Re/ Crohn's, Female Issues and ALL of Us Females...

[Guest guest]

This is interesting. Fat tissue is a store for estrogen. I also feel terrible if

I go over a certain weight and I am very sensitive to carbs.

I was always sensitive to the pill and any kind of hormones.

SCD has really been a godsend because I feel much better on it in general. I

think it is the way I should have been eating all along. Some of us don't feel

as well with more carbs.

PJ

>

> Gang,

> I don't have Crohn's but I've sure had my share of female issues

> related to this all. One of the main ones has been that historically

> if I (close your ears, n and Marilyn) cheat very much... and,

> for me, that could be what's legal for the rest of you. We're talking

> almond flour, a little honey, an extra piece of fruit or even squash!

> ... if I should do stuff like that... for, let's say, 24 hr... I'll

> get diarrhea. And if I get serious diarrhea I get a period... even

> though I'm WELL into menopause.

>

> Also, infractions such as the above seem to make my candida flare and

> it, I think, may produce hormones... 'cause I can't take the dosage

> of bioidentical hormones that my doc wants me to w/o causing a period.

> It all seems to be such a delicate balance down there... and flora

> and hormones are really related, in my book.

>

> Then there's weight gain. I told Dr. Mabray when I was last in that

> if I get over 128 (I'm 5' 6 3/4 " ) I start having problems. His

> response: " That's very perceptive of you! It's the case with ALL of

> us!! If we gain weight around our waist it affects our hormone

> balance. But I'm so impressed that you're sensitive enough to NOTICE

> it! " Fat can produce estrogen, affect blood sugar and insulin

> production... and who knows what all else!!!

>

> Input welcomed!!!

>

> Artful Carol

>

> Former me: From babyhood - CFS, Depression, Candida, Severe Chemical,

> Inhalent, and Food Allergies. Current me: Global Carb and Fungal

> Problems well-controlled past 30 yr. by extremely low-carb

> allergy/anti-yeast diet, SCD 01/05. After 35 yr. of allergy shots

> haven't needed them ever since! Magnesium/Vits A, B, D, E/Evening

> Primrose, Fish, Olive, and Other Oils, Lecithin. 2 grown kids

> recovered from serious developmental problems which I believe were

> fungally-caused.

>

[Guest guest]

I read somewhere (maybe it was Mark's daily apple blog) that belly fat was

mainly due to carbs consumption. They increase the insulin level which will

convert sugars into fat and stock it around the waistline. Trainers usually

advice to avoid any kind of starch/sugar when you want to loose weight. My

friend was told that she could only eat fruits on days she was going to the gym.

We also have to remember that us women, we tend to accumulate fat closer to our

uterus, so its easily available when we are pregnant.

Annie

> >

> >

> > Then there's weight gain. I told Dr. Mabray when I was last in that

> > if I get over 128 (I'm 5' 6 3/4 " ) I start having problems. His

> > response: " That's very perceptive of you! It's the case with ALL of

> > us!! If we gain weight around our waist it affects our hormone

> > balance. But I'm so impressed that you're sensitive enough to NOTICE

> > it! " Fat can produce estrogen, affect blood sugar and insulin

> > production... and who knows what all else!!!

> >

> > Input welcomed!!!

> >

> > Artful Carol

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I wonder if I could have too much estrogen, even though I'm not overweight?Not sure if this is related or not, but I think it is. Here's a link on how to increase your testosterone, which might balance your estrogen (if that turns out to be the problem =) ) http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-increase-testosterone-naturally/ Cheers!Alyssa 16 yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per dayPrednisone 15 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!)

[Guest guest]

Holly,

Figure types are pretty much set in our genes, I think. I

have been sewing and designing patterns, etc, for nearly sixty years now

(yikes!). When young and studying this stuff, they taught us that

there were three figure types for women: the curvy, small-waisted

" X " shape; the triangle and inverted triangle shape, and

the straight up and down rectangular shape. But a few years ago,

they added your shape: slender to skinny but with a tummy, recognizing

that a number of women simply are this shape. I don't think it has

anything to do with age, hormones, or even weight, particularly. My

MIL was this shape all her life. Of course, this may or may not be

consoling if it's hard to find clothes to fit!

