How can I avoid weight gain this time?

[LazyDazy]

I’m back on the GGA roller coaster, having recovered from my first experience of it in 2014 after two and a half years on prednisolone. I was diagnosed again in July ( a month ago) started on 60mg pred now reduced to 35mg. Last time I put on the best par of 3 stone in weight, which it took me almost another three years to lose.. As I also suffer from Osteoarthritis and have had a recent ankle fusion operation I really do not want to repeat this weight gain with its inevitable bad effect on my ankles and other weight-bearing joints. Already, despite being careful, I thought, about eating sensibly, I am a few pounds heavier. Does anybody have any advice as to how I could avoid putting more weight on?

I hope this doesn’t sound trivial. I am well aware of many of the other side effects of the steroids ( sleeplessness, depression etc) but at least I know from previous experience that once you finally manage to reduce and hopefully finally ditch the steroids, other symptoms go fairly quickly. Excess weight takes some shifting!

Thanks in advance for any tips or experience.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Absolutely not trivial!

Many of us have either avoided weight gain (even with GCA) or managed to lose pred-associated weight even while still on pred by cutting processed carbs almost entirely and other carbs to some extent.

I gained in excess of 35lbs altogether, partly due to inactivity for 5 years due to untreated PMR and then due to being put on methy prednisolone, going up to 20mg (which didn't work much anyway). I was switched to a form of prednisone and cut carbs - and the midriff weight started to melt away, never fast but I could feel clothes fitting better (and trousers falling down ). I lost 35lbs in total and although I have regained a few pounds cutting carbs has kept me in reasonable shape for the last 3 years even on about 10mg pred. If I eat much in the way of carbs - I gain weight.

I'm sure the others who have had similar experiences will chuck in their tuppence worth.

[LazyDazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for your encouraging and very quick reply. Cutting carbs seems to be the best route to take then. I will try to find information about foods to avoid. I have some idea, and of course I can read labels, but probably I need a bit more specific knowledge.. what about fruit for instance, or fruit juice?

I remember you from the last time I had GCA and was on this forum and you were so very helpful and knowledgeable. When I was finally managing to taper off the pred altogether I think your advice was the greatest help. Thank you 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LazyDazy]

I remember the name now - so sorry to see you back here.

A good start is all white carbs (flour products including pasta, rice, potatoes) - and all processed foods. They are easy to identify. Above ground veg are good, below ground veg are less so.

This website is excellent for info:

dietdoctor.com/low-carb

Fruit is dodgy - lots of sugar, even if it is "good" sugar - and whole fruit is always better for you because of the fibre which slows down the sugar rush which raises the blood sugar level and triggers insulin production - which is what causes the weight gain. Fruit juice is a sugar rush. The website I gave you the link for has really simple explanations - and nice pictures that are so easy to remember!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

"Dietdoctor.com uses cookies to ensure that you have the best possible experience"

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Haha - never noticed that! But they ARE non-fattening cookies provided you have a computer clean up overy so often...

[LazyDazy in reply to Hidden]

😂

[LazyDazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for that information and that website is exactly what I need. I feel much more positive now that I have a good chance of keeping the weight off this time. 😌

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LazyDazy]

It has worked for lots of us - there are probably a few who'd say it didn't, but usually when someone isn't losing weight it has been because they are eating too much carb for them, we are all different, and eating fruit is a very easy way to mount up the carbs. Healthy it may be - but sugar is carbohydrate, whatever form it comes in.

[LazyDazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks again. I’m working on it. Don’t think it will be too hard once I’ve made some changes. Hope it works. Watch this space 😌

[SnazzyD]

Hello, I won’t add anything other than to say also watch the salt. As well as having to severely cut the carbs, I found any salt caused a disproportionately large fluid retention. So no sauces or any foods containing salt. If you’re cutting carbs, which means only foods that have not been processed, it makes it easier. My treats were two small glasses of wine a week and two squares of high coca chocolate a day.

[LazyDazy in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you. That’s a good tip about salt especially in sauces. I love your chocolate treat. Might copy that one.