Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: How can anyone gain weight?!!!

Hi!

I'm not an expert on weight gaining myself. Before I got stable I had a very difficult time keeping my weight up because I'd feel so sick that I'd have no appetite and then I'd always wonder if what I had just eaten would make me have to run to the bathroom. Since I got stable I gradually started eating more varied food and more of it too and that (together with being stable of course) made such a difference to me. I just felt so much better. I had some clues about what to eat and what not to. I had really noticed that IF foods, especially things like whole grain bread and kiwis, made my IBS way worse, but not exactly why. When I read Heather's book I got the explanation and it all made sense.

I believe that if you do the Breaking the Cycle diet for a few days and then follow Heather's advice then you'll know that is the very best you can do for your bowels! Some things may work for you but not for others and some things that work for others might not work for you so you'll still have to listen to your body. (Like for instance some people have no problems with chilli pepper, some do, and some like me can tolerate it in moderate amounts as long as the bowels aren't already acting up from stress et.c.)

The point is: you have to eat. Small servings frequently. Avoid going half the day without food and then getting really hungry which typically increases the risk that you'll just eat whatever you can find and also that you might eat too much and/or too fast. But I think it's safe to say that not eating will at least over time make your IBS even worse.

I recommend eating according to Heather's guidelines, both in terms of what to eat and how to eat and that you get some exercise - whatever you feel like doing and that is possible for you to do on a regular basis. Eating more protein is always good if you want to gain a bit of muscle weight.

I'm sure others here who have more experience can help you with the details on just HOW to gain weight. Good luck!

/Ulrika, IBS-D

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