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 :-(

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  • Posted

    Hi Ricky,

    I too gained after initially losing weight at the beginning, I was like a road runner, thought I would be the opposite to everyone else, how wrong was I . I then put on 1.5 stone, and probably more but the scales broke and I didn't replace them until now, then started on a DMARD and just bought some scales 2 weeks ago, hey presto starting back at work, walking my sons dog the new medication , I'm dropping around 1lb every couple of days and on 9mg of prednisolone a day, I also have 80mg steroid injection running in the background too. Now I can see a difference, people are saying I look better but they haven't worked out why. I feel less breathless, but still tire easily so spacing my shifts out at work. So after 11 months on prednisolone, from 30-9mg all be it a cheat injection in there too, I'm starting to get my shape back, the wrinkles aren't as flattering but at least it's the right direction at the moment.

    You will lose it too with determination, I even have the odd pudding or chocolate but reduced my bread and potatoes drastically, increased my salad intake, fresh food all the way, it tastes so much nicer.

    Take care, you will conquer I'm sure!!!

  • Posted

    I did well in year one because I was already doing low carb but this past year I have gained considerable amount of weight. It has gotten me down but i cannot have any carbs not an occasional popcorn or bun. I still cut out obvious carbs such as rice pasta and potatoes and bread but this last year has been very difficult and we have been out alot so had the weekly carb and it shows.

    So for me i can't cheat at all😂 i just got to get hubby on board because I'm a food aholic.

    I hear you.

    • Posted

      You can eat carbs, just eat the right ones.

      put Demystifying Diabetes PMR GCA and follow the link to the PMR & GCA uk North East Website and read the Newsletter Summer 2016.

    • Posted

      Everything has carbs but as i said i have dropped the real obvious ones but yesterday with friends and their kids comming up we did the obvious thing when by the wayer have hamburgers, i made potato salad and tuna macaroni salad etc.

      I do have hamburgers but usually no bun but long time since these salads. I have to say i felt awful after eating. Bloated hard time walking etc. My hubby to felt the same.

      I just got to get back to being totally on the band wagon again.

  • Posted

    I've put on a tonne of weight because I eat everything in sight. My rheumatologist said prednisone heightens the appetite and not to worry as this will decrease. But has binge eating become a mindset? I love food! Time will tell. In my favour, I have a 13LT air fryer/oven. Use no oil. I also eat a lot of Mediterranean food, love slow-cooked tagines. Pic is of Moroccan lamb shanks tagine with caramelised onion, spices and currants, and couscous, yoghurt and fresh coriander. 

    (It was my daughter's birthday and we were celebrating!)

    • Posted

      Your rheumatologist sounds a bit daft if you ask me. It is far easier to avoid weight gain than to lose it. And the concept of saying it is fine, just blame the pred is silly. Not everyone is driven to eat by pred and some people gain weight just by being on pred which is hard. But letting your weight increase on the grounds it will go away later assumes that you will get off pred quickly - whereas the truth is 75% of patients are on pred for in excess of 4 years - and that you aren't going to develop steroid-induced diabetes - weight gain makes that even more likely.

    • Posted

      Just had a 4 day complete restful break with my sister, she couldn`t believe how much my tummy rumbled all day long, approx 1 hour after every meal...but I don`t give in to it....I drink a lot of water and tea.  In 6 years I have gained half a stone.......I do have a bigger tummy and  face which I hate, but it could be worse I tell myself!  I have always been aware of pred helping diabetes along so that`s what I tell myselfwink
  • Posted

    Pic wasn't included - or was it? Anyway . . . food that I love.

    • Posted

      Oh dear. Wrong one. Forget it. Sorry I hogged my way here!
  • Posted

    Type this into your search engine and read:

    Demystifying Diabetes PMR & GCA.

    I know you do not have diabetes, but it is a good read

    I changed plates, from dinner plate size to 'ham' plate size and your eyes deceive you with a smaller plate which looks fuller ..............

    • Posted

      The size of dinner plates has increased from about 8-9inches in the late 1960s to 12 inches being common these days.

      Take one plate of each size and put the same sized portion on each. The one on the small plate will look much bigger and leave you feeling more satisfied when you have eaten it.

    • Posted

      I am still using dinner plates from the 50's............not that I am mean but they were inherited..........mind they are all odd ones now. cry

    • Posted

      Until we moved here 7 years ago I was using plates from my MIL which must have been from the 30s! I have a complete dinner service from our wedding presents (1974) - just started using them. The pudding plates are a better size...
    • Posted

      I got rid of my wedding (1977) present dinner service ...it was not dishwasher compatible. lol

      Once foot had to be operated on and six months no foot to floor, dishwasher was 1st item bought.............followed by other useful items I would never have even thought about buying............amazing what happens when 'stuff' happens.

    • Posted

      Mine is!!!!! And if the pretty bits wash off - who cares...
    • Posted

      Sounds like a good trick..going to try with the two men cook for, will have to buy some smaller plates..I love eating / serving from really big plates...the bigger the better..😛

    • Posted

      Maybe you could use your giant plates as charger plates, and place the actual, smaller, plate with the food on top.  You'd still have the elegance of a large plate, without the temptation to fill it.  

    • Posted

      I'm with you Eileen. Hubby said we have to hand wash the other week when having company over. I said no don't care through in the dishwasher.

      If i don't use it get rid of it.

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