I thought I would share my minor success with you guys!
As some of you know I have been working on losing the extra weight as instructed by my doctor. It's been a tough journey with my achy joints flaring up periodically. I also had my platelet count drop recently (not too low though only 117).... but I am still doing it!!
I'm very happy to say I am down 63lbs!!! Still got some more to lose but this is a huge accomplishment for me. I am the lightest I have been in about 10 years.
Thanks for listening to me whine when I needed too! It does help to have a place to vent. Here is my comparison pics:
Wow you look great!!!.. Im so happy for you how long did it take?.. I gain 90lbs with the prednisone… I been working out and eating healthy so i hope i can loose some pounds too…congratttss!!! U look fantastic girl!!!..
I started on Nov 4th… So 5 1/2 months. I use the myfitnesspal app to track my calories. You just put in your stats and how much you want to lose per week and it tells you how many calories you should eat. The app has a bar code scanner so you can just scan things to enter them.
Dunnia said:
Wow you look great!!!.. Im so happy for you how long did it take?.. I gain 90lbs with the prednisone… I been working out and eating healthy so i hope i can loose some pounds too…congratttss!!! U look fantastic girl!!!..
Thanks! I really couldn’t of done it without stopping in here to get advise and support. Although I look better, my health is the biggest improvement. I wish I could say it has helped with my joints… But sadly it hasn’t so far! I started because the doctor was determined the extra weight was causing some of the joint issues… It was nice to prove him wrong! But I did lower my cholesterol and strengthen my core… so it was worth it! =)
Weight gain can sometimes interfer with joint pains and also health issues as we all known.
I'm very thin and tall and no way does that help me with my joint pains what so ever but i do admire you for actually taking the weight problem into your hands besides suffering and really wanting to help yourself.
Terri xxx
Roni said:
Thanks! I really couldn't of done it without stopping in here to get advise and support. Although I look better, my health is the biggest improvement. I wish I could say it has helped with my joints... But sadly it hasn't so far! I started because the doctor was determined the extra weight was causing some of the joint issues... It was nice to prove him wrong! But I did lower my cholesterol and strengthen my core... so it was worth it! =)
Tez_20 - Thank you! Surprisingly i really don’t see it in the mirror… only in the comparison photos. I guess when you see yourself everyday the changes aren’t as noticeable. My joints have been fairly agrivated by the exercise and i want to keep that up even after i get to goal. So my treadmill experience is a “grin and bear it” ordeal. I hope it will get easier. Part of the problem is i am waitlisted to get into the rhuemy to have a dmard added. Almost 6 months now. Hopefully soon!
Ann - you have been talking me through the knee pain and the sacroilliac pain since i started! I appreciate the support so much! I really think if i hadn’t of had you guys i would have crawled into bed and said screw it. Sacroilliac kept me off the treadmill for three very long weeks…but i’m back at it! And as you said, if it doesn’t help my joints now… in the long run it will help prevent osteo.
Ann - with your leg length issue, you may be better off doing some strength training rather than walking. Has your dr ever suggested physio?
I still follow the golden rule “don’t do something if it hurts”. I ignore the anoying aches but when it turns to pain i’m done. So my walking varies a great deal. Sometimes brisk, sometimes slow. The treadmill is great because if my joints decide I’m done, I’m already home!
Ann A. said:
You have inspired me. Once again I have realized how much my walking pain comes not just from the sacroiliac, but from also from the fact that the right leg is smaller and weaker, as well as shorter. So, now I am going to work on making that leg stronger - then I am going to walk and try and be like RONI
Besides the mirror you must see it in the clothes your wearing....i know you want to keep the exercises up even when you've reached your goal but watch the strain with your legs as they're an important issue with the disease as you know but it's great what your doing. Well i hope you get in sooner to see your rheumo and do you know what kind of drug they want to give you.
I might be thin now but i used to be 18st through drugs and steriods and they told me it would take 3yrs the same for it to come off, i hardly hate and within 6mths i was down to 9st but was still top heavy and that can play your back up terrible.
Roni said:
Tez_20 - Thank you! Surprisingly i really don't see it in the mirror... only in the comparison photos. I guess when you see yourself everyday the changes aren't as noticeable. My joints have been fairly agrivated by the exercise and i want to keep that up even after i get to goal. So my treadmill experience is a "grin and bear it" ordeal. I hope it will get easier. Part of the problem is i am waitlisted to get into the rhuemy to have a dmard added. Almost 6 months now. Hopefully soon!
Ann - you have been talking me through the knee pain and the sacroilliac pain since i started! I appreciate the support so much! I really think if i hadn't of had you guys i would have crawled into bed and said screw it. Sacroilliac kept me off the treadmill for three very long weeks...but i'm back at it! And as you said, if it doesn't help my joints now... in the long run it will help prevent osteo.
