Losing weight is hard enough on its own without the added difficulty of a medical condition such as fibromyalgia. Many treatments for fibromyalgia, along with the syndrome itself, can lead to weight gain. Examining some of these issues may help when losing weight with fibromyalgia.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia in themselves lead to potential weight gain, such as overall pain, fatigue, inadequate sleep and hormonal imbalances. Add medications and certain foods to the mix and weight loss becomes difficult. Don’t give up on weight loss efforts. Here are some of the issues leading to weight gain with fibromyalgia and some ideas on how to combat these challenges.
Aches in Pains in Joints and Muscles Can Reduce Exercise and Movement. When you hurt, you don’t want to move, especially when certain exercises may increase pain. Certain exercises that include stretching not only get you moving and burning calories, but may help ease symptoms of fibromyalgia. See how Tai Chi may help with fibromyalgia symptoms. The exercise will also help you with weight loss efforts.
Fibromyalgia Fatigue Causes More than Lack of Exercise. With fibromyalgia, you aren’t just tired, you’re exhausted. Frequently. Not only does this extreme fatigue lead to less desire to be active, it can cause cravings for quick pick-me-ups that include caffeine and sugary snacks. Caffeinated drinks may give a quick rush, but the crash afterward can cause more fatigue than you started out with. Sugary snacks and drinks can have the same crash effect, but with added empty calories that lead to weight gain. Choose healthier snacks with complex carbohydrates. You will get energy more slowly and over the long term without as much risk of weight gain.
You Need Enough Sleep to Lose Weight. It has become widely known that dieters lose weight more quickly when they get enough sleep. This is because hormones get out of control when sleep is limited or interrupted. Fibromyalgia sufferers often don’t sleep well. If a good night’s sleep is hard to get, see your doctor on ways to get back on track.
Hormonal Imbalances Can Cause Weight Gain or Prevent Weight Loss. There are many hormones and chemicals in the body that regulate weight and fat stores. When these are disrupted, as they often are in those with fibromyalgia, you may find it harder to lose weight or may even gain weight. See your doctor to see if hormonal imbalances may be hampering your weight loss efforts.
Medications Can Cause Weight Gain. There is no one treatment that works for all or even most fibromyalgia sufferers. Medication may be used for one or more of your symptoms. If the medication caused you to gain weight, ask your doctor about alternate therapies for the symptoms you need help with. Home electrotherapy products may work well for you without the need for pain medications. If you need the medication, work with your doctor on ways to change your diet that work with your medication rather than against it.
Sugary Snacks and Drinks May Cause Weight Gain in More Ways than One. Sugary snacks and drinks add empty calories to your diet and do nothing to help with weight loss. Not only that, eating too many sugary foods can lead to overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract. This will keep you from losing weight and may make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. You should be tested and treated by your doctor for yeast overgrowth. Eating yogurt can help prevent yeast overgrowth. Yogurt can also help with chronic fatigue syndrome which occurs frequently with fibromyalgia.
Gluten Sensitivity. Those with gluten sensitivities or allergies may find it hard to lose weight. Once diagnosed, a gluten-free diet can help the weight come off. Many who suffer from fibromyalgia have been found to also have a sensitivity to gluten.
Other Problem Causing Foods/Additives. Aspartame, the ingredient in NutraSweet can increase pain if you have fibromyalgia. Products that contain aspartame, such as diet soda, may also lead to weight gain. It is believed that the food additive MSG also increases pain in those with fibromyalgia.
Losing Weight with Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia affects everyone differently with different combinations of symptoms. If you are finding it hard to lose weight, perhaps one of the above-mentioned issues is hindering your efforts. Once you can determine your personal roadblocks, you may find it easier to lose weight even with fibromyalgia.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT REPLACE THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN.
DO NOT STOP DOCTOR PRESCRIBED TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIA WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
DO NOT START ANY DIET OR EXERCISE PLAN WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL FROM YOUR DOCTOR.
SOURCES REFERENCED:
Jolynne M Hudnell; Fibromyalgia and Tai Chi: Symptoms Might Be Eased by This Moving Meditation; Associated Content/Yahoo!
Jolynne M Hudnell; Electrotherapy: Electrical Therapy for Fibromyalgia Pain; Associated Content/Yahoo!
Jacob Teitelbaum; How CFS, Fibromyaliga, or Stress can make you gain weight; BNET, CBS Business Network
Jolynne M Hudnell; Can Yogurt Help with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?; Associated Content/Yahoo!
Jolynne M Hudnell; Gain Weight with Diet Soda?; Associated Content/Yahoo!
OTHER SOURCES:
nibbledish; Fibromyalgia and Diet
Karen Lee Richards; Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain; Health Central
