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Anyone else experience Weight Gain with long COVID?

Posted by RMS @rinadbq, Oct 8, 2021

I have had ~30 pound weight gain since November 2020 when I initially had COVID. It seems disproportionate to my calorie intake. Any one else with this?

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luciasaunders1 | @luciasaunders1 | Sep 25, 2022

Likewise! I'm 51 yrs.old and all my life I was very fit and slim/ perfect figure, very healthy life style, sporting 5 day a week. I have hypothyroidism but that is under very good control. In past 2 years I suffered from truly bad Covid ( long Covid. I had very hard time to regain basic energy level after 1st Covid ( despite all vaccinations) and exactly one year from getting 1st Covid I got ill with 2nd one ( Delta, not Omicron) and ended up in hospital. I felt exhausted 6 months later to the point I had to quit my job. I couldn't function at all. During this time I put on 30 pounds ( to my horror) because my body was able to function only on carbs and not on Keto diet as my GP suggested. I didn't eat 'stupid' carbs but I ate carbs more than meat and veggies as I used to before I got Covid. I'm very unhappy because I don't feel myself and I've been asked several times if I'm expecting baby. I'd love to loose at least some weight but my energy level for holding a job and then exercise like I used to before it's just not the same. I'm very unhappy, stressed and anxious. Can anybody share the similar experience and perhaps any suggestions how to deal with it, PLEASE? I'll be very grateful. Thank you very much.

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2 replies
mdemeny29 | @mdemeny29 | Sep 26, 2022
In reply to @sh88 "Yes! Covid in Feb/March 2020. High BP, heart palpitations, exercise intolerance all for about 10 months...." + (show)
@sh88

Yes! Covid in Feb/March 2020. High BP, heart palpitations, exercise intolerance all for about 10 months. I do intense workouts 3-6 times a week since before covid and since my lungs recovered. Put on about 8lbs through Jan 2021, another 10 through Oct 2021 and I am up another 20lbs now. A total of almost 40 lbs. I have had SO much blood work. My IGe has been 15 times above normal since July21. So many digestive issues and reactions to foods I used to eat. They come an go, ALL my weight is on my abdomen. It is hard and uncomfortable. My waist measures 39-43inches! I am exercising and eating the same. 48yo Female. 5'5" currently 192lbs!!

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I had covid November 2021. I am a lot like you. Before covid, I did 4-5 HIIT workouts a week, I was fit. Then covid. Now I have high BP, heart palpitations, exercise intolerance, severe nerve pain, fatigue, horrible headaches, awful joint pain.
I started gaining weight, pretty fast. 10 pounds a month. I don’t eat a ton, but the weight keeps coming. I was 160 pounds when I got covid, now I’m 218. I’m miserable in my body. I’m so sorry you’re also going through this.

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lmetg | @lmetg | Sep 27, 2022

I have. That and ongoing lung region pain (with a clear lungCT) are my two major LC symptoms. Had previously weighed the same +/- 3 pounds for more than 20 years. Watch my diet carefully. It has been bizarre. Have gained 20 pounds.

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1 reply
beebee000 | @beebee000 | Sep 28, 2022
In reply to @lmetg "I have. That and ongoing lung region pain (with a clear lungCT) are my two major..." + (show)
@lmetg

I have. That and ongoing lung region pain (with a clear lungCT) are my two major LC symptoms. Had previously weighed the same +/- 3 pounds for more than 20 years. Watch my diet carefully. It has been bizarre. Have gained 20 pounds.

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yes..me too, i gained 30 lbs and didn't have to eat to get it, my body is not budging at all to get it off. I'm always tired too and it's made my blood pressure go up and down..

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beebee000 | @beebee000 | Sep 28, 2022
In reply to @luciasaunders1 "Likewise! I'm 51 yrs.old and all my life I was very fit and slim/ perfect figure,..." + (show)
@luciasaunders1

Likewise! I'm 51 yrs.old and all my life I was very fit and slim/ perfect figure, very healthy life style, sporting 5 day a week. I have hypothyroidism but that is under very good control. In past 2 years I suffered from truly bad Covid ( long Covid. I had very hard time to regain basic energy level after 1st Covid ( despite all vaccinations) and exactly one year from getting 1st Covid I got ill with 2nd one ( Delta, not Omicron) and ended up in hospital. I felt exhausted 6 months later to the point I had to quit my job. I couldn't function at all. During this time I put on 30 pounds ( to my horror) because my body was able to function only on carbs and not on Keto diet as my GP suggested. I didn't eat 'stupid' carbs but I ate carbs more than meat and veggies as I used to before I got Covid. I'm very unhappy because I don't feel myself and I've been asked several times if I'm expecting baby. I'd love to loose at least some weight but my energy level for holding a job and then exercise like I used to before it's just not the same. I'm very unhappy, stressed and anxious. Can anybody share the similar experience and perhaps any suggestions how to deal with it, PLEASE? I'll be very grateful. Thank you very much.

