CAMPYLOBACTER: Anyone else had it?

[ubereglu]

I was wondering if anyone has any useful advice on this matter. Since being at university I have ended up losing over 2 stone, and now am seriously underweight-generally as a consequence of moving around too much and being incredibly active, whilst not refuelling properly after exercise and eating less meat.

 

Since I've been back this summer I have been regularly seeing a GP to have my weight monitored etc and had various tests done, none of which came back positive and I haven't really managed to put on any weight at all, but I have almost stabilised. Unfortunately my GP was more or less useless at giving me advice I would actually follow-eg, use full fat milk and butter for everything-but my problem is I end up congested by doing this and it's just not worth it. The other advice was to have pasta based snacks between meals...erm, I'm not the greatest fan of that one either...

 

So, I thought I'd ask if any of you could help me. I've been trying to find a suitable book to read up on the matter, but they're all about weight loss, not gain, and I want to do it in as healthy way as possible-eg, not eat loads of junk food.

[craftyhunnypie]

Would something like Complan ( a build up drink ) help? I know they used to give this to patients years ago after a stay in hospital, to build them up & give them strength. Healthy ways to put weight on, I'm not sure. Everyone knows how to do it naughtily...cake, chocolate, cheese & booze. I presume it is starchy foods you need?

Potatoes, rice, bread.

Perhaps healthy meals made a little bit naughty, by adding a bit of cheese. I really don't know.

I really feel for you, as wanting to gain weight, can be as disheatening as wanting to lose weight.

Good luck.

Emma.x

[emily95]

Calorie counting is always a good idea, you'll be surprised at how few calories you actually eat, considering you should be having about 2000 a day.

I used this book when I was calorie counting, it's really good - it includes fresh foods (e.g if you were cooking from scratch) as well as bought products and drinks/meals from popular restaurants (pizza hut, starbucks etc)

 

It's called the calorie, carb and fat bible.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calorie-Carb-Bible-2012-Comprehensive/dp/1904512100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347049268&sr=8-1

 

Edited to add : Good luck!

[soapdragon]

The 'full fat' option is a good one - have you also tried 'extra snacking' ....I have a freind who needed to put on weight and she had three balanced meals each day and 2 to 3 snacks of nuts/seeds/fruit combined with a Complan'y sort of drink each day too. She didn't rush it (in the same way that you wouldn't necessarily rush a weight LOSS) but this seemed to work. Good luck!

[Willow]

I would be inclined to add nuts and dried fruit as snacks, years ago when I tried the Carol Vorderman detox diet I felt great but found the addition of nuts and dried fruit caused me to put on weight even sticking strictly to her diet . My other suggestion (and bear in mind I have no qualifications in this area ) is to think about baking cakes. You really don't want to add commercial cake to your diet but home baked cake with very fresh (!) eggs, butter etc has some good things as well as the sugar.

 

But also get your gp to do some blood tests if you haven't already. An overactive thyroid amongst other things will cause weight loss.

[Space Chick]

Another vote for nuts and seeds, also maybe have cheese and crackers and grapes as a snack.

 

Or even snack on cheese on toast.

 

Also maybe try drinking more milkshakes... Can make them with a mix of full fat milk and ice cream.

 

The extra calcium will probably do you good anyway.

[The Dogmother]

Do be careful about which fats you eat Liz; whilst dairy and red meat fats will help you put on weight, they will have an adverse effect on your general health. You are probably using a lot of calories through mental work as well as physical. I'd suggest a well-balanced Mediterranean type diet with a balance of unrefined carbs (wholemeal pasta, bread or rice) plenty of lean protein such as fish or chicken. Use vegetable fats such as olive oil and avocados, join the gym and do weight bearing exercises using lightish weights to increase your muscle bulk; this will help you to gain weight healthily and stay fit too. If you are worried about your intake then protein drinks (taken in moderation) are good.

 

I'm glad that you are being sensible about this, but bear in mind your inherited body shape too - I remember your dad as being slim.

[ubereglu]

Do be careful about which fats you eat Liz; whilst dairy and red meat fats will help you put on weight, they will have an adverse effect on your general health. You are probably using a lot of calories through mental work as well as physical. I'd suggest a well-balanced Mediterranean type diet with a balance of unrefined carbs (wholemeal pasta, bread or rice) plenty of lean protein such as fish or chicken. Use vegetable fats such as olive oil and avocados, join the gym and do weight bearing exercises using lightish weights to increase your muscle bulk; this will help you to gain weight healthily and stay fit too. If you are worried about your intake then protein drinks (taken in moderation) are good.

 

I'm glad that you are being sensible about this, but bear in mind your inherited body shape too - I remember your dad as being slim.

 

I am very much in agreement with you Clare, hence I mostly ignored the little advice I was given by my GP, eg, drink full fat milk and butter, eat lots more red meat, even saying, 'I don't care about your cholesterol level-you're young'...I do like the sound of the mediterranean type diet though, as that would incorporate a lot of the food I like eating. Hopefully I'll also be able to see a dietician when I am back at university though, as I now (AT LAST!!!) have been given a letter of referal to take to the university practice.

 

I also agree with you about my genetics not being in favour of weight gain either. Even whilst we were away the other week, with Dad having done less cycling than the norm and eating more cake he still managed to lose weight. His Mum was just the same though, and I'll always remember when she had TB and going to visit my grandparents having taken down a box of chocolate chip shortbread, and Grandad promised that he wouldn't have any provided she promised him she'd eat it all.

 

It's just really hard though, as I feel like I'm having to be forced to eat, when I really don't want to, as I've always eaten in moderation and stopped when I'm full.

 

Thanks for all the advice so far though, I think I'm going to look into making my own granola as porridge toppings...

[The Dogmother]

Just eat little and often, take a snack bag or small salad bowl with you if it helps. Porridge is an excellent start to the day make it with milk and add a spoonful of oat bran for bowel health.

 

I was like you at that age - always on the go and very athletic; I could eat everything I wanted and never gained weight.... it's a different matter now though - having a child changes your metabolism. Not that I'm suggesting that drastic an action!!