[ketoneburning why fattening up is so important with ALS]

The folks over at ALS were kind enough to let me do a personal post of my own. My mother passed from ALS and the one thing that I wish, besides having her back, would have been to have thought ahead of time about the amount of fat she actually lacked when she was diagnosed. You see my mother was always “watching her weight.” Normally, this is a very good thing, but when ALS strikes being fatter is healthier!

While she could still swallow (eat normally), she should have been eating ice cream, cookies, any and all fat-inducing foods by the handfuls (and we should have made her!!).

The reason is very simple. This horrible disease is going to attack every part of a person’s body. It goes for all the fat reserves first, and then… well there are only muscles and organs left.

The more obese even a person is – while they are able to pack the weight on – the better when it comes to “fighting” ALS!

Having been on fat-burning diets in the past, I KNOW the smell of ketones (fat) burning. It gives off a distinct odor. And as her ALS progressed, the smell was overwhelming. However, by that time it was too late. She had too much trouble swallowing, had no appetite at all, and just couldn’t do it. She just did not have the energy or ability to do the one thing she needed desperately to do… eat!

So PLEASE if you have a loved one diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigh’s disease) and while they are able, MAKE THEM eat, and eat, and eat. The more fat they have stored to burn the better!

This is a horrible disease, and too often we – the caregivers – feel alone, exhausted and totally helpless. Those with ALS, my heart goes out to you. PLEASE follow this advice – eat while you can – fattening rich chocolate brownies with mounts of ice cream, whip cream and nuts. Whatever you can… just EAT. Stop thinking “healthy” and start thinking “I need to pack on the pounds!”

Thanks for reading ( in loving memory to my mother, Maureen Grone).

* * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks again to the folks at ALS of Nevada for letting me post. If YOU have words of wisdom, encouragement, strategies, whatever, feel absolutely free to send your write ups in using the “Have a Question?” contact link on your right. We will happily post your information!