Chubbygirl253 -- I'll definitely have to do it that way next time! I had a small piece...of course I had one or two extra bites when I ventured into the kitchen. *shakes head*

zoesmom I can't imagine they are giving you less than 25mg or 50mg in the needle. I have to admit that 4mg 7 times in a day totalling 28mg sounds more inconvenient. The pills would annoy me. I have a whole magnitude of steroids to take if my lungs shut down. Though I control most of it on my own and will manage to go months without ANY of it until someone hits me with my allergy, or I contract a major respiratory problem...

This is my dosing when I do: 100mg day 1, 50mg/day for 5 additional days is standard for me as the base of prednisone. Then add in the symbacourt 200/6 which is 2 puffs morning and night, and 1-2 puffs as needed up to 8 times a day. Throw in Advair 250/50 2 in the morning and 2 at night.

Every 50 mg of prednisone = 4-5lbs for me. Sometimes I luck out and only put on about 3lbs/50mg.

I will say I have less need of the prednisone since I had symbacourt added. I know it is pricey but it causes a lot less weight gain, and is both 'a morning & night', as well as 'as needed' by being both long term and fast acting (within 15 min)... Maybe you could ask your Dr about it? i think US dosing is a bit different but it never hurts to ask about a type of medication. Honestly I lucked out one day with a walk in clinic. I struggled before having it added.

I was going to PM this but I thought... HEY! Maybe others have the same issue?!

Shell

Anybody else not really scared of loose skin? I have a lot of fat around my mid section (I think that's where most of my weight is) so I'm definitely expecting lots of loose skin there. I'm 25 so hopefully it'll tighten up enough to look alright. But I'm not scared of it. I've lived this way all my life, with all of this fat, and I have to believe that ANYTHING is better than that...including loose skin. Loose skin is better than loose fat. lolol

I'd rather not think about loose skin as it scares me as well. It is, however, better to have loose skin than to be overweight on a health side, and, if I really think about it, for my personal self esteem. It's just not fun to picture yourself with the skin.

And I try to stay positive. Not everyone gets lose skin. Losing weight slowly, exercising and putting cream are allk things believed to help, so do as much as you can.

ZOESMOM ~ well, hopefully you'll be feeling better soon, so you won't have to take the meds for too long.

CAR ~ thanks for your kind words. I'm not "scared" about loose skin as it's a bit late for that, but kind of inevitable really. Hopefully, with some toning exercises, it won't be too bad for you, esp since you are younger.


To avoid having seconds, I immediately put the leftovers into sealed containers in the fridge or freezer; that way there isn't anything left sitting there to pick at. I do this as I am serving out our dinners. There are only a few things that I might want seconds of, so I am blessed that way; and using leftovers for lunches really helps too.

We've had some fierce storms here the last two days/nights; you couldn't see out there, it was so windy. My vines took a real bashing so we had to tie them back up today.

Hope you all have a wonderful OP week coming up ...

Cuter w Curves - blegh! Your dosages sound worse than mine, no thank you! For the most part my asthma is under control, just take my Advair daily (heh...we are on the same dosage) and usually all is well. Until my three year old brings something home. When ever she has the sniffles, I know I have about 5 days left of feeling good before I end up coming down with either bronchitis or pneumonia. And it usually comes without warning. But so far, this time hasn't been so bad. In fact, interesting thing with the steroids this time...I have LOST weight so far. I am actually kind of shocked by that. I've been refusing to mindlessly snack when I get hungry so I guess that is why I haven't gained this time, well, at least so far. But hey, I'll take it!

Justwant thanks...all will be well. I am already kind of starting to feel better. Still can't do too much before I am in a coughing fit that leaves me unable to breathe, but at least I can breathe now.

Car - I hate the thought of loose skin. But I hate being fat more. So I am going to embrace it with open arms and dare it to come get me. Besides, I have a back up plan if I do end up with loose skin (I likely will.) My hubby is super supportive and has already given me the go ahead that if I loose the weight AND can maintain it for 2 years, I can have a skin reduction surgery. So, that is my big end goal if I end up floppy despite my best efforts. I prefer to not have surgery, so I am going to do everything I can to not, but it is nice knowing I have a plan B for just in case. It's not that I am vain...I really can care less about the saggy skin. What bothers me is how sweaty I get under the folds of skin. If I have tons of sagging skin, it will be ten times worse...ewwwww! And being OCD, I REALLY can't handle that thought.

As of today, I am back under 300 pounds! Sooo excited about this!

Way to go devnet!!

Way to go devnet!

*chuckle* zoesmom it is kind of why I shared the info... I do manage to avoid the prednisone more often now and can kick it with the symbacourt as needed now. Most of the time. I can't really afford to go through a round of it. *sigh*

Congrats devnet!!

