Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

General question here:

Who has struggled with weight and what worked for you to take it off / keep it off if anything?

-I have never dieted in my life as I've always been active but have packed on over 40 pounds in the last year.... so both myself and my daughter (who has PCOS and a weight issue as well) are going to try Atkins-

I struggled with weight after my daughter was born. First child, no problem, lost it all. Second child, not so much. I absolutely do not believe in diets. You have to make a permanent lifestyle change or the weight will come back. The minute you add back the foods you omitted, the weight will come back. For me it meant counting calories and getting a real look at how much I was taking in. SHOCKING!!! Most people consume way too much. Next step was finding some online calculators that would help me figure out how many cals I should eat. For my frame & energy level, only 1749 cals! I am/was working out regularly. If I hadn't been working out regularly it would've only been about 1500 cals PER DAY. One meal of fast food can max that out any day. So is really does come down to calories in vs calories out. And that's not just one day, but over the entire week. You gotta get the calories burned higher than the calories taken in.

While it seemed awful, I am grateful for the GI issues I developed after my daughter was born. I cut out most all red meat, added lots of fruits & veggies. I ended up having to be gluten free, so rather than substitute high cal GF foods, I just got rid of them for the most part. I keep bread in the freezer cause it takes me a couple months to go through 1 gf loaf!

Now is a little different & I am struggling. With MG affecting my lungs cardio is all but out the window. I do walk as briskly as I am able the 3 blocks from my car to the office and back daily. I try to walk briskly around the house or use the elliptical for 10-20 mins as possible. I try to do yoga. And I've added strength training back in too. I have put on a little weight these last few months, but I will go down fighting it! Good luck to you too!

i use an online program called livingstrong.com myplate lots of precalcuted foods in data bank and keeps track of salt and colestoral too.

I've been using Weight Watchers online and it's been helping. You can eat basically whatever you want but it teaches you portion control. You can look up foods for their "points values" and you can track it online or on an iPhone (which is nice if you are out and want to track what you eat straight away). For me after awhile, I got used to the portions etc that I don't even have to track it anymore. I've lost 11 pounds all together, but have hit the plateau. Still trying to push myself off that, I'm only 5 more pounds away for my goal weight.

I have a similar story of gradual weight gain after symptoms began 2 years ago. I started Weightwatchers in January and have gradually lost 14 lbs so far. Tons of fruit/veges and plenty of healthy food- I go to meetings regularly and find it helpful. Good luck finding what works for you...

I was diagnosed in March and didn't start the Prednisone until after my first IVIG in April. I really didn't want to start the prednisone because I didn't want the weight gain, increased BP etc. I've always been considered in good shape and I'm probably healthier than I was a few months ago. I have a resting heart rate in the 40's and my BP is around 106/56 and weight around 118 (was 130 in March). I truly believe that by eating right and exercising when possible, weight gain can be avoided. I eat often and am never hungry. I am also taking Super GLA, DHA, a prenatal vitamin, and probiotic. If anyone is interested in what my diet looks like please let me know...would be glad to share.