Jump to this post

I stared doing Miranda Esmonde White stretches, she works on the bodies connect tissue...my doctor at mayo said that would be a good one when i asked.. i have been getting the workouts on PBS or online...PBS it's called classical stretch by essentrics...i love it!!

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amastromatto | @amastromatto | Sep 29, 2022
In reply to @danielledan "I am glad to find this thread and ones like it. I felt like i was..." + (show)
@danielledan

I am glad to find this thread and ones like it. I felt like i was going crazy. I had my first vaccine shot in March 2021 and my second in April 2021. I did get Covid in between shots and in the fall or 2021 I starting gaining weight rapidly. I am a 45 year old active female that works out about 4-6 times a week. I walk 3-4 miles at least 2-3 times a week and do a semi personal training HIIT class 1-2 times a week. I get my lunches prepped by a meal prep company (and put this on hold for a few months to see if this was part of the problem) where the macros are listed on the meals and I had been getting this meals for at least a year before getting Covid. I was 119 when I got the vaccine/Covid and now I am about 137. I have tried intermittent fasting, counting calories, different workouts- running, lifting weight etc. This weight all came on in a matter of 2-3 months when I was being active. I have tried everything to keep it off- short of eating lettuce for 3 meals a day, and nothing is budging. I have been to my primary doctor, gynecologist, health coach and endocrinologist. As others mentioned, most of the weight is in my abdomen, and it is also harder to the touch. It is so frustrating!!!!

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Hi!

I had this same problem. I am a 28 year old female. I got covid first when I turned 26 and then a few months after I gained like 20 pounds and no diet or any change. I got covid again when I was 27 and gained 5 more pounds after it. I tried everything you can imagine including what you said above. The ONLY thing that has helped me was to cut most sugar, gluten and do more lifting than cardio. I have also been taking colostrum which has been super helpful!

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isaratex | @isaratex | Sep 29, 2022

Me, too. I couldn’t hardly eat for a month with Covid, but lost only 10 lbs. When I got my sense of smell and taste back, my appetite slowly returned. I’ve now gained 20 lbs and it seems stable. I don’t know if it’s Covid or my body’s response to hardly eating for a month. However, neither number seems right…

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jhicks64 | @jhicks64 | Oct 5, 2022

I went searching for a possible connection between COVID and weight gain to get reassurance that I’m not crazy and I’m relieved to find this thread. I’ve gained at least 30 pounds+…I stopped weighing myself due to frustration and depression…and I do believe that it’s disproportionate to my diet. I have also noticed lower oxygen sat numbers (usually between 93-95) and low Heart Rate variability (in the mid 20’s) based on my FitBit and I am wondering if my metabolism isn’t suppressed. I’m hoping that some research will be done to determine what’s happening metabolically for some people post COVID…or post vaccine. I had the vaccine and a booster and also tested positive for COVID twice. Any one else relate??

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2 replies
mojo1372 | @mojo1372 | Oct 5, 2022

yes in my household all 3 of use got sick and in the months that followed we gained anywhere from 25 to 35 lbs . No change in daily activities or diet . Made my diabetes even worse became hard to control my sugar levels jumped into the 700 range when covid set in my meds were not working .

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1 reply
Lucy | @welchllb | Oct 6, 2022
In reply to @mojo1372 "yes in my household all 3 of use got sick and in the months that followed..." + (show)
@mojo1372

yes in my household all 3 of use got sick and in the months that followed we gained anywhere from 25 to 35 lbs . No change in daily activities or diet . Made my diabetes even worse became hard to control my sugar levels jumped into the 700 range when covid set in my meds were not working .

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Yes, weight gain with no change in diet but I have been attributing it to inability to exercise like I used to do and major constipation, also the opposite of my former self. PEM is part of my life and have to pick and choose. Wishing there were answers!!

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