YEAH DEVNET!!!! So happy for you!

Cuter--maybe I need to talk to my doctor about symbacourt then. Sounds like it might be worth it....

right on Devnet! I hope to be there with ya in a few more weeks!

zoesmom- Well I don't see why you couldn't do mini versions of whatever foods you make, go for it.! Just don't make a whole bunch of them and tempt yourself to eat more than one. I first started experimenting with smaller amounts when I was living alone. I would follow the directions on say, a packaged muffin mix and only make half so I didn't have a dozen muffins to deal with, when a half dozen would be enough for breakfast all week long. Some things work better than others. Good luck playing around with it. I like to cook so it was fun for me.
And thanks so much for the encouragement on the workouts! I need it!

Congrats, devnet. I'm celebrating along with you.

Ladies, I cannot imagine having to do this while taking steroids or contending with asthma flares. I'm so impressed by y'all (and going way back to the discussion of y'all, we have not even touched on the Western Pennsylvania variation of it: you'uns. ) Had a good weekend and beginning of the week thus far. I made tabouleh, with quinoa and lentils as the grain instead of bulger, and am having that for lunch this week. I was watching my mom's dog over the weekend and she brought me a 'present' of a salad-plate size chocolate cookie. I was like: wtf? but handled it politely. Ate about a quarter of it for dessert with some low-fat ice cream, served half to HER with her dessert, and left the rest behind at my folks' house.

For the most part, I don't worry about leftovers or seconds. I eat dinner far away from the serving dishes, and precede it with a bowl or two of salad, so my mind has time to catch up to my fullness. But for stuff like muffins, well, I do not trust myself enough to handle even half-recipes. So I focus my cooking on main dishes and veggie-heavy sides and salads.

Ugh, we have no water today at work and have to run down the street to use the restroom.

Rosebud I hope your vines have recovered from the storms! My garden is getting overgrown. I need to cut the grass. My lawn mower has been repaired, but I we couldn't quite fit it into the trunk of my car, so I'm going to wait until Thursday, when my father should be 1) home from his trip; and 2) has an appointment in my town and can bring his SUV for me.

Have a great week, folks!

DEVNET ~ congrats on getting into the 200's -- that's a wonderful milestone indeedy ...

MNEM ~ I use that salad trick too. I eat my salad, veggies & meat first (grains & starch last); and I also find the salad really fills me up to capacity. Steven Ares (may he rest in peace) suggested this order of eating, and I find it helpful. I keep hearing his words as I eat; almost seems like he is whispering in my ears sometimes (bless his heart).

We managed to save my vines from falling to the ground; we had to tie them back up a few times. I am still a bit concerned about the biggest one as the hooks came undone from the ceiling. Right now part of it is hanging over a short extension cord leading from a Christmas light line that was on the house when we moved here. We also secured it to the post but I'm not sure if that will be good enuff. We are presently looking for another solution to make it even more secure somehow.

We've been busy the last two days; did lots of shopping & errands yesterday and all the walking left me a bit sore. This morning I woke up stiff but after I got going, I felt better. We just cleaned the floors today (sweeping & vacuuming); and then DH cleaned the ceilings fans while I did other stuff.

Hey, I picked my first beans; got two baggies and put them in the freezer. Not bad for a small salad garden; but there will be more yet, esp from the half barrels when they are ready. DH was surprised how many I got from only a small area.

We had chicken and salad for dinner (I had a half cob corn too). EAting has been going well. I did have a few small treats but stayed on plan. I tried pistachios for the first time; I just bought a few to try them and I'm a fan. You can have quite a few for only 100 calories which is nice.

I sat out on the deck this evening enjoying the which finally came out late this afternoon. We've been getting lots of and cooler temps, but I'm not complaining one bit. I luv it! I like these temps (in the high 60's & low 70's -- seems ideal to me).

Have a wonderful OP week everyone ...

I wish I lived in a house where I could start a garden. Unfortunately, I'm in an apartment. Y'all make it sound so fun!

Today started the dreadful TOM. I knew it was coming but it still sucks when it's here. I got a headache after work, and dragged my feet around about doing my daily walk. I debated and debated, and finally decided to go! I felt so good that I went even when my body was telling me to lay down!

Food choices have been awesome. The only thing is sometimes I eat dinner so late. Like right now it's 10 and I'm just about to eat dinner. I really need to be more stricter on my times. But sometimes life gets in the way.

Work has been stressful. One of my co-workers that I really loved working with got fired yesterday. So there is a whole lot of work that none of us know how to do, even the managers. And the one thing I want to do is over eat. I'm pushing it, though.

Hope all is well for the rest of you ladies.