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Weight gain and healthy diet

Question

I have had non hodgkins lymphoma for nearly 3 years and am on "watch & wait" I was diagnosed after going to the doctors suffering from fatigue & weight gain. I have now gained nearly two & half stone since diagnosis. I have invested in a exercise bike but am not seeing any result. I think I eat a healthily most of the time, plenty of fresh veg, some fruit, rarely touch biscuits, crisps, etc, do not drink fizzy drinks. Only have the occasional take away (maybe twice a month) HELP

Answer

I would recommend that you consult with your Doctor or Healthcare professional for specific guidance on weight reduction. Your Doctor will consider your medical condition, and be able to advise on whether trying to lose weight is sensible at this time. They will also be able to assess if there are any underlying clinical reasons why weight loss has been difficult, for example, have you been prescribed any medications that could be causing weight gain as a side effect? Has your lifestyle changed in some way since you were diagnosed with NHL causing you to be less active than you were?

If your Doctor/Healthcare professional is advocating weight reduction, the best advice is to manage your weight by eating healthily and being more physically active. This is the key to long term weight loss. Use the BMI calculator to work out your current body mass index. This information may help you and your Doctor agree realistic targets for weight reduction.

It sounds like you are making every effort to follow a healthy diet – well done! It may be helpful to keep a detailed record of what you are eating and drinking for a period of 7 days. This will help you to see precisely what you are eating, and from here you may be able to identify further changes that you could make to your diet. Changes could include reducing your portion sizes, altering the way you cook food, or decreasing the frequency of eating certain high calorie foods e.g. cheese or nuts.

When planning a healthy diet, you may find the following practical tips useful:

  • Eat regular, planned meals and choose healthy snacks e.g. fruit, low fat yoghurt, cereal bars.
  • Try to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. The following link www.eatwell.gov.uk will help you to identify what ‘counts’ as a portion, and give you some excellent suggestions on how to increase the fruit and vegetables in your diet.
  • Try not to eat red meat too frequently, and remove any visible fat or skin from meat wherever possible. Fish should be eaten regularly, as well as starchy foods e.g. pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals and pulses. Choosing foods that are lower in fat and sugar wherever possible will also help to cut extra calories.
  • Watch your portion sizes – keep portions moderate.
  • Consider how you cook food. Try to grill, bake, steam, poach or microwave rather than frying or roasting.

Increasing your activity levels will also help you to lose weight by using up calories. Try aiming for at least 30 minutes moderate physical activity per day (check with your Doctor before embarking on a new exercise regime). It you can manage more exercise, even better!

I would recommend that you visit the following web-sites as they contain some excellent practical tips and information on how to manage your weight.

If you feel that you are struggling to lose weight despite eating healthily and exercising regularly, talk to your GP for further advice and support. Your GP may refer you to a registered dietitian for an individual nutritional assessment if they feel it would be beneficial in your case. They may possibly advocate further tests or investigations to explain why weight loss has been unachievable, and will also be able to advise if there are any medications available to aid you in losing weight

Source: Nutrition in cancer Editorial Board