Under-fed

[AmandaBee]

Hi there,

I’m joining the group after 3 years of gluten-free, because I’m just so struggling with eating enough. I was already at the point of not being able to eat enough to keep weight on, then learned I could not tolerate wheat.

I’m simply uninspired. I’ve burned through all the convenient gluten free switches, I can’t eat enough to get enough fuel from lettuce wraps and rice... I’m also allergic to tomatoes and potatoes and peppers  and dairy.. all the things that complete meals.. I DONT have the access to kitchen space to be a meal prepper.. 

I don’t want to dump all of the negatives that are blocking my path to eating enough to fuel but.. 

im not eating enough to fuel. I don’t enjoy the food enough to eat enough of it.    I’m skinny, really skinny, I’m almost always in a headache or fatigue just from the lack of fuel, and I Need some support. 
Here’s to Hope! 

 

 

 

[RMJ]

How about high calorie foods such as peanut or almond butter?  That is what I use to maintain or gain weight.

I generally try to not eat too much sugar but sometimes I think getting calories is more important than avoiding “junk” foods.

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Amanda!

You are not alone in this problem. We frequently have posters on this forum who report not being able to get the calories they need either because of many food intolerances/allergies or poor appetite.

So, let me ask you some questions. 

1. When you say you are allergic to potatoes, peppers and tomatoes, how does consuming them affect you? Are you basing this statement on some kind of allergy testing or from experience? Those three vegetables are all in the nightshade family which can cause some people various issues because there is some research suggesting nightshades can cause inflammatory responses.

2. Are you okay with meat, eggs and nuts and fruits? Nuts are a dense, high energy food.

3. Are you on any high potency vitamin and mineral supplements? Lack of appetite can be connected to nutritional deficiencies.

[Wheatwacked]

This is the list of supplements that brought me back to health because I was not eating enough.The list after that is what I eat now, still taking most of the supplements. I know it is a lot. Do you have a hot plate and fridge? The vitamin D and Lithium help with mood.  It takes less than a week to kick in. This is NOT burn out your brain high dose lithium. It is the proposed RDA. For me it works as well as Busperone for anxiety. "Lithium in drinking water and the incidences of crimes, suicides, and arrests related to drug addictions"   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1699579/

The Geritol is an option instead of Gentle Iron (not listed).

***************************************************************

Grams ServedFood

 

[AmandaBee]

2 hours ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Amanda!

You are not alone in this problem. We frequently have posters on this forum who report not being able to get the calories they need either because of many food intolerances/allergies or poor appetite.

So, let me ask you some questions. 

1. When you say you are allergic to potatoes, peppers and tomatoes, how does consuming them affect you? Are you basing this statement on some kind of allergy testing or from experience? Those three vegetables are all in the nightshade family which can cause some people various issues because there is some research suggesting nightshades can cause inflammatory responses.

2. Are you okay with meat, eggs and nuts and fruits? Nuts are a dense, high energy food.

3. Are you on any high potency vitamin and mineral supplements? Lack of appetite can be connected to nutritional deficiencies.

Yep- nightshades set off my stomach inflammation and wheat sets off inflammation in all of my muscles. 
no auto-immune diagnosis yet.

im good with the meat and eggs and nuts and fruits! I kinda wore out nuts in the first few years, I have to be really hungry to be able to chew through them now. That’s my main holdup with filling in the diet- it sure is a lot of chewing! I get “done” eating and push a little farther  but end up walking away with less than 2000 calories a day. 
 

I get swamped in trying to research vitamins, and my blood work always shows ok levels. What do you suggest? 

[trents]

Tapioca and peanut butter are both calorie dense and don't require much chewing.

So, you do not have an official celiac disease dx yet since you say you have no auto-immune diagnosis. You may also have NCGS instead of celiac disease.

May I ask your age? Are you getting regular exercise? Do you have good support from family and friends?

Check this out with regard to loss of appetite: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/thiamine-deficiency-symptoms#:~:text=One common early symptom of,the hypothalamus of the brain.

Also, https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvKXlYtz0R2yw7uvfM1vZtahMUmxOQ:1634000027283&q=Most+assimilable+form+of+thiamine&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIjsG51MPzAhVjFTQIHa4GB6wQBSgAegQIARA0&biw=1366&bih=625

I usually recommend a high potency gluten free B-complex such as Costco's Nature Made brand. B-vitamins are water soluble and there is no danger of toxicity when taking high doses. Excess is just peed out.

I would also suggest adding D3 (at least 2000 IU daily) and magnesium gluconate or sterate. Those two forms of magnesium are assimilated more easily than other forms and so help to prevent it from having a laxative effect. But go lite on the magnesium until you find how much is too much and gives you loose stools.

