Diet & Exercise

[AmandaB]

Hi All,

I have a predicament I hoped you could help or advise on.....

I have just had 3 hospital appts in the last week, one with the Rhuemy, one with the chest specialist and one with Physio.

I have been told by my Rhuemy that I need to lose weight to help with my breathing (due to shrinking lung syndrome) but that it'll be difficult to manage with diet due to the Prednisolone. I asked if it would be an idea to start swimming and he agreed.

I then went to see the chest specialist, who had referred me to the Brompton re the shrinking lung thing, who advised that the report back was that my Lupus needs treating (d'oh - no s*** sherlock!!) style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/doh.gif
He also advised that I needed to lose weight (and again mentioned the steroids) so I asked if I could do any breathing exercises to help and mentioned the swimming. He said not to swim under water because of the pressure on my lungs and finally settled on writing a note for me to take part in a sleep study....

The same day, I had a Physio appt regarding my knees (double op 2 mths ago). I asked if I can swim to help my weight loss and got a catagorical NO! I have 6 weeks in the gym with the Physio to build strength in my knees but no other exercise.

So my problem is this - I need to lose weight to improve my breathing but have already cut most things out of my diet and am battling the steroids BUT I can't exercise because my knees are still not fully functioning in addition to having problems with my breathing on any kind of exersion!

Please tell me - where do I even start?????? I'm starting to lose my sense of humour on this one!

Thanks all and sorry to moan.

Amanda

[lazylegs]

Don't know how they expect you to loose weight without exercise. The only thing it sounds like you can do is adjust your diet. Follow the old standards. Make things from scratch instead of using processed foods. Drink plenty of liquids ( iced are even better ) before eating to help tummy feel full. No sodas, alcholol, or sugery drinks. Cut out all salt. You'd be surprise what things have salt. Snack on veggies. Maybe once the physio treatments start helping they will allow you to do some slow walking. It has helped me shed some pounds.

Take care,
Lazylegs

[hazel595]

Hi Amanda
I know how you must be feeling honey and just wanted to tell you about my experiences with the same problem as you have now and how I got through it.

I put on 75lbs from the time I fisrt had a major flare with complications although at the time I was diagnosed with MS....the lupus and APS diagnosis didn't happen till 18 months later.

I was in a wheelchair for nearly two years and boy did the weight pile on especially with the high doses of steroids I was taking.

After I was referred down to St Thomas' hospital in London where the reknowed Dr Hughes had his Lupus clinic things started to look up.

I had low dose chemotheraphy for three months in 2002 and 2003, cyclophosphamide is weight gaining but helped me, and was and is worth all the side effects and risks.

Getting back to the weight thinkg......DO NOT believe that you cannot lose weight whilst on prednisolone or whilst you can't exercise because that is exactly what I did. I am not saying it was easy to lose weight because it wasn't.

I joined Weight Watchers and for the first year I could only only walk with the help of two sticks and had physio twice a week. I had so much to lose that I couldn't se the wood for the trees but I knew if I lost weight my breathing would be better.

I only lost ?lb a week for the first 6 months but that was nearly my first stone loss whilst on steroids and only the weekly trips to the physio which could hardly be called 'exercise'.

By this time my mobility improved because of the less stress on my jonts and my breathing became much better. I carried on like that till I had lost nearly another stone.

So nearly a two stone (28lbs) weight loss and I was still trying to decrease my prednisolone which was now down to 20mgs daily but the physiotherapy department referred me to a gym. The gym has 3 pools, a hydrotherapy pool, a large pool and a exercise pool. I spent another 6 months going once or twice a week to the hydrotherapy pool and once a week attended a stretch mobility aqua class.

I had to be really firm and stuck to the weight watcher way which meant turning my eating habits around completely.

Now 2? years later I am wearing size 14 instead of size 24 clothes and I am walking without sticks. My breathing is tons better, I went for a spirometery test a few weeks ago and I can't believe how much my breathing has improved. I could blow all the way and although a bit light headed I did it nearly to the end which I couldn't blow even quarter of the way at the previous spirometery test.

My husband is thrilled as I have stopped snoring and my joints are less painful and now I am able to take part in a pilates and core stability class which two years ago was only a dream.

I had a flare last September and spent a week in hospital again but the rheumie was really pleased as she said the weight loss and getting fitter had definetly helped me to recover more quickly from the flare. If I had still been the same weight I would of been in hospital a lot longer as the least I am usally in when flaring is around 3 to 4 weeks.

I have lost a total of 64lbs and still have a few pounds to go but did acheive my goal weight with weight watchers and am now a gold memeber.

Amanda.........i only ever thought a loss of 7lbs ahead and didn't expect a quick weight loss as the weight went on over a five year period. Losing almost all the weight in two years is good going considering all the medications I take.

If I can do it then come honey so can you just don't be impatient with yourself....give yourself time.

I know that sometimes I felt quite disheartened when new members joined WW and lost a stone (14lbs) in a few weeks but we have to take it slower.

