Prednisolone 30g, advice on how not to put on weight

I think you will get more relevant information if you post in Chest/Lungs forum.  You don't say you have PMR or GCA and that is where you have posted.

To add to Nefret's comment... I also suggest you say what dosage you're on...

Oops! Sorry, I now see you did. 

It's a high dose. So it would probably depend on how long you take it for.

Frankly I've never heard of taking prednisolone for a chest infection.... but I imagine it's a very versatile drug

Starting at 30mg may seem high but if they are reduced fairly quickly this should not give side effects or weight loss or gain.  The steriods for PMR/GCA are given long term on average 2/3 years and in some cases even longer, or for life.  In my experience for chest infection the course is usually very short.

it is very simple. Prednisolone makes you more hungry. You will only put on more weigtht if you give in to the hunger and eat more. I would suggest taking fibre capsules so taht you feel fuller, but you will still want food. So learn to say no to those cravings.

I found that cutting out simple carbs eg sugary things and also gluten seems to have stopped any weight gain, although I do have bad water retention. I also get the munchies from the steroids, so I do think of food a lot. The difficult bit is not eating it!

Hi

I got the munchies when on Pred so I'm not sure that the reason for weight gain is the drug itself or the effects of eating everything in site ( well almost)  I have to forcibly stop myself eating more than I should.  Good luck with that!

Thank you, i have got up this morning and very bloated, so do i go to the chemist to get water retention tablets to stop the bloating?  Wish i did not have to take these tablets.

Margaret. you need to go back and see your doctor and explain the problem.  We're not medics here and if you have a severe infection we cannot advise.  If you post in the correct place they may be able to help you further.

Hi!! I have been on prednisone of & on for a while. It's tough! I finally just did a brutal clearing out of cupboards & refrigerator, after researching a new way to eat & some healthier things to drink. I put a lot more fresh food in my meals -produce & less salt & fats. If I don'the have stuff at home I don'give into the cravings prompted by steroids.

I have been on  pred for 3.5 months now and have not gained an ounce. I attribute this to the good advice I have received from people on this forum regarding diet while on pred and reading about possible side effects of prednisone/prednisolone. For me, this meant that once diagnosed with PMR and informed that I must take pred, I made a decision to eliminate all processed foods from my diet as well as gluten, salt (to reduce water retention), sugar and all dairy (except yoghurt). It seemed like an extremely ambitious aspiration for someone like me, particularly because I have never followed any diet in my life (nor wanted to) but it has not been hard and I think my decision was right, for me at least.  

Because we live in a world with many choices regarding foods, I choose to focus on the foods I can eat with my self-styled diet, rather than those I cannot. This means lots of whole foods. So I stock my cupboards and fridge with lots of alternatives, particularly nuts and fresh fruits as well as veggies, and the odd packet of rice cakes and loaf of gluten-free bread. I have always eaten and still eat a nice salad (with dressing) at least once a day and I graze and chomp throughout the day on carrot sticks and fruit, including frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, because they are cheap, delicious, and almost fat free) of all sorts by the cup load. Sometimes I think I eat a lot more than I did before, but I weigh myself each day and I am reassured.

I think “weighing in” every morning is a good idea. In this way, if after a week you find you have gained a pound/kilo, you can take short-term measures, like cutting back on snacks or one or two treats.

But I think every person has to tailor his/her diet accordingly, as we are all individuals. The point is that we need to eat well and we need to have a diet that pleases and satisfies. In other words, while food should always be nourishing, it should also be a source of satisfaction and enjoyment. Personally, I try to eat in a way that I never have to go on something called a diet, because I do not think I could follow one. In short, I feel that perhaps people on pred may have a good chance of maintaining their normal weight if they just make a few adjustments. For me, it has meant steering away from biscuits (cookies), bread, sweets, and salted snacks like potato chips, etc., but I am not advocating the same for others. What I am advocating is a review of diet in light of the nature of the tendencies of prednisone. Early action and ongoing monitoring of weight may help avoid the need for drastic action.