Hello, I did my first day of 5-2 so looking for word to my second fasting day on Monday. I am also a Weight Watcher do you think my meds will have any adverse effect on the out come of 5-2 or will I have wait and see? JIPWGP
This topic contains 12 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by hermajtomomi 10 years, 8 months ago.
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JIPWGP, I’m not on the meds that you’re on, but my understanding is this:
Levothyroxine is for treating hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism itself tends to cause weight gain and make weight loss more difficult. It’s not completely clear to what extent the levothyroxine helps with that.
Prednisolone treats many inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. An unfortunate side effect can be weight gain. I am not sure, but it may also make it more difficult to lose weight.
Hopefully someone else with personal experience will also respond, but my guess would be that it might be more difficult for you to lose weight than it would be if you weren’t sick and didn’t need the medications. It should, however, still be possible, if you are careful not to over-eat on non-fasting days and can be patient enough to wait for the pounds to come off slowly, and even more possible if you are also able to increase your activity level. Good luck!
First of all, JIPWGP many congratulation on you success fo far. Franfit is right. Corticosteroids can make you put on weight and/or make it rather more difficult to lose. You’ve done so brilliantly so far, I’m sure you will find a way round the problem. For what it’s worth, this is my experience.
I was put on the wretched things 6 years ago for polymyalgia rheumatica, i.e. pain and stiffness in the joints, limbs and back that makes movement very difficult and painful. Steroids, the doctor said, were the only solution. Initially I refused but was then persuaded, but not until I had managed to beat the doc down to an initial dose of 20 mg.
Certainly, the steroids worked. The pain started to ease almost immediately and within a week had disappeared BUT I was kept on the beastly things for 2 1/2 years, albeit in gradually decreasing doses. The weight piled on – not fun for someone who, despite eating healthily, found it impossible to lose. 5:2 hadn’t yet happened. Steroids also screw up your immune system and for me the result was shingles, on the face close to the eyes.
When I remarried in 2010 I looked so revolting with my big moon face, my little piggy eyes like two currants in a bun, and my big fat belly, I deleted all my wedding photos. At this time I also returned to university to do post-grad study and all the various ID cards I needed were adorned with this hideous creature.
When I eventually came off the steroids about a year later, I immediately lost 2-3 kilos without even trying. A few months later, Michael’s TV programme went out and both I and my husband were convinced. We’re both still following 5:2, slowly but surely we are losing weight, and it is staying off. Hubby had less to lose than me and is close to his goal. I still have a way to go, but for the first time a way of eating is working for me.
The fact that you lost all that weight while taking steroids is nothing short of miraculous. You are a star! It has taken me nearly 15 months to lose 22 lbs, and that includes a 5-month plateau. So your achievement is extraordinary, to me at least.
Certainly, give 5:2 a try. Progress may be slow, especially as you don’t now have a lot of weight to lose, but don’t be discouraged. There are several other health benefits, like reduced BP, reduced cholesterol (I see like me you are on statins), healthy blood glucose and generally feeling good and energised.
Someone will correct me if I’m wrong but as far as I recall from the TV show and the book, 5:2 wasn’t initially developed as a weight loss programme. Weight loss turned out to be a very desirable side effect.
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