I am a 23 year old female CFer. I have ALWAYS had trouble gaining weight, but recently (the past year) I have been putting on weight..to the point that I want to lose weight now. I know a lot about nutrition and when I started to gain more weight than I wanted to i adjusted my diet (I eat very low calorie/fat, lots of fruit/vegetables, high fiber, high water, almost no sugar besides whats naturally in fruit...) and increased my exercise. I tried cutting back on my enzymes, but had problems with gas when I did. Is there any way that it could be due to too many enzymes, could it be a warning sign of another problem such as CFRD? I also do not have regular periods, but am 100% sure I am NOT pregnant...I am not sexually active. ANY HELP would be appreciated because I have always been sooo skinny and now even the people at my clinic told me I could afford to be a little lighter..
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strange weight gain
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
It's odd. All of us growing up (atleast from my era and right after my era) got the "wow you are soo skinny, you need to eat more" all while growing up. I could eat whole pizzas and drink several two liters of soda and never gain a pound. Now, while I have a nice manly build due to mostly hard work, the slightest bit of slacking on my end = bigger gut/love handles/weight gain. It's weird how things reverse themselves. I hope you can figure out what is up and shed some weight. It sucks being a little chunky, because your entire being feels worse.
The only thing I can add is, more calorie burning exercise. Unless there is something really wrong somewhere, taking in less calories and burning more off = less weight.
The only thing I can add is, more calorie burning exercise. Unless there is something really wrong somewhere, taking in less calories and burning more off = less weight.
JennifersHope
New member
Hi,
I am one of the few but ever increasing CFers that needs to lose weight... It sounds to me like you might be getting insulin resistant.. or at least it is something that you can get checked out via blood test to see.
I am severely insulin resistant, meaning, the insulin that I do produce hardly is able to be used. I started taking Metformin which has caused me to lose some weight and also better use my insulin.
I do have to still give myself insulin shots but not as often. Don't worry about a few pounds consider it money in the bank for when you get sick... If it is more then a few pounds maybe get your thyroid checked also.
Good luck,
Jennifer
I am one of the few but ever increasing CFers that needs to lose weight... It sounds to me like you might be getting insulin resistant.. or at least it is something that you can get checked out via blood test to see.
I am severely insulin resistant, meaning, the insulin that I do produce hardly is able to be used. I started taking Metformin which has caused me to lose some weight and also better use my insulin.
I do have to still give myself insulin shots but not as often. Don't worry about a few pounds consider it money in the bank for when you get sick... If it is more then a few pounds maybe get your thyroid checked also.
Good luck,
Jennifer
hey their.
2 things
1 wats ur secret to puttin on weight. my weight is in trouble and i really cannot loose any more but i find it very difficult to put on weight so all advice would be great...
2nd) to loose weight, start goin the gym and use any cardio vascular machine and do a good session on it. this will bring your weigth down nicely, i neverr heard of CFRD can you explain this for me?
i also never heard that takin too much emzymes can cause you to put on weight. i would be happy being a little havier and to keep it there for when or if the time comes where i get a big infection or major problem the extra weight will be useful to you. i honestly believe that pwcf cannot be over weight for this reason.
2 things
1 wats ur secret to puttin on weight. my weight is in trouble and i really cannot loose any more but i find it very difficult to put on weight so all advice would be great...
2nd) to loose weight, start goin the gym and use any cardio vascular machine and do a good session on it. this will bring your weigth down nicely, i neverr heard of CFRD can you explain this for me?
i also never heard that takin too much emzymes can cause you to put on weight. i would be happy being a little havier and to keep it there for when or if the time comes where i get a big infection or major problem the extra weight will be useful to you. i honestly believe that pwcf cannot be over weight for this reason.
The three things I would suggest looking into is 1. Thyroid 2. Diabetes & 3. Ovaries....Sometimes issues with the ovaries (in fact it is quite common these days) can cause, due to hormonal imbalances, weight gain and irregular periods.
Hopefully it is nothing but it is always good to talk to the doctor about anything like this.
Hopefully it is nothing but it is always good to talk to the doctor about anything like this.
I gained quite a bit of weight after college.
For me, it's been the age-old equation - Eat more or Exercise Less = Weight Gain.
I've been eating more at my job and I've had less time to exercise than in college.
I swear one day I'm going to write a book called "Amy's Guide to Weight Loss".
It will only 4 pages long..... and it will say:
Page 1: Eat
Page 2: Less
Page 3: Exercise
Page 4: More
Oh maybe I'll add a page 5: The End
For me, it's been the age-old equation - Eat more or Exercise Less = Weight Gain.
I've been eating more at my job and I've had less time to exercise than in college.
