I wonder if being overweight plays a part in LS

Hi Dak, I have terrible will power too, jiust like Oscar Wilde.

Chrisy, what you say makes sense. It's not cause-and-effect. However, I gained a size or so over the last year and when I look back, sugar was the culprit. And now I've found a direct connection between my flare-ups and sugar consumption. So, I think sugar caused both my weight gain and last year's bad flare-up. That is not at all the same as being overweight causing the disorder to arise. I got LS when I was young and thin but it got bad when I was eating heaps of chocolate and donuts, gaining the same extra size – during a very high stress time. And I had gone on birth control pills. Then we can look at how stress eating results in a bad diet.

Last night it crossed my mind that during the two periods when I had IUDs, the LS was bad. Koebner effect, I suppose – continuous irritation in the neighbourhood of the vulva.

Roselee, if your only autoimmune disorder is LS, please consider this, from:

Gluten-Free: Fad, Friend, or Foe?"Is a Gluten-Free "life-style," really code for an Eating Disorder?

Published on November 2, 2013 by Judy Scheel, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. in When Food Is Family

“Based on little or no evidence other than testimonials in the media, people have been switching to gluten-free diets to lose weight, boost energy, treat autism, or generally feel healthier. This doesn’t make much sense to Dr. Daniel A. Leffler, director of clinical research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

“People who are sensitive to gluten may feel better, but a larger portion will derive no significant benefit from the practice. They’ll simply waste their money, because these products are expensive,” says Dr. Leffler, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  (Strawbridge, www.health.harvard.edu.)  

Here are some reasons to consider NOT going gluten-free unless there is a medical need to do so:

Gluten-free food will likely set you up for deficiencies of important nutrients, including B vitamins, especially, B9 (folic acid) – Whole food breads and cereals are loaded with B vitamins.   Eating fiber rich foods are important, especially for breakfast, in order to get and maintain normal intestinal and bowel movement.  Removing whole grains will add to digestive problems overall, not correct them. Most Americans do not eat enough fiber.  It is possible to get more fiber from brown rice and fruit, which are gluten-free, but a person must be committed to eating enough of these foods on a daily basis to achieve a similar effect of foods rich in fiber like wheat breads and cereals.'

This answers any doubts I had about jumping on the bandwagon. 

Oops, I didn't take the links out of the middle of that quote.

Roselee, before you go on this gluten free diet, consider this cip from an article:

Gluten-Free: Fad, Friend, or Foe?"Is a Gluten-Free "life-style," really code for an Eating Disorder?

Published on November 2, 2013 by Judy Scheel, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. in When Food Is Family

Aside from the genius of marketers to find yet another way to convince us how we can buy happiness, health and bloat-free bellies, here is the thinking behind going gluten-free as the next new ‘diet’ ………ah...ehm….  “life-style eating.” (Euphemism, if you ask me.)  Eating gluten-free without the diagnosis of Celiac Disease promises to provide a body aesthetic (no bloated bellies) and purports that its followers will come to feel mentally alert and physically less tired and stressed and even lifts depression.    Seems to me that a lifestyle based on healthy eating from all food groups, sleep, exercise and good relationships will do the same thing.  But that takes time and involves emotions and thinking.  Eating gluten-free food offers the faster road to Happy Rome…..thus, appealing.  Quick fix – gets us most of the time to capitulate and adhere to more quick fix solutions.   

“Based on little or no evidence other than testimonials in the media, people have been switching to gluten-free diets to lose weight, boost energy, treat autism, or generally feel healthier. This doesn’t make much sense to Dr. Daniel A. Leffler, director of clinical research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

“People who are sensitive to gluten may feel better, but a larger portion will derive no significant benefit from the practice. They’ll simply waste their money, because these products are expensive,” says Dr. Leffler, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  (Strawbridge, Harvard)

Here are some reasons to consider NOT going gluten-free unless there is a medical need to do so:

Gluten-free food will likely set you up for deficiencies of important nutrients, including B vitamins, especially, B9 (folic acid) – Whole food breads and cereals are loaded with B vitamins.   Eating fiber rich foods are important, especially for breakfast, in order to get and maintain normal intestinal and bowel movement.  Removing whole grains will add to digestive problems overall, not correct them. Most Americans do not eat enough fiber.  It is possible to get more fiber from brown rice and fruit, which are gluten-free, but a person must be committed to eating enough of these foods on a daily basis to achieve a similar effect of foods rich in fiber like wheat breads and cereals. 

This is enough to settle any doubts I had for mmyself about jumping on the bandwagon.

Hi Roselee,  to lose weight reduce your intake and increase your activity. This very simple message is hard to achieve - i know only too well especially as IF you havea low thyroid count the metabolic rate is slowed down. One way is to REALLY understand what it is you are consuming. Keeping a food diary adding the activity youn undertake will give you a very good idea just how much you are eating and drinking and when. It also show just how much exercise you have too. From the moment you get up everything that goes into the mouth is written in the diary - AND the quantity. Once you understand your eating habits you can address your own issues. Most people these days have an understanding of the basics of a sensible diet, the trouble is we want a quick fix and there are those who"sell" quirky fast solutions to make us feel better. Good luck but dont worry if you cant achieve your goals quickly - WORRY is THE worst enemy of autoimmune conditions

Thank you for sending me this Morrell, it is very interesting. I was looking at going Gluten free as I thought it might of helped me control my LS and keep me healthier, and hopefully prevent more auto immune diseases,reading other sufferer,s I thought it helped keep LS under control. Thanks Suedm, I have been dieting all my Adult life up and down like a yo yo. I eat pretty healthy most of the time , but do admit I lack exercise , my work is a desk job and I sit down all day.  I know I need to get motivated, which is my down fall. Thank you both for your advise I appreciate it as I am still learning about this horrible condition. Thank you Morrell for putting theses facts on here has made me aware. 

Hi Roselee I managed to get the "important person's bottom" by sitting at my desk and yes taking exercise is time consuming. I once held a weight clinic at my local gp surgery and rather than telling pweople what to ea or what not to eat  just by making them aware of WHAT and how MUCh they were eating helped them to reduce the intake without dieting!

Having said that i had recently lost a stone in weight by going on the 2:5 way of eating- that is reducing the amount to a quarter of my normal amount x2 a week In 6 weeks i DID lose 12 lbs. I did also cut out the wine - which i just love - but found after a couple of days i didnt miss it that much, and i slept better. Hope that helps Good luck Sue