I too have gained weight, because I can't walk, run, or exercise. Pathetic thing is I have a pool, but I'm always too tired. All because of fu(k!n@ ms...I'm angry arn't I????

I actually lost 50 pounds over the last year or so, which is more than I set out to, so I am a little less than my doctor wants. But I did this by changing to a no-gluten and very little dairy diet. I am never hungry and I feel better, my blood pressure is perfect, and I have less joint pain. I also was already a vegetarian, so I ate alot of veggies and fruits to begin with.

I think htat removing as much dairy and gluten as possible from your diet are great things for people with MS. JMO

I suffer from a burning disthesthesia, and because of that I am on a minimum dose of 1600 mg of Gabapentin every day (occasionally more) as well as 120 mg Cymbalta. For me those both act as appetite suppressants, but in addition I switched to a diet low in sugars and simple carbs, and high in protein and (good) fats. I eat chicken frequently, and occasionally eat buffalo (very lean free-range). I try to eat a reasonable amount of veggies, and I eat walnuts for the omegas. I had weighed 150 - 155, about 15 - 20 lbs above my optimal weight, for a couple of years, and then began eating less and better last fall, and over about six months, I lost all of that. I had gained more than that in the past, lost it, then gained some of it back. I am doing much better at maintaining my weight than ever before. One secret to maintaining once you get it down, which I finally learned: once you get to your optimal weight, any time you find you've gone over even by a few pounds, cut your intake back immediately til you lose it. If you wait til it gets to be 10 lbs or more, it becomes more difficult to lose it. The more it is, the more of a challenge it will be. I think Jeff's or Louis' plans for getting it down, whichever you are able to do and/or feel comfortable about, seem like good ways to approach the matter. As SLPavman mentioned, eating small amounts throughout the day can be a great way for many people to keep that appetite monster at bay.

If you're feeling too fatigued, you might consider trying Nuvigil, if you feel ok about adding a drug to your regimen, your doctor thinks it's appropriate and you're able to get it covered on your insurance, or afford it. Nuvigil doesn't make you feel like you're on speed, but it does suppress appetite as well as decreasing fatigue (nice side benefit). It can be problematic for blood pressure for some.

Sentient, the name of the drug that enhances nerve transmission is Fampridine. It is a time release form of 4 Aminopyridine, and is a drug that was originally developed for spinal cord injury patients. I've read good reports of it from people who are in trials, but none have mentioned it acting as a stimulant. All who I've read have said it also reduced fatigue as well as increasing mobility. It is due out in November. 4 AP is available now, but it's not time release, and it's effective time period is rather short. The compounded so-called time release versions are deemed not very reliable by most neuros, since the drug is not stable when exposed to oxygen, and so breaks down very quickly. Thus, it can rapidly decline in effectiveness within a short time after you've purchased it.

Weight management is a real problem for people with MS. Since our mobility is impaired, we aren't physically active and don't walk as much as we used to and are not on our feet as much as we used to be. Those activities burned calories. Since I can't walk very far without my legs floppping around uselessly and tripping, I find it hard to lose weight when I sit and lay so much. Even on a strict diet, I will lose only 1.8 lbs the first week, and poof - there goes your motivation. My MS doc suggested a stationary bike, and I suppose that is good for burning calories. Using weight machines seems to burn calories as well, so membership in a gym is a good thing I guess - if you can afford it. So many of us are on fixed incomes so that option may be too expensive.

Try your local YMCA, they have assistance programs, with sliding scale membership charges, all the way down to just a few dollars a month (Or maybe nothing, I'm not sure about that. I haven't applied for a new single membership yet. I know a friend was paying I think $5, $10 a month based on her income, so check that out anyway. The one here in our town has many classes for people who are older or mildly mobility impaired, and of course Ys always have pools, generally with aquatic exercise classes for elderly and handicapped persons. Ours has many different levels and types of Yoga, and Pilates as well.

When I was diagnosed I weighed 370 lbs. My doctor told me to go on the South Beach Diet. Now, nearly a year later I weigh 269 lbs. and it helps me so much with my walking since I'm not carrying around that extra 100 lbs.

