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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 4/7/2011 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
hi everyone hope all are well

i know this is a subject that lots of people hate to discuss especially the ladies but i was wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat as me
since i've had RA (feb 2010) my weight has become greater. i have been on prednisolone so it comes with the territory and depression has ment that i have been comfort eating. i was already over weight at about 15 stone after having my son in june 2009 and now i'm at about 16,9 ( having lost about 7lb the last 2 weeks)
but i have found my RA to have gotten worse through this time and my knees especially very painful.
i hate the thought that i have made myself worse through the weight gain and over eating, i should have been more careful and watched what i was eating but i just needed some comfort to get me thought this hard time, i know it sounds like an excuse but do you think it was just me being an over eater or due to these problems?

sorry to moan and hope someone understands this
Posted 4/7/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I totally understand!

I have been blowing off my exercise and eating comfort foods because I am having a God-awful week at work. I fugure I have tio give myself a little break and give myself a little bit of time (my exercise period) to calm down and a couple of pieces of chocolate to soothe my soul.

I am very small so the least bit of alteration from my rigid 1200 cal diet and 30 mins. of exercise  causes me to gain a few pounds which on my small frame looks like 10.

My waist band is already snug and I'm stressing but as soon as I can I'll pull back and get on track and it will all be OK.

As for you!

Prednisone eating is VERY hard to control. I couldn't when I was on it and gained a lot. Don't beat yourself up.

Plus you get muscle wasting and that causes you to have no stamina to exercise. Plus you aren't feeling well yet.

PLUS you have a baby which takes a lot of time and energy and made you gain extra weight while you were pregnant.

I say give yourself a BIG BREAK! Start feeling better before you worry too much about it. Try to eat right most of the time but not always.

I wish you all the best!

Posted 4/7/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Speaking as a person who has gain 100 lbs since High School (24yrs ago) I can understand the comfort foods eating. I was so slim in jr high I was called "toothpick" (size one).
I want to lose the weight to help my achy joints, but it hurts to move around after a full day of work on my feet. I'm looking into going to the Y and join the pool club for the water exercise.
Posted 4/7/2011 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
I understand totally. I started on high dose Prednisone in January and have been tapering, but still at 17 1/2 mg/day. I cannot seem to control my eating. And I also eat for comfort, besides being actually hungry. I am already obese, so did not need anything to stimulate my appetite. And I cannot seem to beat the fatigue enough to  exercise yet. Tried walking but it kicked up the arthritis in my feet and caused edema. (either that or the Prednisone gave me the edema).  Wish someone had the answer for us. I am trying to stay as active as possible. But there are days when I dont want anyone taking my food away because I need it to cope. Hope your week gets better. :-)
Posted 4/8/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I think it is because of your physical issues. I don't know what the link is, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that pain makes us crave carbs...bread, cookies, brownies, ice cream, etc. When I am in pain every day for weeks, the good diet goes out the window. I cannot help it. I crave those foods, and they are the only thing that make me feel better, at least for a little while. I always go back to my healty diet, and actually crave fresh fruits and vegetables when my pain is contolled. Please don't be so hard on yourself. This is a life-long battle, and we all have good times and bad times. I surely hope you can get your pain controlled and start feeling better. You are a valuable, worthy person who deserves a lot of respect for dealing w/what you have to go through every day. Please don't ever forget that.

God Bless,

V
Posted 4/8/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Vannie, I so agree about the pain making your crave carbs. Talk about comfort food. And the problem is so much worse now on Prednisone.

And dee2010, we are all moaning and we do understand!
Posted 4/11/2011 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Take it from someone who has had arthritis for 50 years (I was 7) that it has nothing to do with
weight gain. When I was 110 I could barely walk at times. I ran an average of 5 miles a day during
the summer, but I was also a stay at home Mom. Now I've been working full time since my divorce
in 1986 and weigh 200. It doesn't matter how much you weigh the joints are still fubar. My 5 year old
grandaughter is showing signs and she weighs only 40 pounds. Another grandaughter has been showing signs
since she was 9.
If you want to get off the predisone check into Yucca Root....it's a natural steroid.
Posted 4/12/2011 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Fish oil too is a natural steroid. I totally agree with the prednisone food craving, I'm normally light weight about 54kilos but now I am 64 kilos (118.8 - 140.8 lbs) just from prednisone. I'm trying to wean myself off it at the moment but I know its going to take weeks/ months and then probably a while to lose the weight. Boring!
I so love the prednisone such a shame its so damaging in the long run.
Best wishes and remember you're not alone in your struggle, golitho
Posted 4/18/2011 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
I've never taken prednisone but we gain weight because of the comfort eating and then the lack of exercising do to pain. What I have found out is that the comfort foods are actually causing more pain in our bodies. So its a double whammy! Even though I know not to eat certain foods, it doesn't help when My husband and I get into an argument the first thing I want is brownies and my will power is shot to bits and I cave in. And of course I'm in pain for the next 24 hours.
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