I was working on getting more in-shape and doing alright before I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. It's a gastrointestinal issue, so I lost a LOT of weight between the time I first started being sick and the time that I spent in the hospital. I'm 5'4" and I went down to about 99 pounds.
Well, the doctor started me on Remicade, which is a medicine that I get through infusions every two months. I'll be taking it for the rest of my life. It's done a good job of keeping my symptoms at bay. I was able to eat again and, after some time, managed to get back to my normal weight, which was between 120 and 130.
The problem is that after reaching a healthy weight, I didn't stop gaining. My daily routine hadn't really changed at all, except that the foods I was eating were a little healthier in order to keep me from getting sick again. We looked it up online and found an article which said that patients using Remicade had sometimes reported unexplained weight gain. After quite a wait, I have an appointment to talk with my doctor this month. I've been on Remicade for a little over a year now.
So far, I have gained 40 pounds and gone up 7 pant sizes. For a while, I tried using Slimfast and exercising regularly to get rid of the extra weight. I got depressed when it didn't seem to work and I just kept gaining, so I gave up on it. I know that's not the right thing to do, but the problem is that I'm very hard to motivate and when I feel like my efforts are in vain, I stop.
I intend to ask my doctor about the problem and hopefully get some answers, but in the meantime, I want very much to start making exercise a daily thing again. I need to do it anyway, regardless of my condition, but I always get distracted or just don't feel like it. I don't have anyone to do this along with me, so it's hard for me to get myself to just get up and do it.
What are some ways that I can stay motivated and focused on fixing this problem?
I think some of the best motivation is, cheesily enough, dropping the pant sizes. Getting to tighten the belt one more notch. I could say something really cheesy and sappy, like knowing that you'll be healthier and feeling better, which might also be true but doesn't have that same sense of motivation. People, in general, like to actually see the results of what they've been doing.
Oddly enough, I lose more weight when I'm not even trying that hard. Then again...it's probably because I don't try very hard at anything during those periods--especially eating. 0.o
Another motivation tool is doing something fun to exercise. It sometimes takes me forever to get me to hop on a treadmill or something, even though I really do love that feeling of getting a good workout. But then...I just feel like I'm not really accomplishing anything by just running. Where am I running to? Why does it matter? Why can't I get the same result out of something I enjoy more? I prefer studying martial arts over redundant exercise a lot more. It keeps my mind busy.
Also, working out with friends is really helpful. You can motivate each other, keep each other on track...and hey, those who sweat together stick together. ;D I was closest with one of my friends when we were regularly in the same Tae Kwon Do class together.
And don't quit halfway through. I was stuck at 170-175 for 3 1/2 to 4 years before I finally dropped down to 160 last winter. No idea why, but hey. It felt really nice. Because I hadn't lost weight in forever. I know I've been losing weight again, but I don't have scale so I have no idea how much. XD
Just keep going with it and make it something you look forward to doing.
That's a good point; perhaps if I pick an exercise I actually like, it won't feel like work and it'll help me get more into the habit and maybe add some other things in, too.
I'd love to work out with friends, but all of mine live in another state and my husband is too tired/sore from work to do any other exercise. >_< So I think I'm alone on this one, but hopefully it won't be so bad if I can find a way to enjoy it.
As far as losing weight, noticing a change is definitely a good incentive to keep going. My problem is that I don't really know if I'm doing better or not. I thought I was, but I went to the doctor (for flu, not the other doctor) today and apparently, I'd gained five pounds since the last time I was weighed. D: Even so, though, I have at least been feeling a little better lately and something must be working, because I'm at least interested in starting again.
Thank you for responding; I will keep all these things in mind.
haha ya. I almost never pay much mind to the numbers. Mostly 'cause I have no scale, but I don't go out and buy one, either, 'cause then I'm afraid I'll just obsess over it. Which is bad. I check myself by how my clothes fit, if my muscles are becoming more defined and if my endurance has gone up. Physical tests. It doesn't always mean I've necessarily lost weight, but I figure that even my weight stays the same while my pant size drops from having more toned thighs...who cares?
