When will my weight go?

[geater16393]

Started on 20mg pred, now after 3 yrs on 4 mg, have lost moon face, but that's about all! when will I loose the gained weight?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it isn't going on its own (this might sound harsh) but when you really concentrate on losing it! A few of us have lost a load of the pred weight whilst still on pred - but one went to Weight Watchers, I have cut carbs drastically and another lady has also worked very very hard at it. Pred changes the way you process carbohydrate and that is one of the reasons many people put on weight, especially around their midriff. Unfortunately it only rarely disappears on its own.

[geater16393 in reply to PMRpro]

I hardly eat any carbs now, no bread or potatoes etc, have not done so since I have been on pred, because I knew it caused weight gain

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to geater16393]

Hmmmm - then you are being very unlucky in being one of the people who really struggles. You have my sympathy mind you - I didn't put on a vast amount of weight with one form of pred but was switched to Medrol and that was hellish! You name a side-effect and I met it - especially weight gain and a beard! When I came off it the weight started to go - but desperately slowly, about a pound in 6 weeks. No carb increased the weight loss to 2lbs a month - 18 months later, 15kg has gone, lots of it from round my middle. I also have cut the amount I eat a LOT, I doubt I eat much more than 1000 cals a day. What helped kick-start my weight loss was the 5:2 diet and I don't eat breakfast - nothing from 8.30pm to 1pm except 3 mugs of tea! Might be worth looking at.

[geater16393 in reply to PMRpro]

What is 5:2 diet?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to geater16393]

It is a diet where you have 2 days a week, not two together, where you restrict your calories to 500 for women, 600 for men. The rest of the week you eat normally. The concept is you never catch up the calories you cut and your body never adjusts its metabolic weight which can happen when your restriction is every day and it includes the benefits of fasting on those 2 days. You feel less deprived because you know you can have that treat tomorrow - if you still want it! If you google 5:2 fast diet you will find a lot of info.

I see SkinnyJohnny mentions the Paleo diet - a Swedish study is reputed to have shown it is better at getting rid of abdominal fat than the conventional wisdom of low fat and restricted calories (which I think really has to be questioned these days!). The report described it as "lean meat and veggies" - I think it is a bit more complex than that but the removal of commercially produced products from our diet is always a big plus given the amount of sugar and salt is used in them - especially in low fat products which are so popular for most dietary concepts. That certainly describes my diet: "fish, lean meat and veggies with a few nuts" is about it!

[Skinnyjonny]

Although I was one of the fortunate one's who didn't have to lose weight I found the Paleo Diet of great benefit. It was introduced to me when I attended for 2 weeks at a Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre last September. One of the Therapists advised me to consider it to help inflammation etc. The Paleo is otherwise known as 'The Caveman Diet' and it's about eating real food not man-made rubbish. I also have friends on the 5:2 both for weight management and healthy eating and it works for them. Eat healthy and enjoy your food in moderation.

[iforget]

Despite my determination not to be affected (like I am superwoman and can control these things hah!) I gained weight since diagnosis and the start of pred... and as it is primarily 'round the middle' I am blaming pred to an extent...the rest of it is because I do not move as easily or as much as I did prior to PMR and therefore do not burn the calories I consume...

I am reducing the pred now and am under 10mg a day so plan to attack the weight issue at the next drop by increasing the amount I move around and trying to watch what I eat. Processed foods seriously disagree with me and are not a part of my diet but while on pred I have struggled with being hungry to the point I have had to get out of bed to eat something in order to be able to sleep....which was a complete change to my normal habits where I rarely ate anything after 7.30pm.

I am not expecting this to be easy... but I refuse to remain this heavy...carrying excess poundage is not good for me on any level. Maybe those of us needing to drop the weight can support each other?

[Poshcards]

Years ago I was on Pred for 1 year and put on 7 st! I went on strict diets but didn't lose any of it no matter how I tried!