--I've gone from 190 pounds to about 210. (That's over 3.7 years.) And I'd like to think some of it is muscle weight, since until this recent shoulder/cervical spine strain (i'm starting traction, BTW) I was a fairly constant weightlifter, but I know better.

I'm farily sure some it can be laid at the feet of my Neurontin/Gabapentin, which not only tends to cause you to retain fluid, but gives you carb cravings. Other problem there is that I'm off gluten, so when I get carb cravings, it tends to be right to things like corn/potato chips. (I imagine if I were eating wheat, though, I might be even heavier.)

So far, my choleterol levels and triglycerides are good, and my blood sugar readings have remained stable. My blood pressure yesterday morning was 110/81. The lower number has come up from the 70 range over the years, so I have to be careful.

I do take major fish oil supplements and R-lipoic acid, which I'm sure have helped the blood levels stay decent, and since the upper body has been problematic with the torn muscles, I've begun a leg-lifting program. (Muscle mass seems to be the single most important thing to help ease insulin resistance, especially when, like me, you're prone to abdominal fat.) I'm also trying to get out for longer walks. (Not the runner I once was before the PN.) I also have access to a swimming pool in the summer.

I'm trying to also bring my diet around to a combination of Zone and Atkins principles--less carbs, more protein, several balanced small meals each day.

I'm going to be 47 in March, and this is the age when "chubby hubbies" often start experincing all manner of problems, so I'm fighting the good fight.

Oh Cathie, 80 pounds! We are all doing worse weight-wise than I had imagined. I've tried to post a poll, and if someone can make it work, that would be great. But I'm wondering how many of us have big weight gains explaining things that are going wrong with us now.

You would never believe how easy it went on... In the hospital, they had me on large doses of steroids and I even went to the hospital dining room to eat more between meals. I was STARVED and MEAN, MEAN, MEAN!!! These drugs can be wonder drugs, but they do have their problems...

It is a lot easier going on than taking off...

Cathie

Where is the poll?