My LLMD just recently suggested that weight loss would probably help with my pain.. which I can't imagine, I'm not even obese. But has anyone else been told by their Dr.'s to try Medifast to lose weight. I know nothing about this program.. is it pill form, powder... what??
I'd like to know what you all think? I'm off of bread as much as possible and doing gluten free and nightshades free.. basically becoming vegetarian.. I need help...??
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I strongly suggest to NOT do either. Please.
I did MEDIFAST and OPTIFAST for a couple of years on and off in the 80's.
Both very similar, mostly powdered chemicals in a pouch to mix with water and drink (or make as a thick "pudding") 5 times a day, staying under 600 calories or thereabouts.
An adult body needs at least 3 times that, calorie-wise, to do the work of healing. Maybe more.
Fiber and the complex nutrients antioxidants in fresh foods are literally life-saving for many reasons. You will have much more pain if you don't get enough fiber and antioxidants.
I've not checked their OPTIFAST or MEDIFAST websites lately but that used to be the plan. No solid food for months at a time. Amazingly, no hunger as long as no solid food is consumed.
Now, taking a quick look at the MEDIFAST site, I see that they do have some convenience foods but it's still not real food. Not kind to the body. And, as you say you are not obese, it's puzzling why any doctor would suggest this unless it's to get you away from foods that may trigger allergy -- but then the chemicals in these products can do that, too.
I strongly suggest to NOT do either. Please.
Soy protein isolate is in most of their products. MSG is a hidden ingredient used in the processing of soy protein isolate.
No one with lyme should be consuming ANY MSG for reasons highlighted in the "Excitotoxin" thread linked below.
Most of their products contain gluten (though a few do not). Dairy/casein and chemical additives are also plentiful. It not real food. Your body needs REAL food and enough to fuel your cells.
Cost alone is just prohibitive. For instance: $16. for a box of cereal with 7 servings.
Best to spend that money on some Swiss Chard, Portobella Mushrooms and other delicious fresh foods.
The first reason such a starvation diet can be dangerous with lyme:
many with lyme also develop a sort of "secondary porphyria" and such a diet could be very harmful to your liver, your nervous system, etc. as low calorie diets can trigger a porphyria attack.
More detail about Porphyria in the LIVER SUPPORT thread below.
If you feel the need to go to liquids for some reason:
JUICING & GREENS POWDERS & HEMP PROTEIN POWDER
But basically, your body needs REAL food and even with good juicing, you need some solid food, too. REAL food. Not crushed chemicals with fake flavors designed to trick your brain.
There are other ways.
I assume you've gone GLUTEN FREE and also FREE of DAIRY (and casein); CORN & SOY.
As you say you are "off bread as much as possible" that is NOT being gluten-free as, sadly, even a trace - a trace - can cause symptoms for months later.
I did that dance for while, too, and it really does matter. Even lip gloss needs to be certified gluten-free, it matters that much. And it's worth it.
GOOGLE: HIDDEN SOURCES OF GLUTEN - explore all the links that pop up as some are better than others and you will need to combine all the lists.
And free of ALL food additives? FOOD ADDITIVES CAN CAUSE PAIN & weight gain.
[ 08-30-2012, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- As far as loosing weight to help your pain, yes, that may help. However, for those with chronic stealth infections that can be a classic stereo-type / myth and may not correctly serve each patient.
Are you certain your LLMD is an ILADS educated doctor who has attended many years' of ILADS conferences or read/watched past conferences?
I wonder. Most LLMD are fully aware that lyme can cause weight gain but would never dream of suggesting a starvation diet.
Sure, weight loss is supposed to help but it's vital that who ever is treating you for lyme understand the liver complications involved AND that lyme often causes serious weight gain through no fault of the patient. Sometimes, even with the best health habits.
So, lets assume you have the best diet (or will soon - and "diet" here mean getting ENOUGH FOOD of the best type).
Focus on getting good nutrients and plenty of them. Your body needs fuel, your colon the fiber. A starvation diet is not the answer, at all. That that is Medifast is, it's a starvation diet.
Change the word diet in your mind or just don't use it at all, if that helps. -
[ 08-30-2012, 04:31 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- This book & site explain why lyme, and Cpn, caused serious weight gain in some patients and how, once the infection(s) were addressed, it just seemed to nearly fall off.
