is there any practical way to avoid weight gain on prednisone?

is there any practical way to avoid weight gain on prednisone?

I am not really one to give advice on this subject-I gained 50 pounds in a 2 month period on pred (I was on it for 4 months, but didn't gain the first month or the last). Yikes. Certainly some of that was diet, but I honestly think that every person just reacts to it differently. I didn't increase my daily intake enough to warrant that large of a gain in that short a period.

But I have known of people who didn't gain as well. I think drinking a lot of water is a good bet, lowering salt intake too, since it contributes to water retention. Basically trying to stick to as healthy a diet as is possible. (which is hard. I tried my best, but I felt like I could just eat a bowl of straight sugar for every meal and be happy. Not that I actually did that, lol, but I craved it!! Normally I am a salt person...)

Good luck to both of you. I have refused pred for this latest flare and am switching from Humira to Remicade. If it doesn't work, I am going to try all of the dietary changes and things like that, but also have a serious chat about surgery with my GI. I am definitwly at a pont where I would prefer to have my colon out entirely than go back on pred. Such a wretched medication!

Supa said...
I am not really one to give advice on this subject-I gained 50 pounds in a 2 month period on pred (I was on it for 4 months, but didn't gain the first month or the last). Yikes. Certainly some of that was diet, but I honestly think that every person just reacts to it differently. I didn't increase my daily intake enough to warrant that large of a gain in that short a period.

when i was younger, i would never gain weight on prednisone, because i would starve myself when it was too painful to eat.  but when i got older, i was able to eat easier and started gaining lots of weight from the drug.

Exercise, use portion control, cut out as much salt as possible, salt + pred + lots of water retention.  That means eat as much healthy and whole foods as possible since processed and fast-foods have loads of salt in them, not to mention they're just not a healthy way to eat, ever....and can actually exacerbate IBD symptoms.

:)

pb4 said...
Exercise, use portion control, cut out as much salt as possible, salt + pred + lots of water retention.  That means eat as much healthy and whole foods as possible since processed and fast-foods have loads of salt in them, not to mention they're just not a healthy way to eat, ever....and can actually exacerbate IBD symptoms.

:)

what about drinking a surplus of liquids with minimal salt intake while on prednisone?

3timechamp said...
I eat alot,i'm 6'5 210 lbs.I'm usually up near 230,i'm trying not to overeat so i don't stress out my system.I try to be somewhat careful with what i eat as far as my flare-up goes.But eating is something that i love,starving myself is not in my vocabulary.Remember your metabilism[?] has something to do your weight also,i've never been heavy-ever.So good luck to all. 

when i was 20 years old at 5'7", i was emaciated with illness with a bodyweight ranging from 110 to 130 even when on prednisone.  now i'm 40 years old and sometimes balloon up to 220 on identical dosage peaks of 40mg.  my natural bodyweight at my current age should be about 160 if i had never taken prednisone.

3timechamp said...
Are you sure it's the pred that's causing the weight issue?

yes, i'm sure.  thanks.

I do best on low carb, because you can still eat large quantities!

Except...you need to eat bananas.
Except...I always crave chocolate frosted donuts when I'm on prednisone...sigh

Peety said...
I do best on low carb, because you can still eat large quantities!

what might be some examples of low carb foods that you eat?

OK, now I see your earlier posts about the risks. I say, Nonsense!

With UC we get regular colonoscopies, so we might actually have less risk because WE get any precancerous polyps snipped out.
My doctor has had NO cases of UC becoming cancerous.

Mortality 20 percent?????

My doc must be terribly cavalier...she's not the least bit worried about me!!

It's miserable, but it's just not that deadly. 

Peety said...

Mortality 20 percent?????

My doc must be terribly cavalier...she's not the least bit worried about me!!

It's miserable, but it's just not that deadly.

so who do i believe?  that's what my multiple doctors have told me.

Thats so weird. I started 20Mg of Pred about a week and a half ago. I was wondering why I was so hungry.... I didnt put it together until now...