like to lose weight but really struggling due to my conditions.

lucigret profile image
lucigret in reply to ANB80

In my case, carbs make me feel very bloated and uncomfortable and cause constipation. Since moving away from a low fat carby diet and not being scared to include good fats, my health has improved in more ways than one :)

I wish you luck in what ever path you wish to choose :)

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to lucigret

Thank you very much Lucigret. I will certainly look in to it. There are times I get very bloated and uncomfortable but I haven't linked it to carbs yet. There are other foods which cause that for me but not carbs, that I have noticed.

lucigret profile image
lucigret in reply to ANB80

We’re all different 😊

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to lucigret

We are indeed. That is what I tell people too. Some people say "you must do this because it worked for me", which is great for you but it might not work for me. But all advice is welcomed.

lucigret profile image
lucigret in reply to ANB80

Exactly :)

PMcL1966 profile image
PMcL1966

I was in my late 30s when I developed acid reflux and 40s when I got IBS. The reflux was awful especially after I had a drink. No amount of Gaviscon or even doctor prescribed medication would work. The only solution was for me to prop myself up at night. Absolutely awful. I found that losing weight worked for me and not eating after 7pm. I also hardly drink now (I’m 54) and I very rarely get it nowadays unless I eat a bit too much later on. And even then it’s nowhere near as bad as when I was your age. Since I’ve lost my weight not only has my AR pretty much disappeared my IBS only makes fleeting appearances. When I first used to get it I was crippled for a week. Now it’s gone in just over a day. I think diet and exercise are definitely the key. And are much better solutions to prescribed medicines.

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to PMcL1966

Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like your AR was awful. Thankfully, mine is rarely that bad. I do take medication though from the doctor for it, which helps a lot. But I feel I do have that under control as I know what not to eat.

My IBS has improved since cutting down on gluten foods. So that is good.

My problem is that I can't or majorly struggle losing weight due to my Hypoglycaemia. I have recently started exercising again but need energy to do it.

Loonick profile image
Loonick

Hi, I don’t know if my story will help at all but Two years ago I had some weight to shift, I felt sluggish and I ate too much sugar, often got the shakes i.e. my blood sugars would drop And then I would eat large amounts of sugar to try to counter it because it’s such a unbearable sensation to have. I have tried losing weight before But had really struggled with it And any weight I lost I always had put back on again. Then my family bought me a Fitbit, Until that point I had never realised how few calories I actually burned if I didn’t exercise which would explain why I kept putting weight on because clearly I was eating more then I expended and just hadn’t realised that. So I continued to eat a normal/balance/healthy diet as recommended with plenty of veg and some fruit And logged it being brutally honest about exactly how much I was eating. Then I started increasing my activity levels which of course was all recorded on my Fitbit app (it doesn’t have to be a Fitbit there’s plenty of other devices that do the same thing). First of all I started making sure I never put in more than I expended calorie wise. That in itself is quite difficult because as I said I had obviously just been habitually eating far more than I expended. I gradually build up my activity levels through Walking further and further and increasing the speed overtime. Then I made the decision to start reducing how much I ate so that I was always in deficit Some days more Some days less. Very very slowly my weight started to reduce, sometimes only by 100 g over a fortnight but the important thing was it was always in the right direction. And now my BMI is below 25 and I feel so much better. I am continuing to Record what I eat and keep my activity levels high and ensure I don’t on average consume over what I have expended but I’m a little bit more relaxed about it and so far I am maintaining. That’s my story, and I think everybody is different and has to find their own way that works for them and you never know maybe this would work for you too. I hope it helps

lucigret profile image
lucigret in reply to Loonick

Hello and welcome Loonick, well done on your achievements :)

Thank you for offering support to ANB80. Are you here as a visitor or would you like to join the forum? We have lots of 'clubs' that you could join in with to help you to maintain.

Either way, you are very welcome :)

Loonick profile image
Loonick in reply to lucigret

Hi Lucigret

Thanks for being so welcoming

I have only just encountered this so a bit later on I will have a proper look at the other activities but would like to join this forum

lucigret profile image
lucigret in reply to Loonick

We would be very happy to have you,

I am sure that you will find something in Pinned Posts that you could join in with :)

Here is the link

healthunlocked.com/weight-l..., please take time to read the Newbie post. This will help you to navigate the forum :)

If you haven’t already taken it, here is a link to a tour of the forum,

healthunlocked.com/?tour=true

Participation is key to success, we all benefit from encouragement and support. By joining in you will build friendships with like minded people and find plenty of inspiration along the way :)

Wishing you all the best :)

dontdojogging profile image
dontdojogging1st 7lbs

Hi ANB80 - you've started a really interesting thread discussion here, its one of the great things about this forum that if you have an issue/challenge/question you can always find someone else who has had similar experiences.

