I have RA & need to lose weight. Want to so the Keto Diet
I have RA & was diagnosed at 19 yrs old so that's almost over half my life. I have been in a very severe state since I was 23 yrs & it's progressively getting worse sadly. I've taken prednisone since I was 19 yrs old as well and it's literally killing me.
It's so crucial and important I get this weight off of me ASAP!! It will be much better for my health not to mention my joints and mobility.
I am new to this forum and Keto diet. I NEED SOME HELP!! I really want to start the Keto Diet. I desperately need to shed some pounds due to health issues. I've heard and read a few things about the diet and saying you can lose weight fast. In my case I really do hope that is true, I know it's high fat, moderate protein and low carb. But from what I've seen it always gives percentage of each that is needed daily. I'm sorry I don't want to sound like an idiot but I honestly don't understand percentages.
I was hoping someone/anyone could please help better break this down for me. Maybe like how many calories of each I should consume daily for the best optimal & fasted weight loss results that would be extremely helpful.
Again as I've mentioned it's crucial I lose this weight & losing it as fast as possible is definitely what I need. Any info, advice &/or tips would be so massively appreciated!!
Also I was curious how long does it take for the body to go into ketosis?
And how much could you possibly lose in 3 months?
Any answers and replies would be great. Thank you again. I need this diet to work cause so many ha e failed me and I'm praying this will be the one that will work for me.
CC925- I'm not familiar with the Keto diet, but you might be able to find more info under the diet specific section on the forum, I've seen a few things about Keto/Atkins type stuff. Sorry I can't be more help, hope you find something that works!
So I have moved on from methotrexate as it was severely effecting my liver, my hair and eye lashes were falling out, I had sores in the inside of my mouth and the skin on my hands started peeling! I am now using Arava, 10 mg a day since January. I guess it is going well as I went from having a monthly appointment with the Rheum to every 2 months. I stopped taking the steroids back in January because I had put on almost 20 pounds in 4 months. I do use a few natural supplements to help with energy, cognitive function, and depression as well as some natural anti-inflammatory supplements and am feeling better - but not close to 100%. Doing a low carb diet now - avoiding most of the foods I am allergic to seems to help. Have managed to lose 28 pounds. Oh and lots of water! 1/2 my body weight in ounces a day. That has made a huge difference.
The Rheum says I have an extremely high level of pain tolerance. I always feel like a sissy and that I baby myself too much when I don't feel well. He told me my not feeling well would typically incapacitate others. Nothing to be proud of for sure, but I have to wonder if I do more damage to my body by not feeling the pain as much - because I push and push past my limits until I just have to sleep for days.
Has anyone managed to getting back to feeling "normal"? What was your journey like?
Oh, wow, Kat...congrats on the weight loss! With all you've been through, that's something!
Now that the air smells of spring, my mind occasionally turns back to last spring when I could not walk, get up from a chair, or bend my fingers....and the pain!...from just the weight of a single sheet on my legs! I am doing much better this spring and feel fortunate that memories of pain are blurred.
I'm still on meth and moved up to injections. I was prescribed folic acid, but don't always remember to take it; therefore, and my bathroom is getting hairy. My body temperature goes wackadoodle when I forget it, so that helps me get back on track. Did you take folate when you were on meth? I got set up for TNF antibody therapy, but, fortunately, I responded to the meth and sulfasalazine combination. We're sticking with that for now.
With the meth and inflammation, I'm tired and fuzzy-headed a lot. I take fish oil, Bs, D, folate, and other stuff. Work is crazy and theanine helps with stress. What helps you?
I can so relate to what you experienced last spring! For me it was the fall on 2013. Like you, I couldn't even walk, I couldn't sleep because of the pain and all I kept thinking at the time was please just let me die instead of living like this.
So glad to hear that you are feeling better now! I am learning from my Rheum that it is a trial and error with the medications. It seems like the insurance companies make the doctors follow a very specific path of medications. I did get a prescribed folic acid when on the metho. I am still taking it now per the doctor's instructions, but the doctor said there was no difference between the prescription and over the counter except price. I asked why he made me get a prescription and he said people take it more seriously when it is prescribed. So I spent $3.50 for 500 pills instead of $10 a month for 30 pills!
I personally use 5-HTP for the severe depression that began at the same time as the health problems. It has been dramatically more effective than any prescription anti-depressant! I also use L-Tyrosine. L-Tyrosine is a natural amino acid that is an appetite suppressant, energy booster, mood enhancer, supports cognitive function under stress – both physical and emotional. I have motivation now, the brain fog is actually gone and I handle stress much better and have less pain as well.
