Fat, fat, everywhere fat
Posted , 17 users are following.
I'm finally down to 6 mg of Prednisone but still have NOT lost a pound of the 20 that I've gained over the past year. I know that's nothing compared to the pain that many still suffer, but the extra weight is causing physical and mental pain for me.
I've lowered carbs, eat no bread products or desserts, but this Prednisone weight won't budge. My doctor told me that 7 mg is the magic number for things to turn around, but I suppose mine must be different. Or, it's VERY, VERY SLOW. Anyone else?
0 likes, 50 replies
amkoffee pam1793
Posted
Well you are all going to hate me but I did not gain but a few pounds and have already lost them and I'm at 10.5 mg. But and that's and very big butt I am extremely overweight so it doesn't really matter. I have so much to lose it's ridiculas. I am thankful that I didn't gain a lot more weight on top of what I already weight though.
So all of you that have a few more pounds then you want, well I know you can do it. I've lost 35 pounds over and over again. It just takes slow and steady progress. And if you really feel like you should be making progress and your not then it wouldn't hurt to have your thyroid checked.
Sheilamac_Fife pam1793
Posted
I'm on my way from 5.5 to 5.25 and am still struggling to lose the weight. I've been on Prednisolone foe 2 years 9 months and have gained just under 3 stones!! By cutting the carbs drastically as Eileen describes I did lose a few kilos last year, but my will power wasnt strong enough and it went back on! Hate it so much! This week I am going to try to kickstart my enthusiasm for it by trying the 5:2 diet again. Fingers crossed!
Flutterbie57 pam1793
Posted
Anhaga Flutterbie57
Posted
It's habit. I don't feel right if I can't get in my steps. You don't have to do them all at once, in fact you shouldn't. A couple of shorter walks to start.
Rimmy pam1793
Posted
Hi Pam
I can einforce Eileen's great advice and I'm sure you'll soon feel on top of things if you take the path she recommends. The day I started taking pred I did as she suggested and altered my diet dramatically - very few carbs to start with and now after losing a kg a week for 8 weeks I've limited them even more. I have to say i'm very surprised - I've done every kind of 'diet' on the planet (pre PMR) and sustained none of them very well for more than a year or two - but this has - despite the medication - been the easiest. I haven't felt as hungry as even usual - and my energy levels have been fine too - although I also 'pace' myself.
I know we are all very different but as I said to someone else here recently - in the midst of what feels like a chaotic experience it is good to get some sense of control over something and this has helped for me - psychologically and physically. Anyway worth a try - hardly any carbs is the key - altho we all need a 'treat' sometimes !!
All good wishes
Rimmy
Posted
'reinforce' (obviously) - wish brain was better !!
gina30088 pam1793
Posted
I too have cut carbs, and aside for half small banana for potassium
all fruits.
I find when I have done this in the past I lose desire for sweets and carbs eventually,so hoping it keeps the cravings from pred at bay as well at least a bit.when they start.
What sort of supplements does the community take of if any.L
I take calcium/ mag/ zinc and. d3
I am on a diuretic as well, hctz, fir blood pressure,and add cucumbers,parsley and lemon to the lots of water I drink...
Wonder what you all might be taking?
Be well Gina
EileenH gina30088
Posted
Plenty of medications for other things but supplements: only calcium/vit D religiously and magnesium now and again when I feel I need it. I don't take that all the time - I know now when my muscles could do with a boost over and above what I get in diet - dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, yoghurt and dark choclate. Which about sums up much of my diet! Plus meat, cheese and eggs...
gina30088 EileenH
Posted
Thanks Eileen
I sprinkle a dark chocolate cocoa powder and cinnamon, on my coffee, for an afternoon treat..
Wondering, Am I naive to think, after week of 60 mg now well into week of 40, mg its just to soon for my appetite to be increased? I am hoping some of that, and my continued weekly weight loss is from my strict diet routine..
And of course no added salt, which is probably my biggest weekness, 😉but getting creative with herbs.
Either way there is the sense of control over some part of this all, that is helpful.
be well
Gina
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EileenH gina30088
Posted
Buffy61 pam1793
Posted
mimi1950 pam1793
Posted
I've proven to myself that going very low on carbs is the only thing that works for weight loss as well as for controlling other steroid side effects.
I had managed to not put on any weight despite the fact that I gave had no exercise in almost a year - several months in bed before PMR DX and then a broken pelvis . Then I went to stay at my daughter's house for 2 months. I didn't want to impose my diet on the family as they had enough going on in their lives and decided to just eat less of whatever they were eating. I hadn't realized at first but I put on 6 kg while I was there ! Now it's been less than two weeks since I've been back home eating low carb and have lost the weight I gained.
