A few posts back, I hinted that I was making progress in some areas of my life. Luckily for my thighs (but sadly for my appetite), I am finally getting serious about chipping away some of my RA Freshman 15. Read all about it and see the related comic strip by Jane Samborski here, then tell me about your experiences with the weight game and RA (or whatever ails you).
! Man, the weight gain sucks sooo bad! Pre-RA I was fit, not model thin but I never wanted to be. Even when I was first diagnosed I tried to control my weight but with my meds (specifically prednisone)it became almost impossible.
Ultimately I know that losing weight would make my body happy (for a myriad of reasons, not just RA related) but it has become so hard. When I get home from work, I'm done. I stretch in the morning, do some Tai Chi. Cardiovascular exercise doesn't fit into my morning routine. I played around some with my schedule but it makes me way too out of it for my job. And it is too painful, of course.
I eat healthy. I exercise as much as I can. I think that I'm just going to have to learn to live with my shape as it is now. I'm comparing my body to my pre-RA self which I know I will never be again...
I'm hopeful though. I started Humira a few months ago and maybe I'll improve to a point that I'll be able to do a few things again, maybe lose a few pounds.
Good luck with the Weight Watchers!!
-Vi
Posted by: Violet | April 16, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Thanks, Vi. Good luck to you to-I think a combination of accepting our 'new' selves AND also trying to be as healthy and fit as we can is necessary. Good luck with the humira!
Posted by: sara | April 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM
For me, losing the weight hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. I'm on Tramadol, Meloxicam and Methotrexate. As a result I have little to no appetite. I've lost 40lbs so far and am still losing. But my concern is that once I am used to the meds or if the meds change, am I going to gain it all back? So in hopes of that not happening, I'm walking every day that I am able around the neghborhood and have limited sweets to once a week and am trying to eat healthier. Hopefully by doing this, the weight will stay off.
Posted by: Steph P. | April 20, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Steph P- wow! That is a lot of weight to lose. Sounds like you have a good plan in place, and the walking is so good for so many other reasons, too.
Posted by: Sara | April 23, 2009 at 11:03 AM