I’ve suffered with IC for 14 years and the interstitial cystitis belly fat was almost as annoying as the pain. This can also be referred to as the IC belly or IC tummy and it can be super hard to get rid of with normal diets and exercise.
You can lose interstitial cystitis belly fat by calming the bladder irritation first. Losing belly fat with interstitial cystitis is achieved by following a healthy plant based diet, doing moderate exercise that doesn’t irritate the bladder, and taking a hyaluronic acid supplement.
What is IC belly?
Interstitial cystitis causes abdominal swelling which is what is referred to as IC belly or IC tummy. The inflammation in and around your bladder cause this lower abdominal bloating. As time goes on fat begins to collect in this area too as it can be difficult to lose weight when you have interstitial cystitis.
The Best Diet To Lose Belly Fat With Interstitial Cystitis
There are specific IC diets that some people find relief from their symptoms with, but I never got relief or lost weight with those recommendations.
It wasn’t until I started on this whole foods plant based diet for weight loss
that I began to notice my interstitial cystitis belly fat going away. It is by far the best diet to lose weight with interstitial cystitis.
I lost 6 pounds within the first two weeks and in two months I’ve lost 25 pounds which is completely amazing to me since I have literally tried every diet imaginable with little to no results.
A healthy plant based diet helps cool inflammation in the body and helps calm interstitial cystitis flares.
Foods to avoid to lose weight and belly fat with interstitial cystitis:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork
- Fish
- All animal products
- Butter
- Fried foods
- Dairy
- Caffeine
Exercise To Lose Belly Fat With Interstitial Cystitis
Exercise is an important part of losing weight and belly fat, but exercise can often make IC worse. When I was at my worst, even walking irritated my bladder
My interstitial cystitis caused lower back pain too. So finding exercises that didn’t make me feel worse was a challenge. Once I started going to a chiropractor, my IC symptoms improved some and I was able to do some of the exercises that I couldn’t do before.
The most important thing with exercising when you have IC is to listen to your body. Doing exercises that make your IC symptoms worse will hinder your weight loss progress.
The more inflamed your abdomen is from interstitial cystitis, the more difficult it will be to lose the belly fat.
Try some of the below exercises, but take it slow and really pay attention to how you feel after doing that exercise. If it worsens your symptoms, try something different once your flare calms down.
Exercises for losing weight with interstitial cystitis:
- Walking
- Gentle yoga
- Stretching
- Very low impact exercises
Avoid any high impact exercise like jumping and running until you’ve tested to see what your body can handle.
Try to get moving, but if you can’t exercise you can still lose weight by following a healthy diet. Be kind to yourself and don’t get frustrated if you can’t exercise.
Hyaluronic Acid For Interstitial Cystitis Belly Fat
Hyaluronic acid has improved my IC symptoms hugely. I talk about another supplement I use that helps my symptoms here, but the hyaluronic acid helps more in the weight loss area.
Hyaluronic acid can help repair tissues in the body including the bladder lining. It takes a little time for it to be noticeable, but after about 30 days your IC belly will start to shrink.
When you first start taking it you may feel a little like you’re retaining water because that’s what it does. It is found naturally in our joints, skin and eyes and keeps them lubricated. Don’t worry though. This water retention will go away after about a week.
This is the one I take.
Be patient. The benefits you’ll get from it far outweigh this temporary issue.
I believe the hyaluronic acid helps calm the inflammation which results in the IC belly bloating going down and allows the body to work properly to lose weight.
Will losing weight help interstitial cystitis?
Losing weight will help interstitial cystitis symptoms. As you lose more belly fat, there is less pressure on the lower abdomen which allows IC symptoms to lessen.
Plus following a diet that calms inflammation in your body will not only help you lose weight, but will also help relieve symptoms of interstitial cystitis.