 

[Onegiantcrunchie]

Hi Amanda. Hope you're okay today. If you want to gain weight could you add a some extra butter or olive oil into your meals? 10g of butter is close to 80 kcals, and one tablespoon olive oil is around 120 kcals. Those add up fast.

Also maybe try and have a snack of a drink with 1-2 cookies? I don't want to recommend unhealthy things but they definitely add up the cals. And as trents said, peanut butter. I gained weight rapidly having peanut butter on toast back in the day!

[trents]

6 hours ago, Onegiantcrunchie said:

Hi Amanda. Hope you're okay today. If you want to gain weight could you add a some extra butter or olive oil into your meals? 10g of butter is close to 80 kcals, and one tablespoon olive oil is around 120 kcals. Those add up fast.

Also maybe try and have a snack of a drink with 1-2 cookies? I don't want to recommend unhealthy things but they definitely add up the cals. And as trents said, peanut butter. I gained weight rapidly having peanut butter on toast back in the day!

OP states in her original post that she is allergic to dairy products.

[Onegiantcrunchie]

42 minutes ago, trents said:

OP states in her original post that she is allergic to dairy products.

Hi trents, I always thought butter doesn't count for some reason ? I've heard some lactose intolerant people say they can have butter but not milk

[trents]

Butter is not pure fat. It is actually a lipoprotein. An allergy to milk would not be caused by lactose (the sugar in milk) but by the protein component. Allergies are reactions to proteins. Some people who think they are lactose intolerant may actually be casein intolerant.

Edited October 12, 2021 by trents

[AmandaBee]

11 hours ago, Onegiantcrunchie said:

Hi Amanda. Hope you're okay today. If you want to gain weight could you add a some extra butter or olive oil into your meals? 10g of butter is close to 80 kcals, and one tablespoon olive oil is around 120 kcals. Those add up fast.

Also maybe try and have a snack of a drink with 1-2 cookies? I don't want to recommend unhealthy things but they definitely add up the cals. And as trents said, peanut butter. I gained weight rapidly having peanut butter on toast back in the day!

Wow thank you for asking. I’m pretty high stress/ anxiety today, so I appreciate you asking. I did get on to making oatmeal cookies that I enjoyed. I should make another batch! Thank you. 

[AmandaBee]

18 hours ago, trents said:

Tapioca and peanut butter are both calorie dense and don't require much chewing.

So, you do not have an official celiac disease dx yet since you say you have no auto-immune diagnosis. You may also have NCGS instead of celiac disease.

May I ask your age? Are you getting regular exercise? Do you have good support from family and friends?

Check this out with regard to loss of appetite: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/thiamine-deficiency-symptoms#:~:text=One common early symptom of,the hypothalamus of the brain.

Also, https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvKXlYtz0R2yw7uvfM1vZtahMUmxOQ:1634000027283&q=Most+assimilable+form+of+thiamine&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIjsG51MPzAhVjFTQIHa4GB6wQBSgAegQIARA0&biw=1366&bih=625

I usually recommend a high potency gluten free B-complex such as Costco's Nature Made brand. B-vitamins are water soluble and there is no danger of toxicity when taking high doses. Excess is just peed out.

I would also suggest adding D3 (at least 2000 IU daily) and magnesium gluconate or sterate. Those two forms of magnesium are assimilated more easily than other forms and so help to prevent it from having a laxative effect. But go lite on the magnesium until you find how much is too much and gives you loose stools.

 

 

[AmandaBee]

22 minutes ago, AmandaBee said:

 

You are so helpful! Thank you for asking, I’m 30 years old, I I am starting to get back to exercising in small ways each day. I am just recently divorced and displaced from my home town with no familiar support or family around, except for one close friend here which is why I stay where I am currently located. That’s it tho, for good support! 
I have vit B and magnesium, I didn’t realize a soecific magnesium Would have less laxative effects. I hope the one I already have, Is one of those two kinds. 
So, when you say appetite- are you saying these supplements will increase my urge to eat? I’m not enjoying gluten free the foods -I don’t know how to increase that satisfaction enough to want to eat more, I make the food regardless but to eat and swallow more.

can I  ask you what your profession is? I’m getting more response/ interaction/answers from you than my doctors visits . These are things I’ve discussed with my doctor and my long awaited psychiatrist. 
loss of desire and pleasure indicates depression,

And it’s true depression is there- anti-depressants have been tried, but my body is reacting to them with violent abdominal inflammation. CT scan showed a mess of lymph nodes swollen from the medication! No medication, no searing burning.
But no relief from the lack of satisfaction/pleasures of eating.

strict dieting and integrative doctors methods have been tried already, and there was no relief. Prescription medication has been tried but nothing is found that doesn’t have adverse affects, both mentally and physically, and now each medication is just reacting immediately. I’m asking my doctor about  ordering a DNA test to test enzyme absorption genetics, it’s a yes or no answer, she generally  doesn’t have any suggestions  outside of what I can think of. 
P. S.. This is a lot to unpack in a response! I apologize for opening the can! I try to sound positive, even just in efforts to train  my own thoughts. 