If there's some sort of class that you might be interesting, you could try that. If you're into dancing, I've only taken 1 zumba class but it was a ton of fun. I might try to revisit that in the future when I have more time. And if it's something with a regular schedule, you'll probably make friends there. ;D
I don't know of anything in our area that doesn't cost money, but if I found something, I'd have to consider it. I think a part of my problem is that I don't have much of a schedule right now. Having something routine helps. :o
Hmm, my sister has Crohn's but she takes oral meds for it and those hadn't adversely effected her weight, she has put on a bit ove the past year or so but I put that down to contentment as she's happily engaged and co-habiting. But when I say a bit I mean she's not looking skinny any more, more normal weight for her height.
Can't you try different meds? I may be on the wrong track here but it seems like those are the cause of your gain. For your weight to go up that much isn't normal, not unless you're eating enough for 2 or 3 people, maybe.
I'm just thinking that if medication is causing the gain then whatevr you do to try and offset that it will have no effect. Though being sure to eat healthily and do enough exercise will help to keep your habits in check in the meantime. I've seen those Zumba ads on TV and that looks like a whole lot of fun and not something anyone would hate doing. I'm sure you could find a version of the dvd online somewhere for free :ninja:
I might just look into it; I haven't really heard of it much until now.
And yes, I'm quite certain that the medication is the cause of my weight gain. They didn't tell me that it would happen before I went on Remicade, but apparently, I'm not the only one with this problem. I'm going to ask my doctor when I talk to her about whether or not this weight gain will continue and how I can stop it. Last time I went, they said I seemed to be "evening out", but I don't want to get too cozy. I need to make sure this is going to stop and stay stopped--and if it's not, I need to figure out some other options for counteracting it.
Good luck with that! Weight gain is depressing, particularly if you were underweight before. And expensive from having to buy new clothes!
Are you sure none of it is water retention? You could keep an eye on that yourself by insuring your fluid intake is high enough, sipping loads of water and tea throughout the day and so on. I know I can gain 8+lb during my pre-menstrual week if I haven't been drinking enough so your medication might be making your body hold onto too much fluid, you never know.
Have a look on Youtube for Zumba clips, ignore the hype and just imagine doing it, it does look fun. It's basically a hyped up Salsa workout. Lots of cardio in there and stuff to get your pulse going, plenty of repeatative small muscle movements to develop tone. Classes would be hella expensive long term, but Bit Torrents are your friend (I never said that :ninja: )
Yeah, having to buy new clothes has been one of the worst things about it. >n< We can't afford it!
I try to make sure I drink enough water during the day, but sometimes I probably don't. I have been meaning to drink more, though today it's been hard since I've been sick and not really able to get up and do anything.
The Zumba thing (or at least something similar) does look like it might be fun. I've been kind of interested in the idea of dance work-outs lately, though I think I'd be much too embarrassed to take a class anyway--which is fine with me, given the cost. I will have to do some research.
Here's a vid which breaks down some of the steps. I'm pretty sure that for this at least you could piece together your own workout from moves picked up from various clips!
The clothing angle really does suck. I lost over 30 lb and none of my clothes fitted me any more and I felt almost guilty about being pissed about that. But it's no joke when your winter coat hangs on you like a sack, and the 1 pair of legwear you have is a 10 year old pair of jeans that you luckily hadn't got rid of. Weight "change" of any kind is difficult when you can't support it financially.
At least if I do manage to lose the weight, I'll have plenty of things to wear because of all the clothes of various sizes from before I got sick until this point. If I gain any more, though, we'll have a problem...
Yeah, that's true! lol. Hopefully you won't gain any more, if that does happen though, are you any good with a sewing machine/needle and thread? Keyori got me onto this blog and this girl really transforms some sometimes simply enormous clothes that she's bought dirt cheap. 365 days. 365 items of clothing. 365 dollars
Unfortunately, not at all. I don't even own any of those things and never really learned to use them anyway. It would be nice if I could make my own clothes or alter them, regardless of the reason. I can be rather picky...
