Help!

[Fungusgirl]

I have gained over double my weight back due to steroid injections 3 times a week and oral steroids every day for three years. I am so desperate to lose weight and I lost all of my weight by using Atkins before...It just seemed like it wasnt working this time. I am at a loss as to what to do...people got me to juice fast...yes, I lost weight and going "plant based" to start a juice fast for 100 days to lose weight...I feel like shit physically...I even fell on my tread mill because I was dizzy...My doctor said "ease into juice fasting"...I have people from all sides shoving stuff in my head and feel so confused. My blood work is great, etc...I am just huge. I lost 200 punds before on Atkins and even though I had been sticking to Atkins again, the weight would not budge. I could use some advice. Everything about only plants, beans and veggie patties/fake meat seems so wrong. Eat no fat...Juicing...Ugh...I am in tears. My hubby is deployed and I wanted to have at least 100 pounds gone by next November when he gets home. Thoughts? I am going to post this elsewhere also...I just feel so lost right now.

[cnmLisa]

You don't say how long you have been off of your steriods.

Not knowing the details of your health issues that would require steroid injections 3x/week for 3 years....is pretty hard core. Steroids are hormones. Steriods affect your insulin sensitivity by making your cells more insulin resistant. The more insulin resistant you become the more imperative that you follow a carbohydrate controlled diet. Unfortunately, juicing is one of the worst things you can do if you're insulin resistant. Juicing supports wide swings in your blood glucose levels which in turn causes your body to pump out even more insulin and due to the already insulin resistant state of your cells from the steriods, even more insulin is pumped out and alas, none of it is being used except to store more fat.

I understand the desperation in your post, but the best thing for you in terms of nutrition IS to follow a carbohydrate controlled way of eating of your chooseing. I usually tell patients that it will take as least half as long for your body to return to equalibrium after long term steriod use and depending on health and type, your body may never return to equalibrium I'm sorry to say. But juicing and meat analogs is not the way to achieve optimal health. A 100 day juice fast will only negatively impact an already struggling metabolism and body which is trying to heal itself.

I wish you luck.

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

[Magmoon]

Just wanted to give you some cyber hugs ((((((((Fungusgirl))))))))))))))
Lisas advice looks good. Hang in there

[Neanderpam]

Lisa has good advice. I am in my fifth year of daily oral steroids, and my 27th year of daily inhalant steroid. My bones are 'dust'...and just broke my 1st metacarpal (again). But...I lost on lowcarb, and have maintained on lowcarb and as far as nutritional health wise..I'm good.

I did take a 'bender' into lowfat/high fruit/veggie carb for a couple months after a specialist tried to tell me 'lowcarb is very bad for the bones' and bullied me into it...and that will NEVER happen again! I went up over 28 pounds in only nine weeks (of course!) and was hungry all the time.

I JUST had a first encounter with an internist with special studies in Paget's disease, and endocrine care and he about came 'unglued' when I said 'lowcarb'. I had to let him get my records and now he is 'amazed' that I lost this much weight and have kept it off 12 years on Jan 1st.

I didn't mine the corticosteroid injections into joints when necessary, but oral steroid really does the bones badly. I tend to optimism but now, at 57 yrs. old, waiting three, four years on disability (after working over 30 yrs.)...you don't want to take steroids unless it's a matter of life or death IMHO.

[sprinkles]

A vegan diet and fake meat is never the answer...FAKE...meaning your body is more likely to have an immunological reaction to it than anything else. I'm not a steriod patient, but I tried fake meats and veganism once, and it was a disaster: I put on 15 lbs and wound up with the lowest thyroid levels I have ever had in my life. Its bad for you. Atkins will help.

[jellysoda]

Just wanted to give you some cyber hugs ((((((((Fungusgirl))))))))))))))
Lisas advice looks good. Hang in there

I second this. Big hug!!!!!!

I am sorry about the hormone blues that you are having. You should go do something really nice for yourself and try not to stress out too much about your weight. I'm sure that your body will re-equilibrate and you will be able to gently lose all of the weight you need to.