I swear one day I'm going to write a book called "Amy's Guide to Weight Loss".
It will only 4 pages long..... and it will say:
Page 1: Eat
Page 2: Less
Page 3: Exercise
Page 4: More
Oh maybe I'll add a page 5: The End
In an average day, people would really be surprised just how much they take in, and how little calories they spend. If it weren't for what I was doing now, i'd either still be a tad chunky or getting bigger, or having to put serious cardio time in at the gym (huge pain), or be on a big time diet (hate that). Since you seem to have the diet thing down nice, just make sure you add more calorie burning specific exercise (yes there is exercise that doesn't burn calories as effecient). Do you drink soda? How about Beer? Studies have shown even diet soda makes people gain weight via either straight out human psychology or it tricks the brain via the fake sweets somehow.
Of course if you have something really wrong like diabetes (don't know much about it personally) then the normal advice won't matter much. But to me, as long as you have the empty calories out of the way, the diet correct, and you burn a ton of calories, you should be trim. Also, a big part is muscle sculpting. You don't have to bulk up, but things like crunches and light dumbbells (theres a few who post here fyi) can help sculpt your body so places that look fat, might have actually been more "out of shape" and will look better.
The last part is especially good advice for CF's (male or female) who have the "kermit the frog" build with the gut. Do mad crunches and the gut muscles can go back into a more normal shape.
Of course if you have something really wrong like diabetes (don't know much about it personally) then the normal advice won't matter much. But to me, as long as you have the empty calories out of the way, the diet correct, and you burn a ton of calories, you should be trim. Also, a big part is muscle sculpting. You don't have to bulk up, but things like crunches and light dumbbells (theres a few who post here fyi) can help sculpt your body so places that look fat, might have actually been more "out of shape" and will look better.
The last part is especially good advice for CF's (male or female) who have the "kermit the frog" build with the gut. Do mad crunches and the gut muscles can go back into a more normal shape.
I posted on the famiy section about my 9 year old daughter about this same issue. She was a size 8 at the end of August last year and she is now in size 14. She took Pred. burst about three different times this year and Advair. When I took her to the endocronologist he said that she has not started puberty, her height was slowly increasing (3 inches in a year) and that her weight gain was all cushionoid from the steroids. The CF doc took her off Advair and steroid of any kind. I thought I would see a difference within two months, but nothing. We have even tried gas pills. The main issue is her tummy, she looks 6 months preg. Everyone at clinic thinks this is great and praises her for the weight gain, but now she is calling her self fat. Did any of you add pounds during pre puberty and then shoot up in height later. I hear CFRD and now I am worried that it could be the cause. The endo. doc didn't do any blood work because he said from the physical exam it wasn't necessary. But she looks like a totally different person now than even 6 months ago. Any insight would be helpful. Do any of you think I chould cut back one enzyme and see if that helps (of course as long as that does not cause tummy aches and malabsorption)?
BTW, my advice was directed at CF adults who don't have any other problems like the stated thyroid, diabetes, or mess with steroidal treatments like pred and so forth. When you get into that realm or the younguns or teens, I have no idea.
Wish you guys the best. I just know at the age of 35, I do my best to avoid empty calories and junk food, and don't eat huge portions, and try not to eat ultra fatty/carby foods and stick with tons of veggies and fruits. At this stage, and even avoiding soda to that list, if I don't burn a ton of calories, i'll turn into Ron Jeremy.
BTW for women and guys who are adults with CF out there kind of in the same boat weight issue wise (without any other freaky problems), weight training WILL add muscle, and muscle does weigh more, BUT here is the deal. Muscle needs calories + protein to remain muscle on your body, way more than a pound of fat does on your body (obviously). If you add muscle weight, while you will gain some on the scale, you will add more "calorie burning generators" on your body, which will be burning fat around the clock. If you add more muscle (only slightly for women) and stick to the same general healthy diet + exercise advice, and don't have anything freaky going on, it's bound to help you trim down. That is why you hear HUGE competitive body builders say things like "I have to eat 8,000 calories a day just to maintain my mass".
Wish you guys the best. I just know at the age of 35, I do my best to avoid empty calories and junk food, and don't eat huge portions, and try not to eat ultra fatty/carby foods and stick with tons of veggies and fruits. At this stage, and even avoiding soda to that list, if I don't burn a ton of calories, i'll turn into Ron Jeremy.
