It's amazing - but I finally know "what is wrong with me". I have long standing known that although I do have a serious problem controlling my eating - that there was something underlying my problem with my weight - and controlling it. And I finally have confirmed what it is - I have IBS. And yes, that can cause you issues with your weight. My body was not digesting nutrition properly, so what little nutrition it got it was desperately holding onto - fundamentally my body was in "starvation" mode even though I was eating too much food.
I have been put on a fairly strict diet: No artificial sweeteners, no dairy (except for natural yogurt), no white flour, limit my sugar and fat intake, no potatoes, no corn, no "white" - rice/pasta. So its off to the land of soy for me. No choclate was the hardest - at least no choclate with milk in it - nothing with lactose at all - cheese, milk, ice cream, etc.
However - the change is dramatic. It's been about 24 hours and my stomach is feeling so awesome I hardly know what to do with myself. The bloating has gone down DRAMATICALLY - pants that fit this morning are falling off me. I haven't had any gas today at all - or cramps!
Eating today:
breakfast: 1 apple
Lunch: 1 cup soy pudding, dried strawberries, tossed salad with 2 oz grilled chicken and olive oil and vinegar w/ a little garlic salt to taste.
snack: tomato soup and celery sticks
Days without caffeine count: 1 1/2 full days
Days without choclate count: 1/2 full days
Oh - it sucks a LOT. But I am trying to think of it by what I CAN eat versus what I CAN'T - and there are a lot of things I CAN eat. We have awesome whole foods stores up here that have limitless options! It's just learning a new lifestyle really!
I bet it feels great to be rid of the bloating and cramps, Beth Anne! Even though you have some new dietary restrictions, the frustration factor must be significantly reduced now that you have a handle on what was causing the problem and know how to deal with it. There'll be no stopping you now!
Well Hi Beth Anne, It seems like forever since I have chatted with you, lol. I'm glad things are working out for you. Hopefully now, you will see the loss that you deserve! Just think how great you will feel when summer comes!
Hi Beth Anne,
Im so glad you've gotten your problem solved! Im sure you'll be feeling just spiffy now! What does IBS stand for? Im thinking Irritable Bowell Syndrome, but Im having a blond moment. Just think of all the yummy new things you get to try now!!
Hi Beth Anne: I'm new to the forum, but not to IBS. I have an allergy induced form. It took about 4 months of various testings to find the root cause..... allergies. Found out I was highly allergic to dust mites, chicken feathers, less to mold. We had to remove all carpets in the house, and I had to get rid of a lot of books and knickknacks and general clutter.... not to mention becoming a fussier housekeeper.
There are foods I react to also. The allergist that I saw said that some folks may not be able to drink milk, but could eat ice cream or foods that had cooked milk; corn was a no-no but corn chips were ok; wheat bread a no-no but small amounts of wheat in recipe was ok. It took me a few years of guess work to weed out some of the offending foods - along with the allergy stuff and shots I was doing.
I do remember going on elimination diets like you mentioned. After a while I'd introduce back a food and see if I could handle it. I found that I could eat something in the summers when my allergies were less, but couldn't eat it in the winters (cuz of the humidity in the air there's more dust mite activity). Still can't eat mushrooms whatever the season tho without a bout of IBS.
I do eat those soy burgers - Boca Burgers are the best. There is a great tasting vanilla soy protein shake I sometimes make with fruits if I'm in a rush.
I can gain 3-5 lbs overnight of bloat from eating a no-no food. Then there's the gut aches as it passes thru. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I have been able to handle my IBS quite well for 8-10 yrs now with monitoring my problem foods and household. I always keep a size or two of too large pants around for those flare-up times. Generally the bloat is gone in 2-3 days, but the diarreah (can't spell that word) and intestinal spasms last about a week. It re-inforces what not to eat all these years later. :-)
Good luck to ya. It looks like a mountain to climb at first - for me the first year was the hardest. When it's gone for a period of time, and then comes back..... it seems to hurt more.
Allie
Maintained 114 loss for 6 months, gained 20 after injury this summer but now working on loosing it again.
Beth Anne...I'm so glad you got a concrete answer! There is nothing worse than *knowing* something is wrong with you and having people just pooh-pooh you.
Oh Beth Anne, you must be so relieved to finally have answers! Sounds like you'll have some dietary challenges, but Allie gave some hope for potential longterm tweaking as you learn more about your body and your condition. I'm so happy you're already feeling so much better, and I'm very glad you're back too!
Allie, just a quick hello to you, and may I say that I truly respect your accomplishment! I'm sorry you were injured, and sorry also that it resulted in a small gain....but shoot, you licked 114 -- 20's a drop in the bucket and you know what and how to do it! Very nice to have you here with us -- welcome!
Beth Anne, keep us posted, ok? Again, congrat's on the resolution and the progress. Yay you!
ok - to answer the few questions - it was both myself AND the doctor. My sister was diagnosed recently and it set off a whole bunch of bells and whistles. So I went to the doctor! I've always struggled with gas and cramps and general tummy discomfort - don't want to get into TMI - but just never knowing if I would be constipated or have to run like the dickens for the bathroom! I did not lose any weight yet, but lost almost 2 inches in the last 48 hours - backing up what Allie said!
Allie - thanks for the "hope" - I too have a lot of allergies so they think that ALSO may play a part. I think I've known for a LONG time I had a problem with milk but chose to ignore it. I am fine with high fiber breads - I need to eat more soluable fiber and try to avoid the insoluable fiber - so I'm eating the Ezekial bread and so far seem fine. I need to avoid the processed foods!
Well finally you have some "closure" and can end all the "what if's" as you now know what's wrong.
Im going to mention IBS as a possible problem for my gf at work. She's been having very bad tummy troubles, gas and occasional diarhea.. Her doctor still hasn't figured out whats wrong, but she has a specialist appointment for next month. This has been going on for over a year for her and I hope she gets some answers soon.
Soooo happy you're feeling better and Good Luck with staying back on track!
Diagnosis: Finally
:
We have awesome whole foods stores up here that have limitless options! It's just learning a new lifestyle really!
to you, and may I say that I truly respect your accomplishment! I'm sorry you were injured, and sorry also that it resulted in a small gain....but shoot, you licked 114 -- 20's a drop in the bucket and you know what and how to do it! Very nice to have you here with us -- welcome! 