One of the important points, though, is that even thin people can have fatty veins (a sort of "interior obesity"), so this book is for everyone, not just those carrying more weight:
The authors above show HOW that can happen but - other than the obvious "treat the infections" advice which is vital - don't detail the range of support techniques for the adrenals along the way.
While not a LL doctor and not discussing lyme (but does acknowledge infections as stress), THIS author offers great advice that can benefit those with lyme.
While it's a great resource for herbal and nutritional supplements, it's not just about what supplements can help, or about low dose Cortef (hydrocortisone), but also about some self-care, habits, and such that some of us may never think about as being so important:
In addition to adrenal support to help reduce elevated cortisol, inflammation control would be another avenue, too to address weight gain.
One of the best is curcumin. Those with gallbladder issues might need to use the weaker turmeric, itself and not the stronger extract which is curcumin. Magnesium also helps address inflammation.
Mitochondrial support, too. That can help the heart, so that we can better enjoy moving about, even if in a measured pace.
Also one of the huge reasons for weight gain is the tendency to want to run like the wind when we can - or push punishingly hard even when we can't.
I ruined my body trying that and was bed ridden for a year. Could not do a thing. So, aerobics can cause weight gain if they ground you.
Aerobics are not allowed during illness (due to mitochondrial, cardiac, liver, adrenal and brain tissue stress, etc.) but many other great ways to move are and they can help achieve strength, balance.
Light Weight Training can help the muscles. Also good to add to that: Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Pilates, Yoga, Gentle water exercises, Walking. If up to it, slow biking. Avoid over exertion that results in "payback" or set backs.
A habit of dancing when the mood strikes, just move to the radio - but this is not Dancing With the Stars. Just enjoy a bit of movement often during the day, where ever you are, even if in a chair, wiggle that butt to some tunes.
A rebounder (mini trampoline) is excellent for lymph movement -- but, again, this is not a competition and try to resist the urge to bounce sky high. Without feet even leaving the mat, just gently bouncing is good.
For those who are bed bound, massage therapy may be needed to get the lymph tissue and all body tissue moved around. Massage would be great for everyone, really.
Those with vestibular issues (inner, middle ear) face more challenge as even moving the head can be hard. Massage is especially helpful here but when exercising, try to keep the head stable and focus on on a tree or plant, etc.
A GLUTEN FREE diet also helped a lot to reduce inflammation and puffy weight. Many LLMDs want their patients to be gluten free as they see many benefits from that. But that's another whole set of threads, too.
I'd forget thinking about weight and just focus on a healthful life style. With great food, there will be more energy and better endurance.
I have to focus on the nutrients that my cells need. From there, strength happens.
Whether weight is high or low - it's all just the same process of enjoying flavors of healthful foods and enjoying, as best we can, the joy of movement.
Bottom line: treat infections; support adrenals & mitochondria; feed the body good and plentiful nutrients.
When lyme is put into remission, those with lyme-caused weight gain see it nearly disappear (as long as they have good health habits).
Be kind to yourself. Nourish and Nurture. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Why are you "basically becoming vegetarian"?
Would this included fish and eggs, too? (Two of the very best foods).
If so, the absence of taurine and CLA can cause lots of trouble. These are found primarly in muscle meat with CLA from grass fed, free range animals.
If you avoid those, be sure to supplement with Taurine and CLA (conjugated lipoic acid) but it's still not the same, I think as from whole muscle protein.
I was vegetarian for 18 years. My body did not do well at all with that and I suffered needlessly. I needed more.
Trying to get all the protein I needed from legumes and nuts was impossible in my case. On paper, I could add it all up but it just didn't fuel me as I needed.
[This is not at all to say other can't do it but just don't assume it is possible for every body. My blood type suggested I should be vegetarian but, again, my body discovered that book was wrong about that.]
Of course, I suggest avoid all processed meats and wild fish and getting only that caught or raised under the most humane & clean practices. It really matters. And, still getting plenty of plant protein, too.
