A bit of background: 6 years ago, I was 89.5kg (14st) and fit, doing 3-4 Bootcamps at the gym each week. A year later I’d gone up to 95kg but that was the point when my body gave out and I stopped exercising. I’d always been very sporty and used exercise to keep my weight down. In the last 5 years, my weight has ballooned to 129kg (over 20st). I’ve lived unwittingly with MS for 10 years (and perhaps as many as 18) but only diagnosed in early '21.
I’m Male, 59 and 182cm (5’11.5") and really, really fat! In short, I’ve not changed my diet as my inactivity has become worse & worse as my MS has progressed. I now get out of breath climbing the stairs. Weight is not the reason for my health issues but it IS amplifying the symptoms.
I’ve tried to diet sporadically but not stuck to anything. In no small part, dieting made me so knackered, though I now know to call it fatigue and it goes with the MS. So, after that long-winded intro, one question:
How have folks on here managed their weight (if susceptible to gaining), whilst coping with MS fatigue?
I know this is about diet in the broader sense (ie well-being rather than weight-loss) but it might give some useful pointers. He just posted it today. Then flick back to his fairly recent posts about fatigue too.
The keto type diets (paleolithic is quite similar) seem to be helpful in losing weight because they greatly reduce the blood sugar spikes and drops, so sustain for longer, and they appear to reduce inflammation. They should help with fatigue too, as you are not getting the fatigues with the spike and the fatigue with the drops, your energy from food is more smoothly released, and also more available for release.
This excellent lot have just reissued their advice and here is the new version. The Public Health Collaboration are my go-to people for advice on diet and nutrition. Not a million miles away from what the (also excellent) Prof G recommends either (see Ziola’s post). If you want to lose weight and improve your general and metabolic health without semi-starving yourself, I think you will enjoy this way of eating. I certainly do. In a nutshell, I’m afraid it’s about enjoying good food and plenty of it, and cutting out the junky crap, but that’s no surprise, and no loss either.
I regret your situation, as you have tried to make adjustments. One question, are you taking any steroids? If so, they may impede your attempts at weight loss. People on steroids have a hard time losing weight and weight gain is possible. In addition, you may see puffiness in your face that is new. Talk to your doctor about these issues, and good luck to you.
No, Veendam, no steroids. On meds for hypertension, prostate/ bladder urgency plus supplements e.g. Vitamin D, Cod Liver Oil, Magnesium. Also more recently baclofen for muscle spasms / rigidity. Tried Gabapentin but didn’t get on with it. No facial puffiness but feet, ankles & lower legs are very swollen. Could be heart failure as a result of no real CV activity for years.
The biggest problem is that the fatigue we feel from MS seems to be at odds with dieting and calorie deficit which can cause a degree of lethargy even for healthier folk. I need to read further as to the merits of ketosis, fasting etc.
Has anyone on here successfully lost weight whilst living with MS?
I could not take Gabapentin - it gave me the hebegives! But it was successful for my wife who had PMS. I take Baclofen and so you mentioned and a ton more. You mentioned weight gain, have you been cleared for Diabetes? That can result in amputation of legs and feet if neglected. I have that same problem, but mine is from broken bones in my feet and ankles compounded by arthritis (gout). My pain never goes away but
and runs from my feet feeling like they are so swollen that they are going to explode to mild discomfort.
Fatigue is a ball buster. The only thing you can do is to rest, take a nap or sleep. At least in sleep there is no pain. I have several issues that cause fatigue but I have learned to go with it and nap/sleep if it does not interfere with your nightly sleep.
I am always available to listen to your issues, so do not feel like you are bothering me. I am here to share my experience good-bad or otherwise. Please send any messages via this site, as I cannot respond to the device you used on your inquiry.
Hi Jim
Been a while. Never had diabetes but often tested as I’m close to the pre-diabetic range on HbA1c test. I’ve dropped 9kg then gained back 4kg since new year. Portion size reduction mainly but I also had a bout of cellulitis in my leg which entailed 11 days in hospital and several follow-up courses of antibiotics. That probably helped take the edge off my appetite. Just another 30kg to go…
Graeme
I’ve got exactly the same problem. I’ve gone from 10 stone to 14stone 7 and I can’t shift it.
A while ago when I suggested on here we do a weekly weigh in as an incentive, I got a load of abuse and told I was attention seeking.
That’s when I stopped coming on the group and only look in occasionally.
Hi Jezebel, so glad you have rejoined. No excuses but this does seem to be (occasionally) a highly charged but yet supportive forum.
Maybe, although with the best of intentions, suggesting by way of an incentive a weigh in was a wish too far.
Well meant but perhaps exposed some vulnerabilities,
Glad you have been able to see past a tricky subject.
I’m sure you will be able to go on and make many great contributions.
Ps, nothing a matter with being needy from time to time, I dyed my fringe purple this week and loved every minute of attention it gave me Take care
Hi Jezebel
Weekly weigh in sounds like a great idea. As far as the abuse is concerned, folks can either join in or not and don’t have to read the threads. Bit like the old farts who complain about TV programmes when they could have just changed channel.
Personally, I think a slight competitive element is a good thing, though I abhor the idea of the local FatFighters clubs. MS presents its own specific challenges to dieting - for me it’s striking a balance between calorie deficit (good) and fatigue (not good). Non-MS-ers wouldn’t really get it. I’m intrigued by Ketosis but am concerned that to reach ketosis, one has to go through a keto fog to get to the other side. MS-ers have enough trouble with brain fog and/or fatigue as it is. I’m also concerned that keto diets lead to not only to fat loss but loss of fluid and more worryingly, muscle wastage. I’m too inactive currently and the biggest muscle, my heart, can little afford any wastage. These and other concepts could be debated in an active MS diet group.
So count me in! And it we can’t make it work on here, we could always spin off to a WhatsApp group or similar.
In my view, a person can get much of the benefit of a ketogenic approach without the pain by just going low carb. Cut out sugar, flour and grains and you will do yourself a world of metabolic good. I eat whole food carbs like berries, natural full-fat yoghurt, root veg (except potatoes) nuts snd seeds, lentils, beans etc to my heart’s content and am a million miles from ketosis, but feel better than I have for years.
Take care 