Seems to be quite common that as we get older we start to experience various digestive issues, that hamper our day to day lives. We can carry on for years suffering and not really getting any answers, any guidance on how we can improve our lives. I was in my late 40s when I started to experience what I thought was IBS. I also started to develop allergies to things I'd eaten all my life. From this forum I've learned this is Oral Allergy Syndrome and I'm now careful eating raw fruits with a stone/pip in, apples, pears, nectarines, peaches etc. etc. Cooked are fine, raw -a big no no. Back to the IBS, it was 6-7 yrs later that I finally got fed up at having to find out where the toilets were every time I went out. After various tests - I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Then last Xmas after my indigestion was becoming debilitating, GP recommended I have my gall bladder removed. Both these things combined have made me alter my diet significantly and what I eat now I see as a lifestyle change and has helped me lose 2.5 stone.

So what do I eat? Fortunately I disliked GF bread so much that I don't eat it. The price of GF foods puts me off buying the biscuits/cakes so I only eat those when I'm really desperate. Waiting for gall bladder op I couldn't eat butter or cheese, I've actually got used to that and since my op I haven't returned to eating the excessive amount I used to. From this forum I've been introduced to low carb high fat LCHF and that's been a game changer. I rarely eat any GF pasta, rice or potatoes. I'm reasonably relaxed with veg carbs but I don't eat much fruit. Breakfast has changed from porridge/cereal to eggs or greek yog with berries and a few tinned peaches. Lunches have been different - can't grab a sandwich at work. I work in a school and used to always opt for a jacket potato with fillings. These are gone and strangely I'm not missing them. Planning your meals is key, I spend more on nice salad stuff and avocados are a regular. I also make a lot of soups. Dinner is very veg based. Snacking can be an issue, by 4pm I can get cravings. So at the moment I'm experimenting with starting my daily food intake later, so breakfast at 10.30, lunch 2ish, dinner 6ish.

Its a bit of a long haul, I've been on this for 10 months now, but I do feel the 2.5 stone is gone and is not going to come back again. I have at least another 2.5 to go before I get down to just being overweight - I'll be happy with that. What keeps me going is that I feel so SO different from where I was this time last year, I'm fitter, I no longer nap constantly, AND I can fit into all the stuff in my wardrobe!!!

Finding what works best for you is key, I'd like to say don't get fixated on the scales, concentrate on how you feel, but I know from personal experience that seeing the scales drop is a boost. I've been at standstill for quite a few weeks now, but I'm going to keep at it!

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to dontdojogging

Hi. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences, and I am happy that you have managed to find a suitable diet to follow. For me though, the biggest problem seems to be Hypoglyceamia. Although, I don't actually believe I have this specifically. It was just something one doctor told me once when I questioned about feeling hungry all the time and then keeling over if I don't eat, in quite a quick timeframe. I have never been tested for it. I was due to have some more tests on this but then lockdown kicked in last March so it never happened.

I try to have gluten free food as much as I can, which has helped significantly with my IBS, so that is good. So my main current aim is trying to lose weight. By having Hypoglycaemia (allegedly or whatever it is I have) is preventing me from actually cutting down. I already feel I am eating the least I can just to get through each day.

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716

Interesting to read everyone’s responses and like others I developed IBS in my 40s, and had hypoglycaemia since my teens ( due to Gilbert syndrome - a liver enzyme deficiency)

I did the FODMAP as an elimination diet, my problem foods being identified as alliums, legumes, and brassicas.

I lost two stone last year and reduced sugars and starchy carbs to get pre diabetic blood sugars into the healthy range.

A welcome and unexpected side effect is that the hypoglycaemia is better controlled with lower sugar intake, and my intolerances have lessened. I can now eat small quantities of broccoli, cabbage, onions, garlic, chickpeas, lentils as long as they’re well cooked. I don’t know how that has come about but possibly better gut flora with less sugar intake.

Good luck with finding what works for you 🙂

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Fran182716

Hi Fran,

Many thanks for sharing.

I imagine your process of elimination took quite a while to identify your problem foods?

When you lost 2 stone last year was that due to reducing sugar and starchy carbs or did you do that afterwards?

As you suffer with Hypoglycaemia, what foods have you found that give you good and long energy? I am not talking about enough energy to run a marathon, just for getting through the day and night?

Speaking of night, do you find you wake up in the night needing to eat? I do, every night. If you do, how do you handle that? For me, I have a packet of gluten free hobnobs next to my bed so I have half a biscuit, which seems to work but I wake up several times during the night so could end up eating a few biscuits every night.

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716 in reply to ANB80

Hi ANB80 ,

I had a good idea of which foods were causing the problems, what took longest was confirming that I was okay with wheat and dairy (I’m very glad).

Reducing sugars and starchy carbs were part of the weight loss, I did count calories as well. I still have just over a stone to lose but the 2 stone and change of diet was enough to get my blood sugars back in the healthy range.

Foods I find keep me going - Full fat Greek yoghurt with berries and porridge oats mixed and left overnight for breakfast keeps me full for a good 5-6 hours, porridge oats with berries, whole milk and nut butter microwaved is almost as good.

Lunches are usually a protein like cheese or eggs with salad and a small piece of bread and butter ( I make my own soda bread with stoneground wholewheat flour) that will last me till dinner at around 7-8 pm.

Evening meals are mostly a protein, dairy/egg based/Quorn/occasional fish (I don’t eat meat by personal choice, not a health reason) and 2 or 3 veg.

