Inbox: Weight Gain

Dear Erin,

I am excited about your website. I have been doing some of this already, but I learned a few things that I plan to apply such as no rice and no Yams. Both of which I eat a lot of. I have the opposite problem as most people as I am very thin and need to keep weight on not off. I also run 7 days a week. I have trouble being full. I need things to keep full and to keep weight on. I crave sugar so I binge on it when I am hungry. Any ideas? SJ

Hi SJ,

One thing I can think of right off the bat for weight gain and fullness would be the nut flour recipes, made with almond or pecan flour. Almonds also have an amazing amount of vitamins and minerals. The nut flour recipes also usually contain quite a bit of honey, for the sugar cravings. I would recommend buying Lucy's Cookbook from www.lucyskitchenshop.com for nut flour recipes. She has a lot of yummy dessert ideas, such as spice cake, that taste excellent. You can find some nut flour recipes on our website as well, and we hope to be adding more soon.

I really like the Nutty Caramel Candy and “Cookie Dough” Balls recipes for snacks and weight gain (under dessert section). The nuts have that good fat that both packs in calories and keeps you feeling fuller longer.

Also, when I make the SCD yogurt, I always use whole milk for the calories. Add honey and fruit to a bowl full of yogurt for sugar cravings.

Cheddar cheese with peanut butter and raisins is another of my favorite snacks, and the cheese has lots of fat and calories.

And then there's always Welch's 100% Grape Juice or Tropicana Orange Juice (no calcium or extras added) for sugar cravings and calories.

I hope this gives you some ideas!
Take care,

Erin
nomorecrohns.com

Hi Erin,
I'm 41 and was diagonosed with Crohn's a year-and-a-half ago. I could relate to your story as I was also working in communications before my diagnosis and was completely caught off-guard when diagnosed just after my son started pre-school and I'd planned to return to work.I've yet to do so, but have just started taking Immuran, since the disease has worsened.

I was wondering if, at the time you began SCD, you were worried about losing further weight. I've been trying to commit to SCD, but I know that cutting the carbs and grains will cause me to lose more weight. Did you have this issue when you first started and, if so, how long was it before you started to gain? I can't eat raw fruits and vegetables and was daunted by how limited the menu is. Of course, if it works, it will have been worth it in the end! ML

Hi ML,

I was worried about losing further weight, but also realized that I had nothing to lose with the diet. Thousands of people have gotten completely better on it, and once the body has healed it is able to maintain a healthy weight very easily. Within about a month of being on the SCD 100% I had gained several pounds, and when I went to my six-week post-hosptial checkup the doctor was very surprised at how much weight I had gained! There are plenty of healthy, and even fattening foods on the diet, and you just have to plan ahead a little to try to get a variety of foods and plenty of high-calorie foods in your diet. 
 
Dates, avodado, nut flour, and butter are other high-calorie foods that are legal on the diet. 
 
As far as eating raw fruits and veggies, once you have healed you will probably have no problem handling them. The SCD is so different than the mainstream approach, in that it actually gets to the root of the problem by starving out the bad bacteria by eliminating the long-chain carbohydrates that the bad bacteria feed on. Once the bad bacteria are starved out, the problem that is causing your symptoms is eliminated and you're able to heal completely. This healing will enable you to handle foods that in the past you had to avoid. The mainstream approach is to eliminate foods that irritate the diestive stystem, but with the SCD your digestive system will be healed and then you will be able to tolerate all sorts of legal foods (like raw fruits and veggies) just like you could before.
 
If you haven't yet, be sure to read "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall, as it gives you a good overview of the science behind the diet and will help you understand all the ins and outs. Then be sure to read the Starting the Diet page on our website. And please feel free to write any time you have a question. I'm here to help! I hope you'll be feeling much better soon! 

---