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14 replies

Fuzzy Math? weight gaining question.

Clever1Clever1Member
Can someone explain this to me?

Some back ground first. I'm 42 yrs old. male, 5'-10" now 122.lbs
Very active, avid cyclist. Healthy by our standards.

My question is this, before I got sick, lets say high school days.
I did a lot of weight training and riding. At best I weighed 150.lbs from what I recall.

I've always been on the thin but muscular side.
Fast forward, I now have one less body part, so that will reduce my weight some. Lets say 10.lbs

I seem to be missing a good 18.lbs. and I do the same activities more or less. I can't seem to put that extra bit back on. and being a endurance athlete I feel every missing pound.

From what I've been told, your large intestines mostly takes care of hydration and acts as a filter.

What am I missing in this equation to put that extra weight (muscle) back on? without downing one high calorie shake after another? I shouldn't have to do that if my body if working correctly right?

Any ideas?
Thanks


Side note: I've been looking for some supplies.

I use convatec invisiclose and hollister lock and roll (red or green) velcro type two piece, eakin seals or the like, paste, the flat strips of moldable stuff.(forgot the name)

Let me know if you have any of this stuff and want to part with it, And let me know if you need anything as I may have it.

Thanks
Alan Z
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A ActiveUC'erMember
I'm not an exercise expert or a doctor, but from what I understand endurance exercise burns into whatever stores you have. It's supposed to go into fat stores after a certain amount of time but if there are little fat stores, your body would go after muscles. That would decrease your muscle mass. If you are an "endurance" exerciser (like ten mile runs, etc.) then you might need to cut back to gain weight and focus more on weight training. Eat lots of protein.
P PluotMember
A colon weighs a lot less than 10 lb.

Depending on how much small intestine you have left, what you eat, your eating habits, etc you may be absorbing less of the calories from the foods you ate than you did in the past. I know that when I had my loop ileostomy I ate everything in sight and didn't gain -- there was too much intestine missing. If it's important to you to gain weight you will have to think and eat differently than a person who has their entire GI tract.
Clever1Clever1Member
I have seen a few nutritionist, and it's the same thing, I need x-amount of calories to stay ahead of the curve. That's for everyone though.

I guess my confusion is that, I was heavier when I had a malfunctioning body part.

Fast forward, no meds, I am older, metabolism slows down-not speeds up?

I ride just as hard now as I did then. I don't really lift weights like I used to.
Even when I'm not active, like winter time I ride much less over all and easier.
I should be making gains just from loafing around more.

I will not stop riding just to see if that puts a little on.
To be a competitive cyclist you just can't stay off the bike like that.

It just doesn't add up to me.

I never thought about the fact that I now have a little less small intestine due to the formation of the pouch. I'm guessing that that could equal less food/nutrients absorption?

Thoughts?
P PHedgesMember
Exactly right, less intestine less absorb. Try Ensure advanced not as meal replacement but as addition to a snack, it helped me gain some weight. Eat at least 6 times, introduce high calorie - natural stuff to your diet. Other than Ensure for a while try not to drink too many shakes. I also heard the less body fat you have the hardest to gain, not sure if is true.
A ActiveUC'erMember
And I don't think you're necessarily seeing a difference in absorption because you have a jpouch unless you also have a fast transit issue. There's not much intestine destroyed by a jpouch.

Also, have you ever gone to a sports nutritionist? Sometimes they are better than a typical nutritionist for someone who is expending alot of energy exercising. They should help you with pre/post exercise meals and what to eat when. Plus hydration help/salt loss. I never would have known this type of dietician exists except the gym I go to trains some high level athletes - and that's the nutritionist many of them go to.
J johnjthompsonMember
I'm 68 years old and about 5 feet and eleven inches tall and I weigh about 150 pounds. It has taken me about ten years to gain about ten pounds. I started loosing weight right after I had my take down. I too have tried to gain weight. When I asked the doctors why I don't gain weight, they don't seem to have any answer. I have found stir frying my vegetables in olive oil and eating rice has helped me gain some weight. I don't take any nutritional drinks because they would make me go more often. I find when I eat too much rice, I get bound to easily so I usually eat rice only if I am going to much.
FM Former Member

A hour and half...... aren't you at all concerned about the amount of time you're spending in the  "restroom" ?

If you're gaining too much weight regardless of what comes out during a visit to the restroom, then it shows your just absorbing nourishment from your food.

The only solution, regardless as to whether you've had your colon removed or not, is to eat and drink less, especially cutting out junk foods, fizzy drinks and reducing your sugar and alcohol intake.

or

Increase your level of activity to match your diet.

Depending on your current weight and desired end result, you may have to do both; eat less and increase your activity.. 

That said, once all other medical reasons and possibilities have been excluded. 

Last edited by Former Member

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