weight gain and rsd
 

I notice that all I do is eat anymore. Just like I can't get enough. Since my rsd I have gained about 20-25 pounds over the last year and can't seem to loose it and keep it off. I have looked at the 4h diet which involves fish. I hate fish. Anyone got any suggestions.

I noticed my gained weight when I was put on Lexapro, but I couldn't afford it,so they changed it to Celexa and it has made it a lot easier to lose. I have also been just counting calories...eating what I want but measuring what I eat for portion control. It's so much harder also, with RSD, to lose because I don't move around a lot. I did the 4h diet and it's very satisfying to me because I love fish and chicken, but I also like everything else to eat too..LOL!

I agree that less movement has contributed to me gaining more weight, but I have always had a weight problem. It is hard to say if medications add to it or not because it seems that doctor's never start one medication at a time, it is usually 2. How funny though, I am on 3 medications that have a strong side effect of weight loss, loss of appetite......NOT ME though! I guess I will always have to lose it the old fashion way, exercise and watching EVERY morsel that goes in my mouth. But even eating less isn't enough because less movement slows the metabolism.....vicious cycle!!

My thought is less carbohydrates period! They turn into sugar which stores as fat in the body if not used. Fruit, Veggies and protein based foods. Chicken, nuts, beans, peanut butter, cheese (obviously the fattier products have to be eaten in moderation) Here I am giving food advice and I am struggling with my weight, now that is funny. I am a carb addict! But when I did eliminate them I lost 60 lbs. That was drastic though...I have to find a healthy balance.....that is my daily struggle!:eek:

Yeah I ate a normal lunch today and here it is supper time and I feel like I will pass out from starvation. All I want is the junk food. I have become a junkie (food junkie that is). I know some of it has to do with my meds. But this is crazy. Some of it is the lack of exercise, I rarely even leave the house now days unless my husband wants. I really want and need to loose this weight. I am now 40 pounds over my ideal weight. Has anyone tried any other diets that has worked for them.:confused:

I've gained 30 lbs since I got RSD. I gained 20 within a week when I first started Lyrica but once I was able to be more active again I lost half of that. But then when the RSD spread last January I gained another 20 and have really struggled with bad inflammation and puffiness and stuff. I think once I am able to be a little more active that I will probably lose some of that.

I've been following the 4F's diet and it seems to be helping with the inflammation...and I definitely feel a lot better eating the fresh foods rather than the processed foods. I also try to avoid as much sodium as possible and have really pushed myself to drink a lot more water. Has it helped me lost weight? Not much that I have noticed...but I FEEL better. And the better I feel the more I am able to move around and stuff.

Also...I used to really HATE fish too but I have discovered that I really don't hate fish. I hate "fishy tasteing" fish. There are actually some really yummy light types of fish that don't have that fishy taste at all and I really enjoy them. My favorite is Tilapia...I bake it in the oven with a little bit of Olive Oil and some seasoning on it (I use Mrs Dash). There's also a frozen Tilapia that my boyfriend and I buy that is either Parmesean Crusted, Coconut Crusted, or Tortilla Crusted and it is also very yummy (though because it is prepackaged it does have more sodium in it than the other I make so we only have this every once in a while). Might be worth just trying to branch out to see if there are SOME kinds of fish you might like. I for sure thought I absolutely hated all kinds of fish before my boyfriend talked me into trying some other things.

Just one other thing to consider...try eating a bunch of small meals throughout the day instead of trying to wait until meal time to have a big meal. This is how I always used to eat and it helps speed up your metabolism. Maybe also try to eat some healthier snacks rather than the junk food. It might take a little while for your taste buds to adjust to say eating fresh veggies or fruits as snacks...but once you get used to it you may find that you like the flavor of the veggies better (or maybe not...I was VERY surprised that I did).

Sorry I don't have more suggestions to offer. But even if you find you can't stick to eating the foods that are better for you...maybe if you just try to cut out the ones that are BAD for you that would be a good place to start.

I have gained a lot of weight also, but I know i is because I have lost motivation and the pain keeps me inactive. I am praying hard for my will power to return. I get sad when I think of the 30lbs I have gained because prior to my fall I had a trainer and I was working out 4 days a week. RSD as changed my life and I know many others.

I have to be honest though...I'm a little frustrated by the weight gain but not super focused on losing it. I try to think positively about it and focus on just being healthy more than anything. I get very annoyed with some of the doctors I have seen (not my current one but many that I saw in the last year) when I explain to them how much weight I have gained and they just ignore me. I have explained to my current doctor that my concerns have less to do with the weight itself and more with the inflammation and puffiness and the possibility that these things are making the pain worse and/or are a symptom of something else being wrong.

No one really likes to gain weight...but try to remember that it's more important that you be healthy than to be at any specific weight. Like I said...changing my diet to the 4 F's diet has really made me FEEL better even if I haven't seen a big change in overall weight. I try not to focus on all the things that have changed in my life because of the RSD and instead try to focus on the things I can do to make my life better in this moment. Whenever I think about all the things that have changed in my life it's easy to start feeling depressed and to lose that motivation...so I try to focus on the things I can do in the present to try to improve the future.

Me Too!
 

Mine weight gain started with the Lyrica. I had gained some when I first was injuried but lost and was fine. The lyrica came into my life I gain 70lbs. We stopped after 2 months because of the weight gain and it just kept coming. Last spring and summer I lost 37lbs of it my just eating correctly and going to the gym consistantly. And working out helps my pain, that's the one time I have almost no pain. Weird right! I have asked my doctor about it in the past and he did give some explanation about the endorphine release and the continuous moving that helps the nerves. I have crps II with ulnar nerve damage. I have looked for a study on it but could only find the peds. programs the consist of heavy pt,desensativation, etc. Sorry, got off track. I have gained about 5-10 lbs back but as soon as I calm my life down I will start again. I feel so uncomfortable at times with the extra weight and my clothers don't fit right, ugh..

gabbycakes

Same here....
 

I had lost so much weight on Weight Watchers prior to this RSD spread in 2009, now I have pretty much regained the majority of it since I can't get out there and do what I was doing before, like working out and even walking around the block! It is so frustrating!

I now have a gluten intolerance and one dr told me I was borderline gastroparesis. A lot of the gluten free foods are fattening and the best options, my system can't handle... I have difficulty digesting fruits and veggies...the things that I should be eating!! I have several food allergies too. You would think I would be skinny as a rail, but nope I am far from it...big and swollen!! UGH!!! The meds don't help either....

Nanc

My doctor doesn't act to concerned either but now my husband says that I snore which is an indicator of sleep apnea which can be caused by weight gain. So I am defenitly going to bring this up again at my February apt. I am on Neurontin which from what I have read is notarious for weight gain and I believe so is Lyrica. I will try eating better and drinking water. I think Catra maybe on to something by eating smaller meals so my hunger doesn't get out of control.