I don’t often snack but keep no-added-sugar nut bars in the car and my handbag in case I ever have to stave off a hypo.

I don’t usually have any problems with hypos during the night, I can’t go to sleep if I’m hungry so on the odd occasion when I’m hungry again before bed I’d usually have more Greek yoghurt (I buy the huge pots lol) or some veg soup (microwaved from the freezer)

It seems to be the combination of protein, fat, and small quantities of high fibre carbs that work for satiety and stable blood sugars for me, but people are different, might be a different combo for you.

I’ve not eaten so well the last few weeks but that’s due to pandemic stress/anxiety, I need to get back to the above as I know it works.

Good luck 😀

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Fran182716

Thank you again. I will take a look at what you have suggested.

Do you think there is any benefit having semi-skimmed milk instead of whole milk for our situation? During early lockdown, when people were panic buying, I had to buy whole milk, which I found filled me up for longer but wasn't sure if I would put weight on if I continued doing so.

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716 in reply to ANB80

Hi, I use whole milk, I prefer the taste and it keeps me full longer. I don’t think it’s a problem for weight gain as long as you keep your overall intake roughly equal to energy used. 😀

Bee-bop profile image
Bee-bopMaintainer2st 7lbs

Hi there ANBA, am wheat and dairy free here and was pre-diabetic. Like you, yeast isn't so good for me either. I thought I would struggle to loose weight but, have lost nearly 3 stones since November last year which included the lockdown and I am no longer pre-diabetic. I swapped my white carbs for better GI substitutes like sweet potato, whole grain rice etc, lowered my sugar intake and upped my veg and fruit.

Btw, mine isn't gluten free specially either but is definitely wheatfree that helps. I can have rye bread but not spelt or teff.

Hope that helps

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Bee-bop

Hi Bee-bop.

Thank you for replying.

I find that no matter how much veg or fruit or salad I eat it is always never filling.

I will have a think about what I can replace my white carbs with as I am very picky with my foods, always have been, which doesn't help.

Bee-bop profile image
Bee-bopMaintainer2st 7lbs in reply to ANB80

I understand. I used to prefer white rice completely but, decided I had to change my diet and made myself eat better choices. Now I am totally sold on it as I lost weight and no longer pre-diabetic so, I feel it was worth it and my taste has changed. See what works for you.

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Bee-bop

Believe it or not, I have never ate rice. Well, that is not strictly true. The only rice I have ever had has been rice pudding and rice crispies :) So may give it a try.

Bee-bop profile image
Bee-bopMaintainer2st 7lbs in reply to ANB80

Haha, trust me to pick something you don't eat 😂

Hosannasmum profile image
Hosannasmum

I had GF foods when I first got diagnosed but I soon realised I couldn't afford them and they're really full of sugar. I also tried a FODMAP diet and found most of their 'bad' foods I could eat, and their 'good' foods made me ill. In the end I developed my own diet.

I also find high carbs makes me ill so I limit my carbs but I find Ryvita is ok for me. I find a 5-a-day fibre diet, much as it is recommended, doesn't work for me. The extra fibre gives my stomach too much extra work to do and I spend the evenings uncomfortable. I have my porridge/weetabix in the morning and a couple of bits of fruit or veg, and that is enough for me.

In the end it's really a case of playing around with what feels comfortable, and for me that is a fairly low-fibre diet.

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Hosannasmum

Thank you Hosannasmum.

I also find if I have too much fibre then I am not too good. It usually makes my IBS crazy. Even just having something like bran flakes for breakfast makes it crazy.

For me, cutting down on GF foods has helped me enormously. I do still have non-GF foods but if I keep it to a minimum then I am mostly ok. But if I have too much then I will have a bad IBS day the day after.

My current main issue though is trying to lose weight. I cannot find a suitable diet to fulfil all my needs and problems. No matter what I try I cannot shift any weight. Cutting down on foods just makes me hungry and I struggle to maintain my sugar levels, but no weight is shifted. Started exercising a few times a week on an exercise bike, still no change. Replaced potatoes with rice, still no weight change, although this does fill me up more for longer.

Hosannasmum profile image
Hosannasmum

I struggle with my weight too, the GF foods just piled it on. The only way I've managed to get it off is to calorie count and watch portion size. As soon as I take my eye off the ball it pours back on again.

I do treadmill at the gym, which will obviously have to be replaced in the new year with a new exercise. I suppose a bicycle should help, there is medical help for exercise when you are hypoglycaemic. I believe protein is important when you exercise.

Also watching the nutrition labels very carefully, there is so much hidden sugar. Eggs are my saviours, and I do like cheese too, but yoghurts either have too much fat or two much sugar so I eat cottage cheese instead. I hope you find something that works.

ANB80 profile image
ANB80 in reply to Hosannasmum

Thanks Hosannasmum 😊

When I first switched to GF foods I lost over a stone but then it stalled at that for the last several months. 🙄

I have a treadmill at home so I am contemplating moving from the bike to that. But going on it means I burn far more energy which means I need more energy, which then defeats the objective. 🤷‍♂️

Hosannasmum profile image
Hosannasmum

I find the same, and muscle weighs more than fat.

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