I hope that at anytime you need a shoulder and you feel I might be able to support your weight loss then email me anytime.

Love, hugs and of course good luck

xxxxxhazel595

[AmandaB]

Hi Hazel,

Thank you so much for your advice. As a result I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and went home and dug out my Weight Watchers info. I was a member a couple of years ago and forgot about the weight I managed to lose before using them so thanks for the reminder style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

I also attended my first Physio gym session today and reckon this will kick start some weight loss as I used the bike, the rower and the cross trainer along with some strength building excerises.

As you say, a bit at a time - I got weighed at the hospital on Monday so I'll keep an eye on my weekly progress. Once the Physio gives me the go ahead I'll start swimming too. How do you find the Pilates? I was trying to decide between this and Yoga but not sure what the difference is? I have bad posture too which doesn't help!

Anyway, thank you for the support, I'm feeling much more positive now and ready to tackle this head on again!!

Amanda

[lin]

<span style="font-family:Times New Roman">Hi Amanda, i really wish you luck with this, i know its not easy, i 'm trying to drop 1st and a half off my self, but it can be done, and yes it does take a lot longer, As Hazel, as said she as done it, and belive me it wasnt easy for her, she as come a longgggggggg way.... and looks great to.

and so will you,,,, i'm doing red and green days, sliiming world,,,, yes they both work, its sticking to them lol style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif
all the bset, on your weight loss xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwe can do it Hugs Lin xxxxx</span>

[lupy lulu]

Hi Guys,

Congratulations on your fantastic weight losses ! , I am also a success story of losing weight while on prednisolone... I have gone from a size 20 to a size 10 by following the slimming world plan and it has been one of the most rewarding things that i have ever done for myself.

Now when i have the days when i feel that i am walking through sand and my joints hurt i can't imaging carrying that extra 6 stone on top of that , when i have my good days now they are really good.

For anyone who wants to lose the weight IT CAN BE DONE it might be a little harder for us but were not used to any thing been easy are we !!

Lots Of Love
Lucy x

[raggedyann1]

Amanda,

I think you are in the UK but not totally sure. In the USA our arthritis foundation has exercise programs both in the water and above ground. There is also a video on exercise for the wheelchair bound. I am thinking that while you are going through physio for your knees that a wheelchair exercise program could help you with your upper body.

I am currently trying to look at my diet and see what I can change to lose some weight. I am not quite wheelchair bound but very close. I have an exercise machine in my home that I am able to use as it doesn't but stress on any joints but the knees. Obviously won't work for you. I am trying to be diligent at using it everyday except when I am flaring.

It is not just the prednisone that can cause weight gain for us. I am totally off of prednisone but at least 3 of my meds cause weight gain. I am pretty proud of myself for maintaining a stable weight for over 18 months. even though I am 30 lbs overweight. Portion size is important in weight loss and I have that part down. I need to remove the starches from my evening meal and replace them with tomatoes and cucumbers.

I am rambling here sorry! You can lose weight on pred but you must be absolutely determined to do it. I did it back in 1992 ish I lost 2 lbs a month and it took me 2 years to lose 40lbs. In addition to diet change I replaced all my drinks except my morning coffee with water. I drank lots and lots of water. So if you can that is my recomendation in addition to the exercise one I mentioned above.

Hang in there, you can do it.

Karen

[hazel595]

Hi Amanda

I think it would boost your confidence greatly if you join weight watcher classes again. I remember when I first started I was terrified eveyone would look at me as I was in such a state. Too fatigued to bother with hair and makeup........waddled like a duck with my two sticks....oh and of course I was a size 24.

After deciding that I had to go every week without missing I started to get to know the other girls and with in a few weeks I really looked forward to going to the class to meet with my new friends. The leader was fantastic and really helped me to boost my confidence even when I was having small losses each week of ?lb a week.

I think that physio will be enough for you at the moment if you are using the bike, rower and the cross trainer along with some strength building excerises. I did try to run before I could walk and when I joined the gym I went to Pilates for beginners but it was too much for me.

I started beginners class again 2 months ago and it really has helped me with my balance and I think about breathing which I never used to. It was just something that happened, the breathing I mean, now I use the Pilates breathing technique almost all the time. My posture has dramatically improved and my lower back pain has been relieved greatly.

Pilates is not as easy as it looks but certainly improves balance and core stability.....well it has for me.

I did try the yoga class as well but found that I enjoyed the Pilates much more....personally I found the yoga a bit heavy and the tutor was very engrossed with how you should love yourself, Love your neck, love your leg, found that it was just a bit too overwhelming for me.


Good luck with the weight loss and if you decide you don't want to join a WW class then you can get a smart card in Boots which cost ?1 and this gives you 5 goes on the scales. Even though I am a WW gold member and can get weighed free of charge I just pop into Boots to get weighed if I don't feel like waiting in the WW class queue.

Keep in contact Amanda as I will be thrilled to hear how the weight and exercise go and whether you try a Pilates class.

Take care honey and remember don't set your goals too high and be kind to yourself.

xxxxHazel