Zumba really is fun. I wasn't sure that I'd like it, because I'm very body-shy..I guess? XD But it was tons of fun. And everyone there usually feels just as odd about it the first couple times as you do. The way the instructor put it: "Dance like you're just dancing around your room" ....And then we were like "..OOOooohhhhh okay!" :lol:
I totally understand not being able to afford new clothes when you lose weight, though. I'm probably going to need a whole new set of clothes if I keep losing weight like I am (unhealthily, might I add :gonk:)...probably by Spring Break. ...Which would work anyways, since I'd definitely want new clothes if I traveled abroad. BUT STILL. I feel guilty having to ask for any clothes, because my dad acts like I don't deserve it and my mom works extra hours just to send me grocery money every now and then. Q_Q
@Jelly: I love that blog. I wish I could do some of the things she does to those clothes. I've thought about it, too, since there's apparently a decent goodwill store near one of my college's buildings. But then I remember that I can't sew...at all. And those who try to teach me usually give up in about 10 minutes, 'cause I'm that bad at it.
ANYWAY! I definitely agree that you should talk to your doctor about different medication possibilities if this doesn't fix itself soon. I'm going to second Jelly about the Zumba thing :ninja: I don't know how much the class costs, 'cause I actually got to take it for free, since it was held at my TKD studio... One of my friends has the DVD's, though, and she loves it. XD
I have also taken medecine that caused me to gain weight, apparantly it was something in it that made it harder for the body to break down fat or something. It was quite odd since the medecine also caused me to lose my appetite, which made it pretty frustrating that I gained.
Since then my doctor have changed my medication slightly and I no longer have an issue with that, but then I do work out more now. Which I can do since I'm better now. And I have lost what I gained before. But instead I have gotten some other side effect, mostly shakings. Especially my hands are shaking a lot, it's starting to freak me out. But I'm gonna take it up with my doctor this week.
As for motivation for training, it helps if you can find something that you really like to do. At least that works for me.
D: I hope you get that sorted out with your doctor.
Once I'm feeling better, I think I'll start doing the step workout I have again. I'll look into the dance things, too, but I do enjoy the stepping, so I'll still have that if I don't find anything else. Maybe get in the habit of taking walks, just building on little bits at a time.
I don't think there's any hope for me changing my treatment, but I will at least discuss whatever options I may have.
That sounds good, Glitter! :D As long as it's something you enjoy, it shouldn't be an issue. haha I hadn't been doing any Tae Kwon Do lately, but the other day it just threw itself back at me. ....Usually by 2am, I get the impulse to practice forms. 0.o Odd, but at least I'm doing it again.
I've never really been interested in sports and exercise much, but I'm finding that I like more things than I thought. I guess I'll just have to keep open to trying things out, and not forget the things I already like. It's just so hard to get up and get going sometimes... But just talking about it really helps, too.
Oh my gosh I know what you mean. I have such a hard time getting going on things that I actually really enjoy and can get excited about. I think it's just the mindset. You can't think of it as work. That's when it gets hard. :gonk: Now I just have to go try to not think about some things as work for a while longer. >.<
You could try using supplements like Hydroxycut or Venom Hyperdrive. They give you a huge, longlasting energy shot which could just be the thing you need when you want to start excercising, I'm not certain what effect it'll have in combination with your disease and medication so I guess some research couldn't hurt. ;)
I don't know much about weight loss aside from what I learned in nutrition which is this:
More muscle means more fat burned, don't use food as a reward (ever, it's really bad of an idea), and as for motivation... maybe see if a friend can "hang out with you" every time you lose X amount of weight until it's a reasonable level?
One thing that's helped me a great deal with losing weight is eating breakfast; I eat 1 egg, a packet of low-sugar oatmeal or dry toast and either a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt. Eating breakfast keeps your body from going into starvation mode which keeps your body from burning fat. The other biggy is to eat more veggies (that was the saddest part of it for me). My doc says to always eat the veggies first, then the protein, then the carbs.
Then it's a good thing I like broccoli so much. X3 And I do usually try to eat breakfast, since I don't have anywhere to go in the mornings, though sometimes I just don't feel like it... which I probably need to work on. Might help if I do stretches when I wake up to get out of zombie mode.
And yeah, food rewards = bad idea, especially for me. Maybe small gifts to myself are a better idea for whenever I keep up with a goal.
Thanks to everyone; this is really helping so far. I've been sick the past few days, but I intend to put all this to work as soon as I can.
Oh, and a 30 minute walk 5 times a week will do wonders, too. You can always do more than that, but that's a good place to start. Any time you're up and moving, you're buring calories!
