how can i lose weigth

[JENNY84PR]

[deadasadodo]

Hi Jenny

I did this the old fashioned way, ate less (joined tesco diets) and excercised more (strarted off walking, progressed to power walking and am not attempting jogging!). I have been on steriods for 8 years and over that time put on about 3 stone. Last Oct gave myself a good talking too and have changed my eating habits (not wildly just smaller portions and a lot more fruit and veg), and increased by excercise- as long as you do not go mad it should not bring on a lupus flare. Push a little bit but listen to your body.

Davina

[JENNY84PR in reply to deadasadodo]

thank u . i have try everything the doctor said just give ur body sometime to get used to of no more steriods . but it hard looking in the mirro and see u look like diffrent person then year ago

[deadasadodo]

Hi Jenny

I know what you mean, it is bad enough that lupus robs you of your vitality, looking in the mirrior and seeing a strange looking woman staring back at you can be very daunting. Take comfort from your friends and family, draw on the advice and support they can give you, you will get there.

The people on this site are really lovely and very supportive too.

Enjoy Christmas and have a peaceful new year.

Davina

[TXJulie]

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny....I feel your frustration. I was just diagnosed in July. I'm 55 yrs. old but until last year felt 40. Since my 20s I have been blessed to have worn the same size clothing and my weight has fluctuated only 5-10 lbs.(sorry, did I mention I'm American?) Then with the diagnosis came the drugs and the weight and the shape shifting. I have never been fond of mirrors and like them even less now that I look like a puffer fish and don't recognize this person who stares back at me who is now 2 sizes larger. It stinks!! When I talked to my rheumatologist about it, she told me that right now it was more important to get the lupus under control and the worse thing for me would be to stress about my weight. The steroids will add on weight, period, end of story. They swear some of it will slowly come off if you get off the steroids, which I haven't, yet. I have very little appetite (a belly full of pills?) and have been getting my large self on the treadmill for 30 minutes every other day, which I had to work up to. I can't stand to exercise, but it does give me a bit more energy-the difference I notice is I make it through the day without a nap.

It hasn't taken off any weight, however. I am trying really hard to ACCEPT IT.

In the big scheme of things, it's not that important, even if I hate it! I just don't want to gain any more because I can't afford to replace my clothes for a third time! It's just ALOT to accept all at one time, isn't it? You are not alone, Jenny. And believe me, we feel your pain and frustration.

[Thaddeus]

It all down to diet I am afraid. At least until you are strong enough to get into some sort of exercise routine. I walk my dog for a hour each morning and again each afternoon. This is a much i can handle, there was a time a few years back when i got into running, once a week. Would love to have done more, but it would have set me back.

Its all about management with lupus, -Spend only half of the energy you have and invest the other half in your recovery.

[ALOMA]

Hi there - Definitely the added weight is in most cases caused through medication and it is one of the worst things we have to deal with, apart from the disease itself. I was a personel trainer and fitness and nutrition have always been a part of my life. I have been off steroids for two years now and still cannot get rid of my weight. When my consultant eased me off the prednisolen she said she imagined it would take about a year at least for the weight to come off ...now when I ask her....she just nods and says sometimes it can stay in your body for up to ten years.....!! Sorry - don't want to depress anyone even more but I am also looking for ways to try and rid myself of the excess body fat/weight which really really gets me down. I had always been so figure concious and appearance has always mean't alot to me so yes - I agree with you all - its very hard to accept this new person one has become while just wanting to get the old person back......and knowing that maybe we will never be free of the lupus......we can at least find ways of ridding ourselves of a look that makes us so much more unhappy. In five months on the steroids I went from a size 8 to and 18 - it took me a year to get down to a 14 - and a year later I am still between a 12 - 14 - 14 on top - as my breasts went to such an enormous size which I also find very uncomfortable too. (By the way my consultant replaced my steroids with azathioprine as I had been on too high doses for too long on the steroids by another doctor and the steroids have caused alot of damage). So - ladies - don't feel bad - your excess weight is NOT just due to your diet not being right - I have a really really strict diet - gluten/wheat/dairy free, no caffeine or sugar, ect. ect..and it makes no difference and I have extremely high cholestral w hich I never had before - and my consultant has said to me - it has nothing to do with my diet - it IS the medication - so obviously we all have to keep trying to get our 'old bodies back' and so we all need to keep sharing and maybe one of us will be able to eventually give info to one another that could help us all shed this dreaded extra weight/body shape. Good luck to you all - but remember - we all have to stay as healthy as possible too...........all the best to you all

[JENNY84PR in reply to ALOMA]

hello aloma

It True but it hard for me cuz i have depression to i lose my hearing in one side of my hear do to the lupus . it hard to hear people specialy my 4 years old daugther i spend alot of time with her to that . but i trying to do me best for her