Weight gain - long covid, peri, both?

[howlongtilsummer]

I'm peri, have had long covid for almost two years and am piling on the weight. Exercise will play a role - some days I can barely walk, others I can, but it's at zimmerframe pace. I also can't eat as healthily as before, so accept some weight gain from this, but I've gone from a 10/12 to an 18/20 and doesn't seem to be stopping. I also can't tolerate alcohol anymore, so all alcohol has been cut out - I would have previously had a glass or two of wine with/after dinner several nights a week, and lots more about once a month.

Has anyone else with peri or long covid had massive weight gain?

I was Peri and had ME/CFS/Fibro and unable to exercise at all after previously doing weights/running/Pilates regularly. I did put weight on, but then I was also not eating the best.

Once I got a hold of myself and took my diet in hand I did successfully lose the weight (4+ stone) without any exercising at all. I stuck to between 1,300-1,500 calories a day and religiously tracked calories on My Fitness Pal.

My Fitness Pal has helped me make better food choices and so, 5 years on, I am still at my target weight, although still not exercising. I read something that said you only need to overeat by the calories in a single biscuit each day for you to put on a stone a year-that’s under 100 calories!

Hidden calories are everywhere, if you aren’t eating as healthily as you’d like then it really would be possible to pile on lbs from that tbh. The good news is it is possible to reverse it!

Thanks, that's great. Good for you.

I won't be able to eat as healthily as I did, but certainly don't make the best choices within my power all the time, so can improve on that. I will have a go at the app to try to limit those hidden calories. I feel I'm eating less than before, but was ravenous during first covid infection and seem to be hungry since, but tried to nip that in bud early on and just accept I'm often hungry now.

I probably need to keep more very quick, easy food in. I have very ltd energy, so on a good day school run and making kids something to eat will pretty much be my limit. On a great day i may be able to manage a walk to the nearby shop to get food as well, but won't have energy to cook it and will likely forfeit much of the next day. Seems mad writing that down given how much we'd fit into our lives before infection, including work. How did you manage around your limitations and 'crashes'?

I can keep more long dated snacky veg in - carrots, cabbage etc. Maybe I need to get some meal replacement things in, have previously tried to avoid those, but something needs to give.

Also, I hope you don't mind me asking and obviously you don't have to answer - did you end up with lots of loose skin as you can't exercise?

Exercise intolerance is a side-effect, for many, suffering from Long Covid. Worth checking out the latest research on this.

Thanks. Yeah I know - found out hard way unfortunately. Have seen some research since then. Some of the forums have been helpful too, but where food is concerned, I know I'm lucky not to have developed loads of food intolerances, or have the everything tastes different thing that lots seem to have after covid.

Seems mad writing that down given how much we'd fit into our lives before
it really does. I went from looking after pre teens, working full time and exercising 6 x a week to being unable to move off the sofa/bed!

I have to have shopping delivered, the supermarket is just too exhausting. I can prep and cook a meal for DC but won’t have the energy to do something for myself. I am trying to get better. I figure it’s better to have beans on toast (low cal, high protein) than a ready meal, or I have a jacket potato or even poached eggs and toast. There are still days when I eat a family size bar of chocolate rather than have a meal though because I have no energy to stand in the kitchen. It’s tough!
Yes, sadly, I have a little loose, wrinkly skin on my tummy & my boobs are now nonexistent. My tummy has at times got me down, but DH says he loves my tummy as that’s where DC grew. I’m too exhausted to be able to travel to go on holiday so it’s not like I’ll ever wear a bikini again, so it’s not like anyone is going to see it!
I had, in the past, seen some improvements in my energy on the paleo diet. However, I then became ill and then struggled to do it and deteriorated from there. My recent Covid has wiped me out further too.

Thanks. You've done great. It is really tough. Hope you get back to a better baseline after your recent infection.

Hello @howlongtilsummer I've just found this thread when searching to see if there are any threads that might help me and wondered how you're getting on?

I've had long covid for nearly 4 years now and still can't even leave the house. I've realised this week that I've slowly gained around a stone. I'm still in my healthy BMI but was a bit of a shock! I actually don't eat very much (& family/friends are actually often concerned about how little I eat) but I guess going from being a very active deputy headteacher to not moving has gradually caused this. In many ways, it's not that important - I just want to get better. But would prefer to not keep gaining weight. Anyway, I just wondered if you've managed to do anything to start to lose a few pounds?