Side effect Question

To everyone, these are great discussions. I like not being the only one with certain issues.

I am wondering from anyone who gained weight on pred, how did you lose it. Before being diagnosed, I lost about 35 lbs. of course after being diagnosed and on pred I have gained it back. I'm down to 1 pred per day, but I know I'm going to have to go up to at least 3 if not 4 for awhile. My biggest issue is mostly the weight.

Thanks

Hi I had gained a bit of weight but after reading that dairy and sugar are the foods that feed inflamation so for 30 days I ate no sugar, no dairy. No grains  and no alcohol.  I lost 12 pounds and feel amazing have now dropped my prednisone from 10 to 7 mg  with no,problems.   The first week was the hardest finding out what foods I could eat as almost everything we buy has some sugar in it but once I got going was easy the rest of the time could eat all meats , vegetables and a bit of fruit , eggs etc. I am still continuing to not eat much sugar but have introduced some dairy back into my diet not a coffee or tea drinker so needed my milk. 

Cutting carbs drastically has helped a lot of people on the forums avoid weight gain with pred, others have lost weight. I lost 36lb by cutting carbs. I'm stuck at my current weight but the amount of carbs I eat (really not a lot!) keeps the weight stable to within a pound or so either way. If I eat more carbs - weight goes on straight away but goes as soon as I go back to my normal pattern of eating. 

As donna says - that really does mean cutting nearly all processed foods as sugar (like wheat) is added to loads of things you wouldn't think of! If I want a yoghurt - natural unsweetened is the only way! Salad dressing - olive oil and vinegar. I also eat low salt - when I go out for a meal I retain fluid immediately because of the salt used in restaurant kitchens.

I gained a lot of weight during the first few months of taking Pred, but since I have gone back on the higher dose due to a flare I have managed to stay steady and actually lose a few pounds.  Apart from cutting out most of the goodies I used to eat and the sugar in my tea I found the low carb just doesn't work for me, but a bit of excercise and eating much smaller portions of my usual foods is gradually seeing results, and I don't have to cook separate meals for me and my OH.

I've never had to cook separate meals for us to avoid carbs. And actually - what do you think you have done besides cut carbs? We're aren't saying NO carbs, but much lower carbs than you usually eat at a level that works for you. And portion control is still needed.

The important thing is to eat a good balanced diet. Cut out the simple carbs, those lovely cakes etc, you still need the carbs in veg for example. In fact a balanced diet is the sort of diet everyone should be following PMR or not. We may up the anti inflammatory items with certain vitamins and minerals because of the pred, but at the end of the day it is what our bodies need anyway. As you say just reduce the helpings a bit.

I agree in part, as I do think its easy to not eat enough when appetite gone.

So increasing vegetables is my goal

But i find even a bit of carbs / sugar will bring on the cravings for more.

Though i would sell my soul at times for a slice of pizza.. ( live close outside  Chicago)  so bragging rights on that)  . I know it will be a slippery slope.

I admire those strong enough for an occasional treat..

Wishing all well,

Gina

 

Sugar is amazingly addictive!! One cookie is not worth having you need the packet.

Why not have some pizza occassionally? Life is too short I feel to not have the odd pamper.

You are so right,and it will be in my future when I get down from this high dose!

Not soon though as gca symptoms returned today on 25 so back up I go..

Darn

 

Before I started the low carb attack I had used the five:two diet approach and I found that reeducated my appetite to want much smaller portions within just a few weeks on it. It is a relatively easy way to do it too as you are never "dieting" for more than 1 day at a time and tomorrow you know you can have that whatever it is you suddenly crave while on a diet. If you google it don't write the words, use numbers (usually it disappears for moderation if you put that).

Eileen, what is the five;two diet approach?

I'm really trying to drink a lit of water and walk and cut out sugar, but it seems like a losing battle.

Some days I feel like my stomach is huge and very hard then other days it's not bad.

I just read your last part about google...sorry and thanks again!

Google it as numbers:  5 colon 2 - if I write it out the post will get taken for moderation. It is a diet based on eating normally for 5 days of the week and having 2 non-consecutive days where you only eat 500 calories if a woman, 600 for men. It is one version of intermittent fasting. 

Oh dear, slapped wrists... I only mentioned the diet in a bit more detail with the name of the book. Obviously too much information.

Er- why do you think I went about things in such a convoluted way? Was that Michael Mosely's book? He was the one who started as a proponent of the concept - I've read it. Didn't see the TV programme though as I don't live in the UK!

Yes, that's right. I must have used a word that got warning bells ringing! The programme was good. I like all his programmes and articles as they are evidence-based and well researched.