Should I lower my Cal intake?

aquarianpixi

I am so tired of it.

Last month I was sick and the doctor put me on Prednisone, a steroid. On it I gained back all of one lb that I have been working so hard to lose. I didn't let that stop me though I got back on my MFP plan as soon as I was off the meds (I couldn't keep it while on them as they make you feel like you are starving all the time) and I have been exercising 3-4 days a week. Mainly weights because my asthma keeps me from doing too much cardio at the moment. I do try to do at least 20mins of some sort of cardio every trip to the gym, plus walking my dogs when I get home.

I have been eating good lean meats, lots of veggies, fruit, soy milk every once in a while and a lot of water. I have been consistently under my cals for the day which MFP set at 1900 to lose 2lbs a week.

I have been so good (a few minor slips of course), but I have gained another 5lbs. I will do anything at this point.

PrincessGlitterTush

You should make your diary public if you want people to help.

Have you been to a dietician as I see you have a thyriod problem?
I'm not sure if a dietician is the right person - but you probably need a specialised plan. I would think anyway.

Open you diary and people can help out?

AnnaMaus

Please be patient, be consistent in your logging and exercise, and know that your choices matter. What you do will make all the difference.

Managing your asthma (is that why you're on the steroids?) will be a great achievement, especially as you work up to the aerobic pace you can manage.

You probably know, you can't fight prednisone-related water retention, but you can fight the weight gain by constantly eating raw fruits and vegetables, in addition to your other meals (this helped me and my brother a lot over long term prednisone courses). It's very easy to put on weight, especially if you're craving crap, and you'll gain a little, but you don't have to gain a lot.

You probably also know, steroids demineralize your bones. so you definitely don't want to starve yourself if you're going to be taking them.

When you get off them, the water will drop off you, so you just have to try not to gain too much actual mass from being so hungry.


Hang in there!

taem

Here is my advice, take it for what its worth!

1) Eat natural foods, not processed foods. If you follow this, eat as much natural foods as you wish. When I say natural, I mean vegetables, fruits and plants. If you must eat meat, eat it sparingly and make sure it is clean and disease free (good luck there).

2) Eat calorie dilute foods. Foods that will satisfy your hunger craving but has little calories. A famous example is: 4 oz of gummy bears and a 2 lb pineapple. Which do you think has more calories and will satisfy your hunger? Well they both have the same amount of calories (200) but 4 oz will not fill up your stomach, so the pineapple wins! It is both sweet and filling! and is an excellent example of a natural food.

Lowering your calorie intake doesn't have to be bad, it just has to fill up your stomach so you don't feel hungry.

Good luck.

aquarianpixi

Yes, the prednisone was prescribed because of complications with my asthma. That is also part of why I am so frustrated. I have been off the those for over 3 weeks now. I thought the water retention would be gone by now.

I also have hypothyroidism and I take synthroid to control it.

I just don't want to have to go back to my old ways of losing weight before I found MFP. Eating 600-800 cals a day, if I ate that day at all, and spending 3 hours at the gym 6 times a week. Lost 50lbs in 3 months doing that, and kept it off for three years, but I know it isn't healthy. It just seems to be the only thing that has worked.

aquarianpixi

and thank you everyone that has replied.

I know I sound defeatist at the moment... well, I kinda feel defeated. That doesn't mean I am quitting though. Just upset.

I'm going to tinker with my settings. Maybe try it at a sedentary lifestyle for a while instead of lightly active for a few weeks.