Overcoming Prednisone Obesity
Posted , 13 users are following.
I finally forced myself on to the scales after nearly 2 and a half years of total denial and stubborn refusal........ and was horrified to find that I have gained nearly 3 stone since I began taking prednisone at the onset of Pmr. Clearly I have been eating myself into a roly poly Michelin lady..... but 3 stone! I now understand why I look and feel like a beached whale...... so in a couple of hours I have an appointment with a physician / naturopath who will probably put me on a diet of lettuce leaves....... oh well..... maybe I will overcome....or maybe not.... I do so love to eat :-(
0 likes, 70 replies
EileenH ricky23486
Posted
I lost 36lb of PMR-inactivity and pred-associated weight by cutting carbs drastically - and I was still on pred, 15mg to start with. That was about what I'd put on with pred. I'd like to lose a bit more but I have my shape back and that'll do until I get even lower on pred. I had to return to 15mg in January last year - and put no weight on then. If only I had known what I know now then!
For me, leaving the carbs in the cupboard is not difficult - I'm allergic to something in the structure of wheat starch and it has to be good to justify it against the itching! But if your naturopath does limit it you to 3 lettuce leaves for breakfast - there are other ways if you find it too hard. The important thing is to find something that works for you that you can stick to. It doesn't matter how good it is theoretically if you are unhappy.
The other good thing about low carb is that it also reduces the risk of developing steroid-induced diabetes.
Good luck - and do tell us what is suggested.
ricky23486 EileenH
Posted
the naturopath thinks that an anti inflammatory diet is more important than the weight gain. So he didn't mention the dreaded lettuce leaves but has instructed me to eliminate all gluten, dairy, all animal proteins (except fish and sea food ). He reluctantly approved eggs, And to only eat when hungry (That's how I gained all this weight !) And to eat as much as I want of raw seeds and nuts (not cashews or peanuts)
we shall wait and see......
EileenH ricky23486
Posted
I must be VERY old-fashioned. I do only eat when hungry. And sometimes not even then. I drink tea with a smidgeon of milk for breakfast, lunch at 1.30 (a big bowl of salad, no meat more often than not) and dinner at 7.45 (no dessert). Effectively intermittent fasting and I am almost never consciously hungry.
Having hunger pangs doesn't mean you need to stuff something in to silence them. One of the contributors to the obesity problem has been the concept that you should snack to avoid hunger feelings. It has even been touted repeatedly as the way to lose weight. Which might be fine if you split a finite number of calories between 7 meals/snacks instead of 3 meals - but no-one does and the amount of food increases. As a child I had breakfast, lunch and dinner. That was it - no snacks between meals. If you didn't finish what was on your plate (a far smaller plate than nowadays by the way) you had to wait until the next meal. Now children learn from being small that they can expect to eat at any time.
Silver49 EileenH
Posted
Rimmy ricky23486
Posted
Hi Ricky
Take heart - as has been discussed many times on this forum and elsewhere regarding Pred and weight gain - a very low carb approach can be highly effective. I've lost lots of weight in the last 6 months - even on a high dose of Pred for GCA and like you I love food. Lots & lots of mainly green veg, lean protein, and a bit of consistency and determination and you will 'overcome' !
All best wishes
Rimmy
mary_49929 ricky23486
Posted
I ve gained nearly two stone with high doses due to CHA as well, am down to eleven in nine months, and have started low carbs and stopped methatrexalate, so beginni g to feel human again... and I m sure, once you find what suits you and your lifestyle, you'll lose weight.... good luck
Silver49 ricky23486
Posted
I have not been as disciplined as others on this forum but have lost nearly a stone by cutting the carbs. I, too, have put on 3 stone. I met an ex colleague whom I hadn't seen for some time and who also had PMR. She is now off steroids and has lost a lot of weight since coming off. I couldn't believe the difference. She didn't go on a diet. She had been very round and bloated. It's all gone. It can and does happen and not a lettuce leaf needed.
EileenH Silver49
Posted
Suppose it depends how long you are prepared to wait
I think I kept hoping it would go away - but it didn't until I took control.
mary_49929 EileenH
Posted
Hi ,think we are all a bit guilty of thinking " I won't gain a lot", but it happens, along with the round face and lump on back of neck, not to mention skin being so very frail.....I 've hated every minute of being on steroids, but it had to be... it's took me months to accept the loss of a lot of sight, but i m feeling I 've turned a corner, and life is becoming good again... so if anyone is struggling , it does, intime get better... xx
Silver49 EileenH
Posted
I had been living in hope too. It's like many things in life sometimes we have to work at it to achieve any success. It's the falling off that causes the problem but the weight is not all going back on as I am now at 3mgs. 😇😂
ricky23486 Silver49
Posted
Perhaps your colleague had fluid retention which went when the prednisone was stopped but I bet she wasn't pigging out at meal times..... she probably lived on lettuce leaves!
Silver49 ricky23486
Posted
She certainly wasn't and I agree it was probably fluid retention.
jean39702 ricky23486
Posted
My gain at the 2-year mark was a little over 3 stone, 46 pounds in Canada speak. :-) Over the last year it appears I've lost 2 pounds for every .5 drop in prednisone.
I probably eat more carbs than I should in the form of bread, rice and potatoes, but sweet have never been an issue with me. I can take them or leave them and have therefore been very careful to sample the odd sweet on limited occasions.
During the first year of prednisone, I cut carbs fairly drastically and went on a higher fiber and protein diet. That's when I gained all the weight!
I think we're all different in terms of how we process carbs. I've never figured out the best way of eating for my body and have struggled with weight issues all my life. Right now I'm happy with the loss of 2 pounds a month and hope it continues.
EileenH jean39702
Posted
I have "met" several who have said they cut carbs drastically - but were eating a lot of fruit. That is enough to make the difference. I only lose weight when I stick rigidly to less than 20g useable carbs. And believe me - that isn't much at all! Keeping my weight stable is easier, I can have up to 50g.
You have been lucky though - I know people who haven't lost an ounce until they came off pred altogether. But nevertheless, well done.
maid_mariane EileenH
Posted
Seems like I'm one of the unlucky ones. When i went low carbs i also eliminated the fruits especially my favorite watermelon. As i said even a little carb and I've gained huge.
I have to go back and be extremely strict.
Oh well.😂
EileenH maid_mariane
Posted