Rant: Sick of being fat

I am SO SORRY. I completely understand. When i started the pred this time, I was already 50 pounds overweight as it was. Then I gained an additional 45 pounds!!! I have no idea how I will ever take it all off. Some of it is just fluids (my ankles are more swollen than they ever were during pregnancy!), but I know from last time, it isn't going to just fall off.

Like you, I have been watching what I eat and exercising more, and I would still GAIN rather than lose. It is completely frustrating. I am even off the pred now and am not seeing the scale move yet. It is just terrible to look this way and feel so horrible about yourself.

Anyway, I too had struggles coming off of it. Not in terms of UC symptoms, but I had a lot of mental problems and things like that. UC wise, I managed pretty well, all things considered. But I don't think it is abnormal to have to adjust before dropping the dose again. Maybe if you take the taper even slower? Like I tapered at week intervals-maybe you could stretch that out? And I don't know how slowly you are tapering, but maybe you could cut the pills more and taper more slowly in terms of dose? I went in 2.5mg increments from 20mg down, and that worked fine for me. But maybe it is still too fast for you. I am not sure.

I think we will both fit into our old clothes again one day-I can't accept anything else!!! Good luck-I know how frustrating it is...

Hey, I'm still trying to lose the pred weight (though thankfully the moon face is gone already). I'm not really huge, but I hate having to have 3 sets of clothes...I lose so much weight at the beginning of a flare and then gain twice what I lost when I got on pred. So frustrating! I also gain all of the weight around my midsection, so I have thin legs and a comparitively huge tummy.

I agree - the only thing that works for me is working out 4-5 times a week and dieting. Nothing else ever helped me at all.

I feel your frustration.  I gained 24 pounds while on prednisone, had just started losing it, and then had to go back on it again.  I have been off of prednisone since March and still have not lost the weight and it is not because of lack of exercise.  For  me, what helps, is to be grateful for the small things such as not running to the bathroom 20+ times a day, not having blood in my bms, and being off of a nasty drug.  If it means that I carry some extra weight, so be it.  I would rather be fat and (somewhat) healthy than skinny and sick.  Keep your chin up, stay positive, eat as healthy as you can, and exercise if able.  Even if you don't lose the weight, you will be doing your body a world of good. 

I too understand where you are coming from...it is frustrating. I gained 40lbs while on pred and I have only been able to lose ten so far. My doctor said it can take along time for the pred to completely leave your system and for your metabolism to go back to normal. Like someone else said I would rather be chubby and healthy than sick and thin. I have been both...I take chubby and healthy right now. I do exercise alot and it doesn't seem to help with the belly fat at all...it seems like the pouch never goes down. I also try to watch what I eat but I do slip on that.


Good Luck!!!

Prednisone weight is so very frustrating. No diet can work when you have those cravings, they are too distracting. Try not to beat yourself up about it. Treat yourself to some new clothes that are flattering to your body as it is now. I have three sizes in my closet!
Yes, it will go away but it will take some discipline, which will be easier when the cravings subside. Can you do without carbs?

juju0010 said...
Diet and exercise does work if you do it right. Keep in mind it's not a quick fix and takes time. P90X did wonders for me.

I agree with this. Its a long term commitment to diet and exercise since we're stuck with this disease. Like Peety said its very hard to control the carb cravings but it gets easier over time and you will slip up here and there but think about working out/diet as a marathon and not a sprint.

IMO, stop over thinking it, do your best to eat what is healthy. The biggest deal is appetite control. Starving yourself will only make matters worse. Eat several small meals a day to keep your blood sugar stable and to avoid overeating. Eat clean; Grill, Broil, and Steam!

You CAN certainly CUT BACK (Not Avoid) on your simple sugars and carbohydrates. But avoid getting the bulk of your carbs from refined/processed garbage. Along with protein and fats, carbs are a necessary part of our diet. They provide one with energy for working out and basic body functions (Your brain, heart etc). But one need to be balanced with it all. Carbs btw are either simple are complex. Google that is you're unsure what I mean. but I am moving on.

Here is a tip. Read Labels.
If the label lists sugar, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, white or "wheat" flour, whatever your about to eat contains simple carbohydrates. If these ingredients are at the top of the list, than it MIGHT have simple carbohydrates, and little else. Hence, usually the least healthiest.


And IMO, resist temptation, and only keep food in your pantry and house that have not been highly processed or refined. Or with added preservatives. choose grapes over grape juice. Or an orange over orange juice. Eat Whole Grain Breads instead of White Bread. Snack on nuts, low-fat or fat free dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Drink plenty of water. Limit the pop/beer or cut it out completely. Beer/Pop = Carbs/Sugar so remember that if are heading out for the night or are jonesing for a pop.

Slip-up or have a cheat meal once a week :)

Walking, the Elliptical, Swimming, Cycling..all good, fun exercise. Do what you can tolerate and enjoy the most. It will TAKE TIME though. As it's been mentioned. So find a friend/friends. Surround yourself with happy people. you yourself will be a happier person.

there is tons of things...i know your down in the dumps. keep on trucking though :)

Post Edited (archiestyles) : 7/13/2010 9:34:34 PM (GMT-6)

I found my body didn't respond properly to health modifications until about 5 months completely off the pred. And even so, it responds slower than it used to. I NEVER used to have belly fat (like even when I was really fat, I still had a .7 waist-hip ratio), but now I have this ring around the middle that just won't budge (except that I can flop it around--gross).

But after 6 weeks, I am down 11 lbs. I did a food journal, focused on whole foods, mindful eating, and exercise 3-6 days/week. I just ignore the fact that I still have about 25 to go before I reach the goal... haha!

notsosicklygirl said...
Sounds like I should really be avoiding the carbs. It's not such a bad idea. I think I'll give it a go. I need to do something. I'll keep exercising and try to at the least reduce the carbs. It's just so hard while i am on prednisone. I swear, I could eat nothing and I would still gain weight. I am always hungry :(

Give it a shot for a month or two and see if it works for you. If not you can always try something else. Basically the more muscle you put on, the more calories your body burns throughout the day and the more you can eat. I can eat about 500 more calories worth of food now than I could last year and maintain weight even though im 10 pounds lighter now if that makes any sense.

A few of my buddies bought http://www.bodymedia.com/ and swear by it to help them lose weight. Ill likely invest in one too once I get a little extra cash. It tracks your sleep cycle as well so its definitely a plus for me. Anyway lots of options for you and good luck =)

I'll gladly take some of your extra weight. I've lost over 50lbs since I was diagnosed, I am skin a bone.

I feel yah. I was on pred from June 2009 until November 2009 and I gained 50 pounds, I'm down 20 right now and I was all ready overweight. It is embarrasing. I look like i'm pregnant. Know your not alone. They need to come up with some better meds for UC. lol Pred also made me sooooo moody.