I also use black currant oil which is a GLA (and also an Omega-3) and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. When I combine this with Resveratrol, I see a big drop in pain during flare ups. I also use clove essential oil topically for aches and pains. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killer. I mix a couple of drops of the clove with jojoba oil or almond oil (because i like the smell the best) but you can use other oils as well.
Here are other some great supplements to look into:
SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine)SAM-e acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) and has anti-inflammatory properties. It may stimulate cartilage growth and also affects neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which reduce pain perception.
Cat’s claw is an anti-inflammatory that inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a target of powerful RA drugs. It also contains compounds that may benefit the immune system. A small 2002 trial showed it reduced joint pain and swelling by more than 50 percent compared with placebo. Look for a brand that is free of tetra-cyclic oxindole alkaloids.
Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA block inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins, and are converted by the body into powerful anti-inflammatory chemicals called resolvins. EPA and DHA have been extensively studied for RA and dozens of other inflammatory conditions. A 2010 meta-analysis found that fish oil significantly decreased joint tenderness and stiffness in RA patients and reduced or eliminated NSAID use.
GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that the body converts into anti-inflammatory chemicals. In one trial, 56 patients with active RA showed significant improvement in joint pain, stiffness and grip strength after six months and progressive improvement in control of disease activity at one year. A smaller study found that a combination of GLA and fish oil significantly reduced the need for conventional pain relievers.
Ginger has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties similar to ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors. In a 2012 study, a specialized ginger extract reduced inflammatory reactions in RA as effectively as steroids did. Earlier studies showed that taking a certain extract four times daily reduced osteoarthritis pain in the knee after three months of treatment, and another taken twice daily worked about as well as ibuprofen taken three times daily for hip and knee OA pain.
Well, I see you picked up this info from the arthritis foundation--thought I should mention that so the mods won't think you're trying to sell stuff, ha!
Last year, when everything boiled up at once, I tried bromelain in desperation, and it did help a bit. Nowadays, I try to eat more pineapple, as I could only find bromelain in an inconveniently located whole foods store. (Its a protease mixture derived from pineapple.) Other than the trp and tyr, I've tried most of the stuff on your list. But not the cat's claw...I'd be afraid of liver effects in combination with the meds. I do try to keep up with the fish oil n stuff....anything to take the edge off and keep flares away....The best thing would be to lose lots of weight.
LOL definitely not selling anything! I have a great natural medicine textbook that I use that my Osteopath recommended. He said it was a textbook he used in medical school, you can find a free pdf of it online. It's called Textbook of Natural Medicine by Joseph Pizzorno (4th edition is the newest).
I have found avoiding gluten has dramatically reduced the feeling of swelling in my hands and the extreme fatigue. My Rheum gave me some supplements to try - but I couldn't as I am allergic to tumeric (Go figure!!!) I will look around the house for the the list.
I was diagonsed with RA a year ago. I also have a hard time losing??? Why I dont understans. My insurance does not cover very much of treatmeant with the specialist so waiting to see if I get a job with the state. I have been having horrible trouble with my big toe lately and when I looked it up it said gout.... Im in the same boat.
Hi. Did you know that RA is connected to water retention and that if you eliminate excess fluid from your body by doing the Waterfall Diet, your RA symptons will decrease? Have you ever read the Waterfall Diet by Linda Lazarides?
Hi, all. Great forum and very useful info. I have RA and other chronic illnesses too and struggling with my weight as well. I think learning to deal with the pain and being motivated towards losing weight is the key.. my goal is to build muscle and if possible, lose some weight. I know most people would tell me that I need to have a more concrete goal, but because I have Arthritis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Gastroparesis, it’s really easy for me to gain weight and really difficult for me lose it. In PCOS, weight gain is practically inevitable.
So I’ve been trying my best to commit to my 4x a week walking goal and I’ve been doing it! Some weeks I can only do 3x a week because of flares or whatever, but other than that, I’ve really been working hard to stick to it.
Well, that was until yesterday, when I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 1 kg heavier! I was just so discouraged that after all that walking I could gain weight!
Having RA and other Chronic Illnesses often means losing your “good looks” faster. With all the treatments I’ve been on and off, I don’t feel like “looks-wise” my 20s has been my peak- unlike other people my age.
Just remember "Good looks fade, but a good heart keeps you beautiful forever"
I have RA & need to lose weight. Want to so the Keto Diet
Im in the same boat.