Lol, I have the opposite problem, I have trouble putting on weight.
Due to the bowel and gastro symptoms I get with my attacks, I cannot face food. With my bowel incontinence I wont eat anything if I am going somewhere because I'm scared too.
I can't really eat gluten or lactose without it affecting me and fatty foods affect my acid reflux leaving me in agony.
So my advice? Enjoy food while you can. Because my BMI is19 now and I feel crappy.
Am on various calorie drinks and complan soups etc now, so hopefully I'll start gaining some much needed weight.
Luckily, as when I am able to eat, I eat very healthy so all of my chemical levels are in normal limits. :D
Good luck.

I started the MS Recovery Diet back in April I think and have lost over 40 pounds. I walk when I can, usually about 2/3 of a mile is all I can handle lately. Hoping the diet will help with my symptoms but even if it doesn't I'm loving the weight loss.

Okay, you all inspired me here......I took my bicycle out today for a ride. I was'nt going to because after mowing a bit of the lawn last night, i'm sore. However, I did the bike ride anyway. Then..........I did the unthinkable (for me anyhow)..........I mowed a little more of the yard.
I think the key here is "moderation". I'm finally learning after several years. It's nice to accomplish something.
It was a couple years ago I could'nt drive, and a PT had to come and help me to walk, and get on the treadmill for about 2 minutes at low speed.
That's MS...ups and downs...........we've got to keep on, keepin on and not give up. Sometimes I just need a little push.
Thank you!

Wow, that is a real bummer. MS has had the opposite effect on me. I used to have a great appetite and now I have a very small appetite. I sure used to enjoy my food having grown up in San Francisco with all of the fine restaurants surrounding me. I was admittedly overweight but now, I am no longer considered overweight.

This is such a bizarre illness!

Try to avoid eating too many dairy products. They can really fatten you up fast as can sugar as you probably alreadly know.

Many of the drugs given to those with MS cause weight gain as well - like steroids for example.

When i was diagnosed i was a little over 150 lbs. Now i'm at 135. Ms has made me lose weight but i'm pretty sure it's all muscle since i don't move.

HEY! I eat lots of fruit.. and because of it i take in a lot of sugar. Is the sugar in fruit a problem?

There is much less sugar in a piece of fruit than in a cookie, and it is a different kind of sugar (fructose). There are other factors with fruit as well, like fiber, that affect how fast the sugar is absorbed (that's called the Glycemic Index). The Glycemic Index has everything to do with how we metabolize the carbohydrates in foods we eat.
One other note, about fructose, don't be fooled by the name of the ingredient "High Fructose Corn Syrup" on a label: no kind of corn syrup is good for you, and so called "High Fructose Corn Syrup" is actually associated with a shift in metabolism which can speed up the rate at which our bodies turn sugar into fat (with associated weight gain), as well as an increased likelihood of developing diabetes for those who consume it regularly.

A clarification: the Glycemic Index is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. High GI foods break down into glucose in the bloodstream rapidly, while low GI foods break down into glucose more slowly. You can find lists of the glycemic index of various foods online if you Google Glycemic Index List, or you can also find books about using the Glycemic Index to aid in weight loss and control.

I have gained weight though I do not often feel hungry. I recall an episode when I had a horrible headache starting late in the evening. I wondered what could have caused the headache and realized that I had not eaten that day. Seems like a good way to lose weight no? Wrong. One needs to eat to lose weight. I have gained 40 pounds over the years. i walk on my treadmill and go to water therapy. Both help in myriad ways, but none with a significant weight loss. I have lost perhaps 15 pounds. If like the advice of another poster suggesting writing down everything you eat in a day. I will try this because I often do not feel hunger and sorta get upset if I do... you know, food taking me away from what I REALLY need to do?... like washing the dishes, ironing clothes. Try the journal method, eat appropriate portions, and stay away from some of the "non fat" stuff. Some products work only as well as the effective ingredient. If I see Olestra, I pass. If I see aspartame, I pass. If you must use a sweetener try Stevia.

About 2 years ago I completely stopped eating sweets. I lost about 50 lbs. This was before my diagnosis. I have not regained the weight and I don't miss the sugar in my diet. Seems like everything else tastes better. My 22 year old daughter and I wear the same size clothes now. In fact, I'm the same size I was as when I was 21 years old. I try to exercise, but my legs frequently give out on me so I really can't exercise much. I work full-time so it's hard to have time to go to a pool. I've found portion control and cutting out junk food has worked well for me.