Need a MrsD Consultation, please...
 

Well, I didn't know if you were open for business, but I see you have been very busy posting, so maybe it is OK to ask a question.

Due to long term steroid use, I have the typical problems with fat redistribution, especially around the face and in the middle. I don't know what you call that, lipo something or other...

Anyway, I am supposed to lose weight and a pharmacist here did not think I would lose it out of this middle area, because it is not weight gained in the normal sense, but a redistribution of fat into these specific areas (neck at collarbone, face, upper back and the MIDDLE).

So, how can I get rid of this??? Or can I? If I understand this correctly, I will lose weight in other places, which will leave me standing on toothpicks, unless I am totally off of Prednisone, which I don't think is going to happen...

Now what does one do to get rid of the weight in the middle???

It is really hard to lose weight on Prednisone. I lost 4 pounds before I broke down and ate a big Mexican food dinner tonight...

Cathie

I'm not Ms d and could be wrong but what we learned in one of my classes is that you can't choose a specific area to reduce fat but you choose on building muscle. If that makes sense. I'm not sure how that would work on the face but for the mid area working on training the muscles in that area. Everyone carries weight in different areas. I think though as you loose weight after awhie it evens out. When I gained my weight at first it was all in my stomach area and I looked puffy face. The stomach area is to protect the organs. As I level out in weight I see my body shifting. I still encourage if your able and some insurance will cover is getting a good nutritionist. A meal plan can be what I call a road map to health it will line out what your needs are but the key is you have to follow it. Take care always and Mrs D I hope you didn't mind I popped in. I'm sure your reply will be with more knowledge.

lipodystrophy...
 

is the word to describe the fat distribution you are facing, Cathie.

Steroids are notorious for this.

The fat in the abdomen is very hard to get rid of once it is there.
Some of the research in obesity is finding that fat actually creates chemicals and hormones to perpetuate itself...so once there it is hard to eradicate for this reason.

Fat also retains water. Dr. Kittley (Jensen) on the net has suggestions in losing this water weight. She did it herself and with other professionals.
www.obesitysanswer.com
She believes that certain foods contribute. If anything can work, she is the best in the business IMO. Doing the elimination diet however is drastic, and many people can't handle that. So it is your choice.

When losing weight especially as you age, you HAVE to exercise and do resistance workouts. This tones muscle and helps to get rid of excess areas. A total wipe out however, is not realistic IMO. When science gets the skinny on the chemical changes in fat cells, I think we will see a more likely success with weight control. We just haven't reached that spot yet.

I am reading the other posts slowly, and am relieved for you that your biopsy was negative. I bet you are relieved! (I was too at the ultrasound results I had). I had a negative autoantibody test as well. But the lab screwed up and the TSH was not run, so I am going back in 2 weeks for that. I am going to a specialist after that as well, for some adjustments before the cold weather sets in. A gal at work had multi-cysts on her thyroid that she had drained a couple of times. But they came back, and grew so she had them removed ultimately. You may face something like that if yours increase in size or interfere with breathing. There is a connection between adrenal function and thyroid...so if you are tapering off steroids, you may have thyroid issues for a time as well. I don't understand the whole in and out of that, but it is mentioned in the literature.

So good for you that you are out of that "cancer" woods! I am relieved for you about that one!

The steriod making a person overweight, is how Jerry Lewis looked the way he looked last year on the telethon. Everyone was shocked at his face.

But last week, all the weight was gone. He looked like he always looked before he took the sterioids. I wonder how he achieved this??

I'm going to look at his website and see if he discusses how he took off his weight.

Melody

MrsD,
While you were away there was a news hit about something in a virus or disease that can be used in weight reduction.
Sorry I can't recall what it was, maybe some one on here can recall the information.

Melody, Jerry did look alot lighter this year although he spoke like he was taking Lyrica and a pain killer. I have read that he has published a book concerning his disease, will try and find the title for you.

take a look at this....
 

OK is this on
 

real people or 'mouse models'? There is a big difference...
I'm not criticising, just wishing that there were real medical 'workhorses' out there to actually help us ......with out additional dire consequences....

I for one, would love to see all the new 'magic pills' do everything we want them to do, but there always seems to be a huge pay-back 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the road...

I can only suggest you check out some Breast Cancer web sites. Why? Because these folks have gone thru as much as we have, and are alert to how meds 'interact' and also due to their treatments, suffer from 'the BULGE'... no kidding, fooling etc. That I've not gained any more weight during all that, is a scary prospect for me...that I'm not losing much weight, tho losing is disturbing, but for another thread once all the new b/tests are in?

I DO know tho, when one starts on a serious exercise program that works for them...and muscles get more fit...you gain a bit [muscle mass] and it takes about 2-4 months of continuous effort to then ultimately lose fat, per se. Does this help? Do Not weigh yourself daily...weigh yourself weekly...there are 'fluctuations' daily and day-to day....It's pointless unless you are gonna weigh on a scale everything that goes IN and then out...that to me is obsessive?

Just think thin, hydrate and eat and exercise sensibly as one can w/this stuff! HUGS! - j

I wouldn't get on a scale if you paid me a thousand dollars.

Scales do not like my body and I do not like scales.

The next time I shall look at a scale is the day that Alan picks me up, carrys me around the kitchen and says "you can look now".

Since he's not about to carry me anywhere, this will not happen anytime soon.

So I shall leave it to the fine people at Cornell to worry about the numbers. I just know how my clothes fit and that's good enough for me.

Mel

Melody...there
 

ARE TIMES when one MUST and has to keep track of weight.
Since MY IVIG dosages are tied to my weight it is imperative that I keep track of it...
Also, since I am on follow up Cancer meds [which are notorious for adding heaps of weight] things can get complicated.
Walking [when I can and how I can -to any degree is important] That you can walk a block or three is something I strive to able to do without pain pay-back some time in the future.
Because of the many meds I take, some add, others lose weights and MY meds dosages are so dependant on keeping track of my weight, well I do keep close trak. Thing is my Docs' scales vs. mine show a lot of difference.
The distinctions for concern happen when YOUR SCALE's weight changes by +/-10-20 pounds in any short period of time. Too much change too soon either due to a med or life style change is cause for concern.
As we get older...welll stuff around the middle 'happens'. Getting rid of it is never easy. - j