I definitely see it in my clothes. Went from a size 22 to a 16. Although when I hold up a 16 my first thought is “that is never going to fit” even though i know it does! LOL
I was actually underweight when I was dx with the arthritis. I put the weight on slowly over about 15 years. I used to drink a ton of milk because the NSAIDs were killing my stomach. Believe it or not I have a very small appetite and ate very irregular. I talked to the doctor about the milk and he decided to try a stomach med. So I switched and started trying to eat healthier, more regular meals. I too am very “top heavy” and thanks to genetics will likely always be. I’m tall (5’10") so look proportioned. The arthritis is in my spine and rib cage so I’m hoping to lose some of “the girls” just to have less weight on my back and shoulders.
I’m not sure what DMARD the rheumy will suggest. The complication is the low platelets so my family dr wants the rheumy to chose which one and monitor my blood counts. I guess some of them can cause the platelets to drop as a side effect which could be dangerous for me. Guess I’ll have to wait and see. I’m just hopeful that it will help bring the pain levels down to a dull roar.
Tez_20 said:
Hello Roni (Love the name)
Besides the mirror you must see it in the clothes your wearing…i know you want to keep the exercises up even when you’ve reached your goal but watch the strain with your legs as they’re an important issue with the disease as you know but it’s great what your doing. Well i hope you get in sooner to see your rheumo and do you know what kind of drug they want to give you.
I might be thin now but i used to be 18st through drugs and steriods and they told me it would take 3yrs the same for it to come off, i hardly hate and within 6mths i was down to 9st but was still top heavy and that can play your back up terrible.
Roni said:
Tez_20 - Thank you! Surprisingly i really don’t see it in the mirror… only in the comparison photos. I guess when you see yourself everyday the changes aren’t as noticeable. My joints have been fairly agrivated by the exercise and i want to keep that up even after i get to goal. So my treadmill experience is a “grin and bear it” ordeal. I hope it will get easier. Part of the problem is i am waitlisted to get into the rhuemy to have a dmard added. Almost 6 months now. Hopefully soon!
Ann - you have been talking me through the knee pain and the sacroilliac pain since i started! I appreciate the support so much! I really think if i hadn’t of had you guys i would have crawled into bed and said screw it. Sacroilliac kept me off the treadmill for three very long weeks…but i’m back at it! And as you said, if it doesn’t help my joints now… in the long run it will help prevent osteo.
I thought you'd see it in your clothes and i bet it was hard at a size 22 but being a size 14/16 in the UK is a nice size, i went upto a size 24 and started having to shop in evan's and they cost the earth and then my bra size hit a 48DD and when i got back to 9st my bust only dropped to a 42 but i went to a size 10.
I have trouble with the meds i'm only like you regarding the stomache but how you help yourself with milk i drink tea about every 10-15mins but 15yrs is different to me chrsit i was going up like 2 sizes in no time at all.
I can believe you had little to eat, as i went that way and it did'nt matter one bit. Well how your 5ft 10" i'm 5ft 8" and my mom was a bustie woman and out of me and my 2 sisters i carried it but now i'm at 91/2stone a size 10 at the bottom and a size 12 at the top and my bust as shrunk to a 32 "Yes" lol
Do you know what form of arthritis you have because i've got cervical spondylosis and being large on my chest used to give me terrible backache and before xmas i had to see a gastro specialist suffered with pain for years by my ribs and left side leading into my stomache and they found out the spondylosis as gone into my Ribs and i've got a trapped nerve under my left rib from falling with my seizures as i did two ribs in years ago and to top it all IBS and i have cut some foods out with the pain off that alone, it was that which was hurting into my stoamche.
Roni said:
I definitely see it in my clothes. Went from a size 22 to a 16. Although when I hold up a 16 my first thought is "that is never going to fit" even though i know it does! LOL
I was actually underweight when I was dx with the arthritis. I put the weight on slowly over about 15 years. I used to drink a ton of milk because the NSAIDs were killing my stomach. Believe it or not I have a very small appetite and ate very irregular. I talked to the doctor about the milk and he decided to try a stomach med. So I switched and started trying to eat healthier, more regular meals. I too am very "top heavy" and thanks to genetics will likely always be. I'm tall (5'10") so look proportioned. The arthritis is in my spine and rib cage so I'm hoping to lose some of "the girls" just to have less weight on my back and shoulders.
I'm not sure what DMARD the rheumy will suggest. The complication is the low platelets so my family dr wants the rheumy to chose which one and monitor my blood counts. I guess some of them can cause the platelets to drop as a side effect which could be dangerous for me. Guess I'll have to wait and see. I'm just hopeful that it will help bring the pain levels down to a dull roar.
Tez_20 said:
Hello Roni (Love the name)
Besides the mirror you must see it in the clothes your wearing....i know you want to keep the exercises up even when you've reached your goal but watch the strain with your legs as they're an important issue with the disease as you know but it's great what your doing. Well i hope you get in sooner to see your rheumo and do you know what kind of drug they want to give you.
