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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/23/2018 8:39 PM (GMT -5)
Hey guys and gals.
Was looking for help and suggestions on diet.

I've grown up playing sports and working out. Before I was diagnosed I stood around 6 feet 195lbs. I ate like a crazy lots of rice chicken pasta all that stuff. After I was diagnosed I've kept a similar workout program and can't get any gains what so ever and I'm would be around 175lbs.
I'm taking time off the gym for a little while to rest how ever my weight is at 160lbs.. I can't put any weight on my frame and I was wondering if there's a type of diet that would effect my stomach.
Thanks
Posted 9/24/2018 1:54 AM (GMT -5)
I would just focus on getting better before you worry about gaining weight. As you get better your appetite should increase as well as your food residence time which will allow you to get more calories out of your food. And if you are taking a break from the gym a calorie surplus will most likely lead to unwanted adipose tissue.
Posted 9/24/2018 6:06 AM (GMT -5)
When going threw a flare, does your body not get nearly the same amount of nutrition from the food you eat when healthy ?
Posted 9/24/2018 7:57 AM (GMT -5)
Tough to accept but you may just have to acknowledge that you have an illness that may not allow you to have the body you want. Focus on your overall health first and fitness goals second. If you do some research you may find some info on the Paleo AIP diet or IBD-aid diets potentially helping people with IBD. Unfortunately, these are not good "bulking up" diets at all but may help your gut get to a point where it can absorb nutrients better. I would not give up exercising altogether, just dial it back.
Posted 9/24/2018 7:59 AM (GMT -5)
When you're flaring it nearly impossible to put on weight, regardless of what you eat or how much of it. When we flare, our mouth-to-anus transit time is accelerated dramatically, it's normally roughly 24-hours and can be as little as 4-hours during a flare. What does that mean? Our body is less able to extract nutrients from foods. Our digestive system has a series of holding areas at varying PHs where food sits in a bath of acids and enzymes that break them down. When our food doesn't have sufficient time to be digested in those areas, it passes from our bodies either undigested or only partially digested forms. I've passed vegetables, cheeses, and meats that still look reminiscent of when I ate them (sorry if that's TMI). During bad flares it is rather common to loose about 20 pounds of weight.

When we flare, raw foods take a lot longer to digest than well cooked foods do. So salads are going to be a lot more problematic, and less digestible. Soups, broths, chicken, and potato are all things that are easily digestible and flare safe.

A round about way of saying, wait until you're 95% of your way into a remission and then it will be a heck of a lot easier to regain weight. At the tail end of my worst flare, I was able to put on 1/2 of a pound every two weeks, despite eating like a horse. It gets easier the more healed you are, and the closer you get into a remission.
Posted 9/24/2018 8:03 AM (GMT -5)
when there is faster transit nutrition absorption can be less. when the gut microbes are in dysbiosis, including those that assist with breakdown of difficult proteins, there can be less nutrition.

But most absorption occurs in small intestine. The large intestine does absorb some important nutrients, but mostly water reabsorption and stool formation. So, less impact on absorbtion for most UC. But there can be pain, which can affect appetite. There are multiple paths to weight loss.

Even when eating low residue during a flare, there are some low residue resistant starches that can supply carbohydrate and possibly help UC symptoms. I always get benefit from re-warmed fried rice with a little ginger. Some oat bran, while higher residue, have a butyrate fermentation that can promote mucosal healing.

With soft veggies, some resistant starch, and easy protein like broiled fish and chicken, it should be possible to gain weight. But, getting into remission, and then eating more like you used to is also a path.

good luck
Posted 9/24/2018 9:04 AM (GMT -5)
get well - then get ripped -
Posted 9/24/2018 12:29 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks alot guys appreciate the feedback. I'm deffenitly taking time away from sports and the gym toll after my colonoscopy. Does anyone have any insight on juicing or blending? Does it help ?
And as far as getting best results for the colonoscopy does anyone have a view on time line from a week out and how to prepare
Posted 9/24/2018 12:39 PM (GMT -5)
What do yiu mean by affect your stomach? UC is in the colon.

Are you on meds?

Make sure you eat as much and as balanced as you can.

q
Posted 9/24/2018 12:58 PM (GMT -5)

Youngguy90 said...
Thanks alot guys appreciate the feedback. I'm deffenitly taking time away from sports and the gym toll after my colonoscopy. Does anyone have any insight on juicing or blending? Does it help ?
And as far as getting best results for the colonoscopy does anyone have a view on time line from a week out and how to prepare

Some discussion here over the years about juicing and UC symptoms. Certainly the less solids you eat, the less solids you output while you are doing it. The theory is you heal better by giving yourself a bowel-rest. The results are generally, feel better while juicing and go less, and go back to solids and the same problems persist as before. Not a solution, but more of a temporary relief/vacation from pooping every 1/2 hour. 1-hour, etc.

Expect your system to be messed up for up to 3-4 days following a colonoscopy. The prep, biopsies, and procedure are going to mean you poop more, and might pass more blood temporarily. You should return to your normal thereafter.
Posted 9/24/2018 4:19 PM (GMT -5)
I'm on prednisone
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