> I only weigh 100 pounds, and am 5'4 " , yet I have a huge fat

roll around my belly. No butt, no hips, but huge gut makes it very hard

to find clothing that fits! The waistband always pushes uncomfortable

into my fat roll when I sit down. If I were a healthy weight for my

height, I can't imagine how big my waist would be (all weight gain goes

to the gut and boobs, everything else remains bony/skinny). I wonder if I

could have too much estrogen, even though I'm not overweight?

> > Holly

[Guest guest]

This is an interesting conversation. I knew that extra fat altered your

hormones, but I didn't know it caused extra estrogen.

I think where you store fat is due to a few factors but mostly your genes and

hormones. I've read that the reason most women are pear shaped (gain weight in

hips, thigh, butt) and men apple shaped (gain weight in abdomen) is because

women have more estrogen and men have more testosterone, though there are pear

shaped men and apple shaped women. Also, women are more likely to gain

abdominal weight after menopause due to the decrease in estrogen. Plus the

stress hormone cortisol can also cause belly fat, and with Crohn's our bodies

are under a lot of stress.

Really though, I think most of it is genes. My mom is like you and has no fat on

her legs, arms, hips or thighs and gains all her weight in her abdomen, same

with my sister. I'm kind of in between, and with it pretty evenly distributed

but with a little extra on my stomach which I hate.

Like PJ said, I've heard that abdominal weight gain can be a symptom of insulin

resistance. I do think that's true with me and my mom. My mom went on South

Beach and lost pretty much all her belly fat, but as soon as she went off and

started eating lots of carbs she gained it back. She's a tiny women, but she has

a belly. I have also found that when I eat less carbs I lose more fat from my

stomach, and it's not just a calorie thing. I'm totally addicted to carbs too,

which I think is also a sign of insulin resistance, so I have to pretty much

stay away from honey or I go overboard.

Amber

> >

> >

> > Then there's weight gain. I told Dr. Mabray when I was last in that

> > if I get over 128 (I'm 5' 6 3/4 " ) I start having problems. His

> > response: " That's very perceptive of you! It's the case with ALL of

> > us!! If we gain weight around our waist it affects our hormone

> > balance. But I'm so impressed that you're sensitive enough to NOTICE

> > it! " Fat can produce estrogen, affect blood sugar and insulin

> > production... and who knows what all else!!!

> >

> > Input welcomed!!!

> >

> > Artful Carol

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > >

> > > Then there's weight gain. I told Dr. Mabray when I was last in that

> > > if I get over 128 (I'm 5' 6 3/4 " ) I start having problems. His

> > > response: " That's very perceptive of you! It's the case with ALL of

> > > us!! If we gain weight around our waist it affects our hormone

> > > balance. But I'm so impressed that you're sensitive enough to NOTICE

> > > it! " Fat can produce estrogen, affect blood sugar and insulin

> > > production... and who knows what all else!!!

> > >

> > > Input

welcomed!!!

> > >

> > > Artful

Carol

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Low carb diet and exercise- it helps decrease insulin resistance in muscle

cells.

PJ

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Then there's weight gain. I told Dr. Mabray when I was last in that

> > > > if I get over 128 (I'm 5' 6 3/4 " ) I start having problems. His

> > > > response: " That's very perceptive of you! It's the case with ALL of

> > > > us!! If we gain weight around our waist it affects our hormone

> > > > balance. But I'm so impressed that you're sensitive enough to NOTICE

> > > > it! " Fat can produce estrogen, affect blood sugar and insulin

> > > > production... and who knows what all else!!!

> > > >

> > > > Input

welcomed!!!

> > > >

> > > > Artful

Carol

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Amen, sista!!! I have to buy bigger jeans on account of the waist and then my

butt never fills them out. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is that ratio all

of the health magazines and books flaunt- that one where you measure your waist

and hips and divide one by other. I'm pretty much a 1- there's no difference- so

according to " them " I am a high risk for heart disease and other numerous

ailments.

Long live the cheese belly (and thank god for belts)!