Mushrooms and Chestnuts (better in glass jar than frozen but freshly roasted are best) are excellent choices, too.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROTEIN & AMINO ACID DURING ACUTE & CHRONIC INFECTIONS
Indian J Med Res 124, August 2006, pp 129-148
- by Anura V. Kurpad
Fifteen pages of text.
Excerpt from abstract on page one:
. . . In general, the amount of extra protein that would appear to be needed is of the order of 20-25 per cent of the recommended intake, for most infections. . . . -
[ 08-30-2012, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I can't explain why now - and did that and lost the post - so just posting key connections for pain relief and will be back to explain why -or to into the links and it will be explained.
Most LLMDs would give you all this detail but, just in case you've not received it:
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MAGNESIUM & FISH OIL (such as OmegaBrite) are key to pain relief.
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Pain with lyme is most often due to toxicity. Liver support helps.
I mentioned above that with a starvation diet like MEDIFAST, those with lyme stand a much greater risk for serious porphyria attack.
The Porphyria link in this LIVER set explains that (see the post "Seceondary Porphryia" but know that there are more healthful ways to enjoy complex carbs as simple carbs are not a good idea normally).
Topic: To everyone with CARDIAC symptoms please read!
SAFE (non-aerobic) EXERCISE - with Burrascano's guidelines and explanation for how too much exercise can damage the liver, etc. And what helps. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I know this is a lot but this topic is very close to my heart.
I've suffered greatly from otherwise well meaning doctors who knew diddly squat about the causes of obesity nor really cared to learn more.
But - backing up - you say that you are not obese. Realize that many doctors now consider even slight weight gain to be nearly criminal.
Many THINK starvation is the answer. And some get paid to suggest MEDIFAST to patients. Really. I hope your doctor is not one of those but as you say you are not obese, it's truly a puzzle as to why any good LLMD would suggest this. I don't think a good one would.
Even for a few pounds over, the stigma and judgement out there, coupled with so much stupidity about all the causes - well - just be careful not to make sweeping assumptions about yourself or any diet that encourages starvation.
Decades ago, although always health minded (I thought) I made many stupid choices with OPTIFAST and MEDIFAST before I learned all this. I want to help prevent that kind of disaster for others. It can cause long term damage. Really.
THIS is what I recommend you consider regarding a food and nutrient plan - I highly recommend Terry Wahls, MD book and suggestions for cellular repair.
Thanks to HALEY for bringing this to our attention. ----------
Sidebar: When a lifetime of suffering, medical visits and prescription drugs can be resolved with a not especially challenging dietary change, a certain amount of retroactive frustration seems justifiable.
Not surprisingly, experiences like mine with dairy, outlined in my column of two weeks ago, are more common than unusual, at least according to the roughly 1,300 comments and e-mails we received since then.
In them, people outlined their experiences with dairy and health problems as varied as heartburn, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, eczema, acne, hives, asthma (�When I gave up dairy, my asthma went away completely�),
- full article at link above.
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after a month or so off all dairy and casein, you may be able to test out GOAT CHEESE and see how that might work for you.
A true FETA would be from goat milk but I've seen some that use cow's milk so be sure to investigate the company not just for ingredients but also to see how their goats are tended and what they eat. It matters. -
[ 08-30-2012, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- MOLD exposure can also cause pain and weight gain. See: http://lisanagy.com
SCENTS - Going scent-free can be very helpful for many reasons and it can help lessen pain and also help with weight loss as synthetic scents are serious endocrine disruptors.
PLASTICS in our foods are also endocrine disruptors that can cause pain, weight gain and illness.
Wiki: "Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with endocrine (or hormone system) in animals, including humans. . . ."
Safe Home for Health, Happy Families -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I tend to want to apologize for posting so much but the bottom line is that I think ANY doctor should have told you ALL this - everything that I've posted.
If they did not tell you directly (as time is limited), they should have a print-out similar to this.
Did yours? Hope so. [But it would be very rare were that to be the case. Most may not even know pain & weight are so complex. And most doctors receive no training in nutrition.]
For your reference ease, the link (URL) can be copied and pasted to a word file on your desktop. They you can refer back to all this as you wish.
I hope you find your way in all this and feel better soon. I hope this information will feel empowering and freeing, actually. It has been for me. -