Can u lose weight on prednisone?

I was one of those people who thought I could at least hold my weight while on pred. I figured I'd eat decent, and exercise. I put it on anyway, and that appetite was just not something I was expecting like that. You feel just down right starved. LOL I think the medication itself also adds weight without you eating a lot, as well as makes you retain water.

So I guess you can try, I know I did. Just don't be surprised if you pack some on. I put on 20 pounds in 4 months.

It is most definitely worth exercising while on Prednisone, and NOT just because of the weight issue. Yes, it's hard to avoid gaining weight on Prednisone, but I'm on week 5 of an 8 week taper, and I have managed to only gain a couple pounds (2-4lbs depending on the time of day), and I think it's in large part due to the fact that I've been trying to STAY active, and eat smart. You might gain 10lbs on Prednisone even if you "work out", which is frustrating - but it's better than the 25lbs you might gain if you DON'T work out.

Also, like I said, there's more than just the weight issue. Staying active will help your body adjust as you taper down... your adrenal glands can get SO messed up... but if you keep your body going with regular exercise, the lessening amounts of steroids in your blood won't hit you so hard if you have the muscle and endurance to still do what you need to do every day.

And my most recent trick for NOT stuffing my face 24/7 while on Prednisone is...nothing magical: TEA! I drink butt-loads of different herbal teas and flavored nonsense... when I get the munchies I try to "trick" my body into being satisfied with a big ole belly full of HOT stupid WATER. So far, my trick works about 75% of the time, so I figure that's about 75% fewer pounds. I have gone through about 12 different kinds of tea too, and there are still those days where I'm not sure that ever stop eating... but for the most part - the tea really helps keep me from eating my way out of house and home on this stupid drug!

Wishing you the best...

Guess it just shows like everything else, everyone is so different! LOL

Im with Randy on this, I lose weight on the pred and I exercise for the bone strength.
Good luck
Jo

Unfortunately for me, I am not able to lose weight while on the 'roids. I ride my bike quite a bit when on the 'roids (b/c I'm actually in remission!) and still get the puffy face, lil pot belly, and gain weight! Not a ridiculous amount, but about 10 lbs more than what I usually am. I just tapered off last Tuesday and have actually started dropping the weight in my face and body. Prednisone is definitely a love/hate relationship with me. I love it b/c I go into remission, but hate it b/c it makes me puffy and wrecks havoc on my bones!

Thanks for all your replies! I've been wanting to work out for a while just too darn tired, but guess I will give it a whirl! 15 mins a day is better than none! It is so hard to control my eating now but will try to do better on that, my main problem is how much I eat since being on the pred. Weaning slowly so hopefully I will be completely off in a few months.

On my last taper (begining of the summer) I exercised like normal for the first 3 weeks.  My work outs were so much more productive since the prednisone boosted my energy.  Life got busy around week 4 so I wasnt able to make it to the gym as often.  I started retaining water really bad, to the point that I was gaining about 2 lbs every over day.  The Dr put me on a water pill and that helped slow the weight gain down.  I ended up gaining 14 lbs with that taper.  Unfortuately I had to start another taper almost immediately after getting off the first one so I wasnt able to get back down to my pre-roid weight.  HOWEVER, I have lost 3 lbs this time around.  I dont have nearly the appitite that I had before....not sure why really, could just be that I have been busier than normal.  I started working out today again hoping to drop a few more or at least keep the gain to a minimum.

Everyone is so different.  I say go ahead and exercise for your health not for your weight and if weight comes off it is just an added bonus!!!

Good luck!

I have noticed the same thing Zanne mentioned.  The lower the dose I am on, the quicker the weight comes off. 

I am on a lower dose now and I hoping I can keep it low!  I have noticed that certain bones I "forgot" about are starting to show up once again. 

When I was on the higher dose, I would really watch what I ate and exercise 4-5 times a week, and that helped me from gaining anymore.  It is frustrating though, because it is so easy to gain on this drug.  Well, it is for me, anyways. 

I asked a friend of mine who is a pharmacist if you can lose weight while on prednisone, and she said you can, but it is really hard.  You really have to watch what you eat and be willing to walk or exercise daily. 

I am overweight to begin with and I really should work on getting some of THAT off while I am not on the high dose.  Grrr!  Weight is so frustrating!

Best of luck to you!