Weight gain isn't complicated - it's the net of your food consumption and physical activity. It's not driven by your body's history. Appetite and physical activity can be complicated, though. Perhaps you're feeling better about eating?

Forty starts the peri menopausal age for females, and your metabolism starts to decline at this age, based on declining and changing hormones. I know, I'm 42... It's creeping up at me, too.

106lbs and 5'4" was on the low side for height and weight. I was 98lbs and 5'2" when I had my operation, but I was young (19) and never big, either. As I age, it goes up, slowly. I'm about 122lbs now, been there forever, but I don't eat like I did then, and I'm consistently inconsistent with exercise, much more active than I was young. But I can't fight the changes completely. Anyway, I like the way my face looks better over 120lbs; I'd be waaaay too gaunt if I ever went back to 100lbs!

There is intake-output (what you eat as opposed to what you burn) that is the base for your caloric intake...if you are sedentary you need less, active if you need more...but you then need to figue in your muscle mass (muscle burns more calories than fat), your body's fixed set thermostat called metabolism (how fast or slowly it burns calories), your age (the younger you are the faster you seem to burn calories), your body's plateau weight (your body gets accustomed to a certain weight and does everything to strive to keep it there...so if it got used to 150 then it will fight to maintain 150) and then there are the 'other factors' like thyroid, menopause and bad eating habits that can slow you down....lots of small meals burns more and faster than 1 or 2 big meals, the more you exercise the more you burn by rathcheting up the metabolism etc...so if you can go for a brisk walk 5xs/week and cut out 10% of sugars and fats then you will burn and lose a few pounds...increase to 7 walks/week and cut out 15% and you burn more...
Sounds easy...just need willpower and time.
Sharon

It is not simply a matter of calories in, calories out. Not for j-pouchers and not for women nearing menopause or post-menopause.

Having a leaky gut, celiac, colitis, or any other irritable bowel problems, for years can cause weight gain OR loss due to inflammation. The leaky/damaged gut leaks undigested proteins into the bloodstream where it binds to tissue causing long term problems that are not easily remedied.

Also, most people with these problems are severly malnourished due to the body not processing vitamins and minerals properly. We are told to eat a "low residue" diet which is generally protein and starches. These cause weight gain.

Also, malabsorbtion of nutrients cause the body to 'think' it is starving. SO even though you eat, you don't get the nutrition from the food and your body keeps looking for the nutrients, making you hungry and you eat more. Then the body goes into starvation mode to hold on to whatever nutrients it can. That's why you don't lose weight because your body thinks you are starving.

There is plenty of research to back this up. This is not my opinion! Most doctors don't get ANY education in nutrition so they go by what the government tells them is a healthy diet. Guess who funds that lovely food pyramid telling us to eat 10-12 servings of wheat a day? Yup, the FDA. Can't trust that.

Ever since I've started juicing my vegetables my pouch and digestion problems have mostly disappeared! I eat mostly vegetables which I used to avoid thinking I couldn't have them unless they were cooked to death. Now I eat salads every day, no problem. I just have to cut it up and chew well.

I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I feel 100% better and that means a lot. Best of luck to you and hang in there!
Namaste

Nice Nurse

well said
You are so correct on the lack of education into nutrition for Mds.
I wonder how many of us have had their vitamin levels checked? I have not but will shortly.
As a thyroid patient who has gained weight with an ok Tsh. I know many or most Mds know so little about thyroid disease.This is a known fact and better yet they also do not know or understand menopause.So I wonder what they truly know about J pouch.We must remember today medicine is practiced in body parts.You must see the right MD for the body part.
I must admit my endocrinolgist is questioning malabsorption and starvation mode.I now am keeping a diary of foods and fluid intake for the next 3 months.As I told him I eat small amounts every few hours cause I am so hungry.I do not consume enough calories to gain this weight.

I am so grateful for this forum .I come often and read and say it not only me.
Cassiecass