BTW for women and guys who are adults with CF out there kind of in the same boat weight issue wise (without any other freaky problems), weight training WILL add muscle, and muscle does weigh more, BUT here is the deal. Muscle needs calories + protein to remain muscle on your body, way more than a pound of fat does on your body (obviously). If you add muscle weight, while you will gain some on the scale, you will add more "calorie burning generators" on your body, which will be burning fat around the clock. If you add more muscle (only slightly for women) and stick to the same general healthy diet + exercise advice, and don't have anything freaky going on, it's bound to help you trim down. That is why you hear HUGE competitive body builders say things like "I have to eat 8,000 calories a day just to maintain my mass".
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>momuv2cf</b></i>
I posted on the famiy section about my 9 year old daughter about this same issue. She was a size 8 at the end of August last year and she is now in size 14. She took Pred. burst about three different times this year and Advair. When I took her to the endocronologist he said that she has not started puberty, her height was slowly increasing (3 inches in a year) and that her weight gain was all cushionoid from the steroids. The CF doc took her off Advair and steroid of any kind. I thought I would see a difference within two months, but nothing. We have even tried gas pills. The main issue is her tummy, she looks 6 months preg. Everyone at clinic thinks this is great and praises her for the weight gain, but now she is calling her self fat. Did any of you add pounds during pre puberty and then shoot up in height later. I hear CFRD and now I am worried that it could be the cause. The endo. doc didn't do any blood work because he said from the physical exam it wasn't necessary. But she looks like a totally different person now than even 6 months ago. Any insight would be helpful. Do any of you think I chould cut back one enzyme and see if that helps (of course as long as that does not cause tummy aches and malabsorption)?</end quote></div>
I would demand a glucose tolerance test. Steroids are notorious for causing diabetes.
I've been on steroids once and I know that my apetite was HUGE.
So if your daughter gained weight from calorie instate while on steroids, but hasn't increase exercise, she hasn't lost th weight.
Don't cut enzymes - she'll get diarreah and perhaps some bowl obstruction or horrible gas.
I posted on the famiy section about my 9 year old daughter about this same issue. She was a size 8 at the end of August last year and she is now in size 14. She took Pred. burst about three different times this year and Advair. When I took her to the endocronologist he said that she has not started puberty, her height was slowly increasing (3 inches in a year) and that her weight gain was all cushionoid from the steroids. The CF doc took her off Advair and steroid of any kind. I thought I would see a difference within two months, but nothing. We have even tried gas pills. The main issue is her tummy, she looks 6 months preg. Everyone at clinic thinks this is great and praises her for the weight gain, but now she is calling her self fat. Did any of you add pounds during pre puberty and then shoot up in height later. I hear CFRD and now I am worried that it could be the cause. The endo. doc didn't do any blood work because he said from the physical exam it wasn't necessary. But she looks like a totally different person now than even 6 months ago. Any insight would be helpful. Do any of you think I chould cut back one enzyme and see if that helps (of course as long as that does not cause tummy aches and malabsorption)?</end quote></div>
I would demand a glucose tolerance test. Steroids are notorious for causing diabetes.
I've been on steroids once and I know that my apetite was HUGE.
So if your daughter gained weight from calorie instate while on steroids, but hasn't increase exercise, she hasn't lost th weight.
Don't cut enzymes - she'll get diarreah and perhaps some bowl obstruction or horrible gas.
JennifersHope
New member
It is so nice to know that ppl understand my pain of being on all these steroids. If you were to look up cushionoid in the dictionary, I swear you would see a picture of me.
I am the original poster...thanks sooo much for the advice! Honestly, I assumed all CFers couldnt gain weight so when I started to gain and gain I figured it MUST be something other than...well part of life! I am still going to see if its hormonal or something like POCD because of my suddenly irregular periods and I should get my insulin checked I guess just cause I am a CFer. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that has to watch their weight. As for soda...I never drink soda or any other drink besides water or milk, just because I hate sweet drinks. I was exercising 40 minutes cardio and then weight training 3 times a week, but just recently added 10 more minutes of cardio and 2 more days...so 50 minutes cardio 5 days a week. Just started so I havent seen a difference yet. Anyways thanks for the advice.
To the mom with the daughter that was on steriods, I agree with Amy. Prednisone in particular can cause diabetes so I would get her glucose checked asap! Good luck and keep me posted
To the mom with the daughter that was on steriods, I agree with Amy. Prednisone in particular can cause diabetes so I would get her glucose checked asap! Good luck and keep me posted
thefrogprincess
New member
In my early 20s KABOOM I gained 10 pounds and none of my clothes fit anymore. I couldn't figure out and have never been able to lose it. Eventually I just learned to deal with it.
Don't mess with your health to lose weight. If it was CFRD you would be losing weight. And don't cut back your enzymes if it makes you feel bad.
Don't mess with your health to lose weight. If it was CFRD you would be losing weight. And don't cut back your enzymes if it makes you feel bad.