 

 

 

[trents]

I appreciate your openness. Our bodies/mind/spirit are not isolated from one another and when one is having problems the others often do as well. Traditional medicine tends to compartmentalize them and treat them individually.

You asked my profession. I am retired from a long career in Christian ministry, first as a pastor and then for the last 20 or so years I was on staff as a hospital chaplain at a facility belonging to a major healthcare group.

Sounds like you have experienced a lot of stress and loss of late and life changes as well. That can take a  toll. And having a lot of food sensitivities makes it difficult to cultivate a social life. Most of us who have celiac disease/gluten sensitivity can certainly relate to that.

[AmandaBee]

5 minutes ago, trents said:

I appreciate your openness. Our bodies/mind/spirit are not isolated from one another and when one is having problems the others often do as well. Traditional medicine tends to compartmentalize them and treat them individually.

You asked my profession. I am retired from a long career in Christian ministry, first as a pastor and then for the last 20 or so years I was on staff as a hospital chaplain at a facility belonging to a major healthcare group.

Sounds like you have experienced a lot of stress and loss of late and life changes as well. That can take a  toll. And having a lot of food sensitivities makes it difficult to cultivate a social life. Most of us who have celiac disease/gluten sensitivity can certainly relate to that.

Wow it’s coIncidental that you are a chaplain because,The biggest toll of life changes is that my faith has been shaken so hard that it’s been rearranged and I don’t see things with as much faith as I had before. 
 

is it ok to continue this conversation here? I suppose it’s just as good as a private conversation, wow I really need the help right now too, thank you for being online! 

[AmandaBee]

Just now, AmandaBee said:

Wow it’s coIncidental that you are a chaplain because,The biggest toll of life changes is that my faith has been shaken so hard that it’s been rearranged and I don’t see things with as much faith as I had before. 
 

is it ok to continue this conversation here? I suppose it’s just as good as a private conversation, wow I really need the help right now too, thank you for being online! 

In other words, my faith is not bringing me the same completeness/ fulfillment/hope/comfort/peace that it used to. I’m being patient and open to God, try to speak to him and just admit where I am, if that’s all I manage to do when I pray.

like I said- I have a lot to unpack! I can’t believe you’re here responding and unpacking it with me!!

[trents]

I will send you a PM.

[Wheatwacked]

3 hours ago, AmandaBee said:

And it’s true depression is there- anti-depressants have been tried, but my body is reacting to them

The first vitamin I supplemented after GFD was vitamin D at 250 mcg (10,000 IU). By 1984 I had Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) starting in early September and it never got better. In 1995 I had a prescription for Zanax. Took one dose. I twitched and could not sit for four hours.  My depression got really worse after my wife passed in 2005. I started the vitamin D in 2015 when I realized that although GFD stopped my downhill progression I was stuck at a plateau.  I started at 2000 iu with no effect, kept increasing by 2000 a week until the fourth day at 10,000 IU vitamin D daily I looked at the bottle that morning, smiled and said out loud "Sunshine in a bottle!". 

"Most individuals in this country have insufficient levels of vitamin D. This is also true for persons with depression as well as other mental disorders. Whether this is due to insufficient dietary intake, lifestyle (e.g., little outdoor exposure to sunshine), or other factors is addressed in this paper."  Vitamin D and Depression: Where is all the Sunshine?   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908269/

[De De]

On 10/11/2021 at 4:00 PM, AmandaBee said:

Hi there,

I’m joining the group after 3 years of gluten-free, because I’m just so struggling with eating enough. I was already at the point of not being able to eat enough to keep weight on, then learned I could not tolerate wheat.

I’m simply uninspired. I’ve burned through all the convenient gluten free switches, I can’t eat enough to get enough fuel from lettuce wraps and rice... I’m also allergic to tomatoes and potatoes and peppers  and dairy.. all the things that complete meals.. I DONT have the access to kitchen space to be a meal prepper.. 

I don’t want to dump all of the negatives that are blocking my path to eating enough to fuel but.. 

im not eating enough to fuel. I don’t enjoy the food enough to eat enough of it.    I’m skinny, really skinny, I’m almost always in a headache or fatigue just from the lack of fuel, and I Need some support. 
Here’s to Hope! 

 

 

 

I was reading your story and I thought I was reading about myself because I'm also allergic to those foods. Are allergic to latex? Those foods that your allergic to is also on the latex base foods 

Try looking up latex foods