-Joanna

> >

> > Ha, ha Holly... I am laughing WITH you. Me too! I am just under 5' and weigh

around 92. But I still have my belly roll! (Although I prefer to call it my

" cheese belly " ). I have always had it... along with the boobs. But everywhere

else... it's like " where'd my butt go??? " I guess that's why they invented Spanx

> > -Joanna

> > SCD 9/2009, Crohn's 1992, 30mg Prednisone

>

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for everyone's input on this issue! It looks like I may just have to

learn to live with a tubby tummy. There are several tubby tummies on my dad's

side of the family, the same side that has all the other crappy health issues

that I inherited. Blech!

>

> I tried low carb once a few months ago. It didn't have any effect on my tummy

size though. Even now, I don't exactly eat high carb. Exercise...GAH...how I

loathe you! Especially this time of year. Walking in 115 degree heat? No thanks.

walking isn't going to help you lose weight around your middle though

it might make you feel better in general. though perhaps not in 115

degree heat. still - you're in the desert, right? so you could walk a track

in the evening or very early mornings, when the weather has cooled down.

Or you could walk the length of the mall several times.

Or are you in a 115 degrees and humid zone?

try pilates - to build up your core strength and muscles. I'm sure there

are classes around for not that much - or you can get a dvd and do it in

your own home.

it's an investment in your own future health as much as any of the stuff that

we do here with food and probiotics and etc.

> My parents have rec center memberships, but those things are too much money

for me (plus, I'm grossed out from the stories my parents have told about the

disgusting things people do there). I think I'm trying to rationalize my way out

of exercising ;-).

>

ya think?

> I do take a birth control pill, which could mess with my hormones. But I'm

fairly certain my gut pre-dated the pill.

yeah - it's pretty much what happens to women with your figure who decide not to

exercise their

entire life. I don't think you have to look to anything fancy like too much

estrogen to explain

it away.

Mara

[Guest guest]

>

> walking isn't going to help you lose weight around your middle though

> it might make you feel better in general. though perhaps not in 115

> degree heat. still - you're in the desert, right? so you could walk a track

> in the evening or very early mornings, when the weather has cooled down.

> Or you could walk the length of the mall several times.

>

> Or are you in a 115 degrees and humid zone?

>

> try pilates - to build up your core strength and muscles. I'm sure there

> are classes around for not that much - or you can get a dvd and do it in

> your own home.

Yep, I'm in the Arizona desert. It's monsoon season (through September), so not

only is it 115, it is humid. Right now it's midnight, and 98 degrees, so there

is no cool time to go out. Hot weather + no nearby mall + no car + no money =

any exercise must be done from the comfort of my own cozy home. They key is to

find something that I can do, and that I'll stick to. I am interested in yoga,

pilates, and tai chi. Once upon a time, I even downloaded some how-to videos. I

just need to get motivated and pull the those suckers out.

> > I do take a birth control pill, which could mess with my hormones. But I'm

fairly certain my gut pre-dated the pill.

>

> yeah - it's pretty much what happens to women with your figure who decide not

to exercise their

> entire life. I don't think you have to look to anything fancy like too much

estrogen to explain

> it away.

>

> Mara

>

Once upon a time, I did exercise. The last time I rode a bike and swam daily was

way back in 2002 (I had a fat gut back then too). I then got a bad case of

Valley Fever (I breathed in fungal spores, and due to my crappy immune system,

they settled in my lungs causing pneumonia) and have never really been the same

(energy-motivation-aspiration-wise).

I love water (even though I'm a lousy self-taught swimmer)! That is one form of

exercise that is not like exercise at all to me. I just need to win the lottery

so that I could have a pool put in. But like Marilyn, I first need to get around

to buying a ticket ;-).

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

Quickie note: Pilates is wonderful but you have to do cardio as well. I made

the stupid mistake of only doing pilates and yes, my core got stronger and that

was awesome but I gained weight because I wasn't doing anything to burn the fat.

My pants stopped fitting! I won't make that mistake again! I felt like such an

idiot when someone told me what I was doing wrong.

Stacey

> try pilates - to build up your core strength and muscles. I'm sure there

> are classes around for not that much - or you can get a dvd and do it in

> your own home.

>