Eating no more than 50 grams of carbs, like Eileen says , is even supposed to cure diabetis and in main stream medicine, it is prescribed for epilepsy .Body builders who take steroids minimize the side effects by eating low carb.
In the last thread I started I was wondering if I even had PMR, was feeling really sick plus dealing with jet lag. And although im still not where I was pre my trip to the US , I feel that my diet while there was part of the problem.
I know what you mean by the extra weight being one of the worst things about PMR, Pam. I hope you try going really low on the carbs..It works.And after a while you don't even crave them.
pam1793 mimi1950
Posted
Thank you all for your responses. I forgot that fruit is also a carb because when I think of fruit, I think "healthy." I usually eat an apple, Orange, maybe berries or a few grapes almost everyday. I just find it crazy to have to cut out fruit. I have friends who went on the Atkins diet and lost weight like crazy, but as soon as they began eating non-Atkins, the weight snuck back on. I can understand cutting out pasta, bread, chips, desserts, things like that, but fruit just baffles me. I don't eat dairy except for eggs occasionally, so that would leave me with lean meat and some veg's. Nuts can trigger a migraine, so I'm limited. Oh well...my problem to solve. Are beans high in carbs? But how many beans can one eat! Ha ha
EileenH pam1793
Posted
There are other ways that work for some people - I know several people who have done well with Slimming World or the five/two fasting approach.
But in this case the carbs bit is purely related to the pred: it changes the way the body processes carbs and that is what also can lead to the risk of steroid-induced diabetes. The pred makes the liver release random spikes of glucose. That triggers the release of insulin and the BS level plummets - and you crave something to increase the BS level.
The criticism of Atkins was always that people didn't really rethink their eating habits - that is really why no fad diets really work long term. However you manage to lose weight - if you go back tot he old habits the weight will sooner or later pile back on.
I lost a lot of weight (36lbs) by low carb - but as soon as I eat more than a small amount of carbs I gain weight. It doesn't really matter what else I eat - just no carbs. So I have the choice: I can keep my weight stable or I can eat carbs. I eat salads and lean meat, sugar does not exist unless I have my approx once weekly gelato - but just one scoop and I savour every tiny spoonful!
However you look at it fruit is high in sugar, carbohydrate - and too much carb stymies the weight loss in this case. I eat a carrot a cucumber instead.
Sheilamac_Fife pam1793
Posted
A few berries are ok. I usually have blueberries in the fridge and will have a few rasps now and again. No bananas, grapes oranges and other sweet fruits.... BUT we can have cheese and other dairy. Oh no, you don't eat it. Bacon and other meats. Doesn't have to be so lean cos fat is ok, without going mad. Not having dairy or eggs makes it difficult I have to say, I rely on them when cutting carbs.
donna25417 pam1793
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Rimmy Sheilamac_Fife
Posted
I find diary is pretty important when cutting carbs - yoghurt first thing before the pred and then a hardboiled egg for lunch with veg and fish or chicken (I don't eat red meat) for dinner. So far I have lost 9kg in about 9 weeks and finally have a normal BMI - although could lose a bit more for a better one. I started this kind of new 'eating style' (I dislike the 'diet' word) after reading all the helpful suggestions on this forum. But as to day is my birthday and 'don't give a fig' I'm eating anything I like - I just won't weigh myself again for a few days at least.
All the best
Anhaga Rimmy
Posted
Hope your birthday was a happy one. 🎈🍰🥂
pam1793 Rimmy
Posted
Rimmy Anhaga
Posted
Thankyou so much Anhaga - a delightful birthday and the strangest thing was a got chatting to a woman tending her garden who lives in a small regional town near me in the SW of OZ and it turned out that she has had PMR for several years !! This was a very strange coincidence given relative 'rarity' of this condition and the small local population - we were both flabbergasted and shared our 'stories' . I thought it interesting her mother and she now thinks grandmother also had PMR and possibly GCA - as I am thinking THIS is what my own mother 'must' have had - in retrospect numerous 'classic' symptoms and consequences !
Best wishes
Rimmy
Rimmy pam1793
Posted
Hello Pam
thanks for kind birthday greetings - and YES I went 'whole hog' (not a good analogy I know) and ended up with a large slice of lemon cheesecake with EXTRA dollops of whipped cream and strawberries Mind you THIS delicious afternoon tea followed the pumpkin fritatta and a delicious dressing soaked salad which I had gleefully munched for lunch. I have to admit eating things we like can be great 'fun' and I am checking the calendar now for the next (any) possible 'date' for next treats !!
Best wishes
Rimmy