After 2 1/2 years of steadily gaining weight, I was up 45 lbs. I had tried all kinds of things, with no success. I was told I was fighting the meds, and there's not much one can do (plus the inactivity).

For me, one of the most frustrating was the inability to exercise without exhasperating the effects of the PN and hurting myself (the last time in gym sent me into 3 months of PT, because the PN had caused the small muscles in the rotator cuff to weaken and cause my shoulder joint to be loose). I've since been "banned" from swimming, yoga, and all the other things you think are easy on your body to avoid future shoulder surgery.

My Neurologist suggested Tai-Chi - which, did nothing more than cause pain and a vertigo attack/headache that lasted 3 days. So - I decided to do the only thing I knew I'd never gotten hurt at, and purchased a recumbent bike and put it in my bedroom. I find if it's one of the first things I do in a day - I can ride it for an hour, getting a great cardio work out, and not cause pain in my feet. This is much different than when I'd go to the gym - and end up in severe pain within 30 minutes.

At the same time, I decided to join Weight Watchers (which my physician felt was a great program for me). It's been 3 months since I started the program, and I've been slowly but steadily taken 20 pounds off as of my weigh in yesterday. I think I've found the right combination for me ....I'm not sure if would help anybody else, but might be worth a try.

I, my dear, am the clearance queen. I never buy anything in the mall at the regular price..nothing!!! You could afford to have me around!!!

What is most important for fat loss is that total calories eaten are less than total calories burned. The type of activity you perform, the nutrition you use, and even supplementation will all affect this, but without the right caloric balance, you will simply not have a net loss in fat.

Yeah, that's true too. I eat no sugar, only that which is natural in fruits. The only sweetener I use is Stevia/Truvia. Otherwise, I eat veggies, fruits, nothing sweetened in any way. I think my calorie intake is between 1500-1800 daily. I do enjoy my walnuts and almonds too, lots of protein there.

I eat very healthy foods and as long as I eat this type of foods, I can't see the weight coming back...at least I am hoping it never visits again!

I thought the weight gain was from water retention. I take lyrica and both my knees are swollen at the moment with fluid. it comes and goes. The belly is the only other effected area. I always wondered if a sauna would help with excess fluid elimination.? of course it will intensify the burning but its only for 20 mins or so. May give it a try there is a sauna in my building.

The weight gain is magnified by lack of movement, we were all much more active pre p/n so burning calories helped. Now especially those my self included who are relatively new to this crappy disease have or did develop some depression and food intake can increase as a soother of sorts. not a good combo , water retention, lack of movement and possibly increased food consumption=FAT

So major changes helped me after big wight gain.

1. RAW food diet. Not as bad as it seems when used with low fat dipping sauce. One day a week eat what you want pizza etc
2. zero sugar unless from fruits
3.zero dairy
4. zero gluten or gluten replacement foods as mentioned

Big changes needed for big weight loss. Its tougher if your not single like me since the family cooks a roast and you have to eat some raw broccoli

Some meds we take for pain? Well, they affect our taste buds dearly! And I mean to the point where the extremes are the only things to be 'tasted' that satisfy. Take a good look at your med's' prescribing information details, please and you mite be able to question your doc about alternative meds? One med for one non-pn issue can cancel out a pn med as well, and then? Well, things get squirrelley... Ask your pharmacist if you have one, or call all the 1-800 #'s and see if you can put things together that stifle your taste buds.

I've been thru this med/combo issue not working thing several times in the last few years. There have been times when I'd just eat what I knew I could eat just to get 'something' into me! Vitamins can help...read all about them and MORE than you ever imagined from Mrs D at this forum here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum49.html
IF you can scan the stuff? You'll find what you need, or near enough to it.
One last thing to keep in mind? Is that you get afraid to work/use your body because it hurts later? But if you do some home training and do it in a lot of little bits? The BITS add up to a LOT of bits! Ask your docs for this type of PT training, where you get a detailed HOME PROGRAM developed for you. Only word of advice? IS it's hard to keep up at home on your own...
Good luck and hoping for the better things to come! - j 's

Hi. If you see a nutritionist I would interview them a little and see what types of patients they deal with. I just state this because through my life I have seen many and some have been worse then seeing none. The best ones had knowledge of the condition or issue I was struggling with. Now obviously finding a PN one is going to be hard but maybe one that deals with chronic health conditions. Until you many of the meal plans I have been on in my life are based on the ADA. They are based on exchanges. Each meal and snack is devided up balanced which adds up to your calorie needs. You then choose the items in portions that are needed.
As for activity when I first came to this board I could barely get out of bed from pain. After I got my dx and went to the pain doctor they said I had to get moving. Now you may be different so you have to follow your doctors suggestions. For me though if I did not get moving they were concern about atrophy etc. So I started walking. Each week I would increase by 5 minutes. I think it was less shock to my body and made things less painful and easier to stick to.
Hang in there