I might be thin now but i used to be 18st through drugs and steriods and they told me it would take 3yrs the same for it to come off, i hardly hate and within 6mths i was down to 9st but was still top heavy and that can play your back up terrible.
Roni said:
Tez_20 - Thank you! Surprisingly i really don't see it in the mirror... only in the comparison photos. I guess when you see yourself everyday the changes aren't as noticeable. My joints have been fairly agrivated by the exercise and i want to keep that up even after i get to goal. So my treadmill experience is a "grin and bear it" ordeal. I hope it will get easier. Part of the problem is i am waitlisted to get into the rhuemy to have a dmard added. Almost 6 months now. Hopefully soon!
Ann - you have been talking me through the knee pain and the sacroilliac pain since i started! I appreciate the support so much! I really think if i hadn't of had you guys i would have crawled into bed and said screw it. Sacroilliac kept me off the treadmill for three very long weeks...but i'm back at it! And as you said, if it doesn't help my joints now... in the long run it will help prevent osteo.
I was dx with psoriatic arthritis with spondylitis/sacroilliitis. It is also in my ribs.
I honestly never ate much…even at my heaviest. But as i’ve learned that just slows your metabolism and doesn’t help with the weight. I could easily go a day or two with no food. My stomache was always so upset from the meds. I would drink easily two liters of milk a day. I was probably putting on 5-10lbs a year. Not enough to cause a noticeable change for my height. Once i “noticed” i was too big, I kind of felt like i was stuck there since i couldn’t go without milk or my stomach was very painful. The dr put me on a double dose of stomache meds, which is a little unconventional but a normal dose wasn’t helping. It helped me so much!
I still don’t have the best eating habits. I have a light breakfast and still skip lunch. I try to eat lots of fruit and veggies though! The way i eat now is very maintainable long term which is what i think is important. I still have the occassional burger or treat, just try to eat healthy most of the time.
I’m sorry to hear you also have back and rib arthritis. That stuff is just plain nasty when it flares!
My bra size was a 40DDD and has only gone down to a 38DDD… but i’'m still hopefull it will go down a bit more (although that would make my hubby sad! LOL).
What you have with spondylitis/sacroilliitis is enough to really hurt and especially when it reaches the rib cage, i really hope they find you some good medication to help....i'll be starting Dapsone on monday that's for DLE and arthritis but not looking forward to the side affects but i'm going to take it at night like i did the plaquenil before bed.
Yes your correct in what your saying by not eating much slows your metabolism and my hubby ste is always onto me to eat breakfast but i find it sickening waking up to food.lol
Well i'm pleased your doctor helped you out with meds concerning your stomache, i'm on spasm tablets 3 times daily to help with the IBS and other issues that kick my stoamche off but they've helped so far.
Well your diet is better than mine, i have no breakfast butcome dinner time 12 jaffa cakes, then my evening meal which is salad, backed potatoes as ste does all the cooking an likes eating healthy but a good hour after i have 7-8 turkish delight slices and that's it for the night but i've noticed my body seeks chocolate alot and gives me a boost but i do suffer with low sugar also, wheather that's got anything to do with it i'm not sure.
Well at least your bust as only gone down 2"s. lol now ste a bloke for that, like yours (i'm laughing here mate)...now mine have gone down to a 32e i don't have so much pressure on my back.
The biggest joke i've had with this lot is i've have 6 operations besides biopsy's done and i keep telling ste it ah right they keep missing my face.lol
Roni said:
Tez...
I was dx with psoriatic arthritis with spondylitis/sacroilliitis. It is also in my ribs.
I honestly never ate much...even at my heaviest. But as i've learned that just slows your metabolism and doesn't help with the weight. I could easily go a day or two with no food. My stomache was always so upset from the meds. I would drink easily two liters of milk a day. I was probably putting on 5-10lbs a year. Not enough to cause a noticeable change for my height. Once i "noticed" i was too big, I kind of felt like i was stuck there since i couldn't go without milk or my stomach was very painful. The dr put me on a double dose of stomache meds, which is a little unconventional but a normal dose wasn't helping. It helped me so much!
I still don't have the best eating habits. I have a light breakfast and still skip lunch. I try to eat lots of fruit and veggies though! The way i eat now is very maintainable long term which is what i think is important. I still have the occassional burger or treat, just try to eat healthy most of the time.
I'm sorry to hear you also have back and rib arthritis. That stuff is just plain nasty when it flares!
My bra size was a 40DDD and has only gone down to a 38DDD... but i''m still hopefull it will go down a bit more (although that would make my hubby sad! LOL).
WOW!!! Roni- this is a huge accomplishment! Weight loss is hard for anyone and I know it is really hard for those on certain meds. I have been lucky to not really gain much since diagnosis but I use to be a runner and I have not ran or done even much walking for 2 years. Do you ankles and knees hurt with the tredmill? I really need to get walking and hopfully running again - do you have any tips on motivating yourself when you are exausted and in pain?
