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Hi All, Dieting is tough on all of us, but it's even more difficult when you're also coping with a digestive disease. I topped out at 262 (at 25yo) last August, in February by some complete mystery, I was down to 237. I hadn't been dieting, and if anything, my physical activity was way down. Some people may think this was a great thing to happen. In some ways it was... I didn't go to my doctor because I realized I'd lost weight. I went to her because everything I ate made me double over in pain and I was experiencing blood in my stool. My doctor noticed the weight loss by comparing charts from when I'd sprained my ankle the past August. She ran some tests and it was determined I had left sided ulcerative colitis (a series of ulcers in the large intestine). It was about a month of complete misery from 1st appt to tests, to finally getting meds. I could only eat things like malt-o-meal or mashed potatoes made runny with a lot of milk. At that time, it was imperative to my doctor that I tried to maintain my weight to be able to tell if I was getting better. By April I could eat regular foods again with a lot of exceptions like white sugar, anything containing high fructose corn syrup, fruits with cores including their juices, any uncooked vegetable and red meat. At first it seemed like the list I was keeping in a food diary of foods that 'hurt' me would never end. Even low fat white meats can be a problem if they're not cooked tender and moist. I'll be on medication likely my entire life, but that's fine compared to what I went through. This whole thing was like a wake-up call. I had no idea I'd gotten so overweight. Granted, I'd always been fat, but I just didn't realize how fat I'd become. I took the 25lbs I lost without realizing it as a gift and promised myself to keep it off and to make an honest effort to lose more. So far I've lost 20 additional pounds, but I've plateaued, so I'm trying other things, especially increasing excercise. It's really difficult to stay off the bad foods when there isn't a 'good' food to replace it with. Instead of grabbing a handful of Cheetos, I could go for the carrot sticks, but not anymore. I'm learing a lot, but if anyone has a simular experience to share, or some tips, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Oh your story sounds so familiar. I have had digestive problems for 20 odd years and have also had some ovarian cyst from time to time. So, 2 years ago when I began having pain on the right side of my body, I merely thought it was the female issues. Well I lost from 250 to 190 and got to the point that going to work was a major undertaking. Most weeks I could only make it into the office 4 of the 5 days. After close to a year of testing and several different GI docs we finally got a diagnosis, Crohn’s disease involving the ileum, a stretch of 6 inches of small intestines as well as my ascending colon. Needless to say I began meds immediately and they put me on prednisone…this medication is from the devil himself…I gained all the weight back, and now I am struggling with the same issues you have stated. I cannot eat raw veggies of any kind. I struggle eating most raw fruits. I can handle smoothies most days. I have problems with whole grains. I can sometimes handle oatmeal. I cannot eat beef or pork unless it is pressure-cooked. I can eat chicken and most fish, I am sometimes bothered by shellfish but not consistently. I also have to be careful of the amount of dairy I eat. I would love to find a solution. It is nice to know there are other people dealing with this issue on top of the weight issue. I would be happy to help in any way I can. I think I can I think I can I think I can Rocksee :lol: I know I can!!!

Nice to meet you both. I've heard of Crohn's before, but don't know know much about it.. Thank you for taking the time to explain some of your symptoms, you might help someone that has the same but hasn't been diagnosed. I'm glad that you're both feeling better.. I like to think that "if you believe, you can achieve" Exercise will also help melt fat away! So, good call!

Thanks Rocksee- Your story is a bad one too. Sounds like you have a lot more food limitations than I do. Hang in there. It's really tough when the no or low carb diets are so popular right now, when carbs (potatoes and pasta and rice) seem to be what's easiest to eat. I know a few people who've had success with low carb diets, but I'd just about starve on them. Way too many protien sources are inedible for us. And I agree with you, Prednisone is a nasty drug, and I'll never take it again. Not because of the weight gain,(which I didn't experience too much of) but I think I felt worse on it, than off it. When I was finally weaned off, I actually felt better for weeks afterward. I don't care what my doc says, I'll never go back on it no matter how bad I feel. Not sure how sugar is with you, but I found some great 45 calorie, no sugar added fudgecicles that have become my latest no-guilt pleasure. You'll have to look for them in the store. Take care!