Starting steroids a month before the wedding - how to not gain?

I'm on steroids for short periods all the time. Unfortunately, in the 8 years I've been on and off steroids, the only thing I can find is an extraordinary amount of self control and a lot of water. I always gain a lot of water weight and puff up and then it takes a good 2 weeks off of them for my body to basically deflate... What are you on? I'm particularly familiar about the effects of prednisone. (also REALLY stay away from salty things, you'll be craving it and fat like crazy, but I found keeping my tummy as full of water as I can helps me to feel full and makes the cravings more manageable...)

I'm on methylprednisolone.

I've told FH we are cleaning out the cabinets. The doctors suggestion was "well, just don't eat."

Uhm? I think he was kidding.

What about tracking your calories, like people do to lose weight, but eat enough to maintain? MyFitnessPal or something like that? Just be super aware of what and how much you are eating and you shouldn't gain.

Allison... that really is the only suggestion. Not only does it cause to to hold onto a bunch of water weight, but you get crazy cravings for the most fattening things. I've not found anything to offset it other than literally drinking a couple of gallons of water to keep your tummy full. Also try to find ways to distract yourself. Treat yourself every once in a while or you'll go absolutely insane. I've found 2 of the best craving crushers that won't make you gain a ton is

1. HOMEPOPPED POPCORN--If you don't already have a stovetop popper, you need to invest in one for these meds and because it's just more delicious anyway. I do olive oil, cracked salt (gives you a more salty burst for your cravings) and cracked black pepper.

2. Skinny cow ice cream--you have to pace yourself with that, it's really easy for these cravings to take over and you'll eat the whole box. I'm not proud of the fact that I've eaten an entire 2 layer 8 inch cake on my own before because of how those cravings drive me crazy.

Gum also helps. Especially since they have so many low calorie gums in crazy fun flavors. But I'm picky and stop chewing as soon as the flavor gives out, so that never worked for me. Sorry if I'm giving you way too much info. I almost thought I was going to be on steroids 1/2 weeks before the wedding and I was so nervous. But they can be manageable, you just need A LOT of self control, and have FH help by just going very low cal the next month, seeing someone else eat good stuff while your on that can make you go a little crazy...

My dress fit perfectly without spanx. I'm wondering if that might be the best route.

FH also suggested slim quick, since it's a diuretic, mostly. (and some random vitamins) It's not like I am actually trying to lose weight... but that might counteract some of the effects. Maybe after the course is over... I don't know, I've never in my life taken a diet pill. That makes me nervous. \

Thanks for all the help JKR. This is a nightmare, I'm sorry you went through it too!

Also... He doesn't cook. So, he eats what I make.

I wish I had advice for you. I was on Prednisone for six months straight before my wedding and I had to go up a dress size.

I find caffeine helps too (and is a diuretic) So if you get some fancy low cal creamer/sweeteners that can help by both giving you a sweet tooth craving relief and also being a diuretic. Slim fast (to me) is disappointing and a waste of the little calories you'll likely allow yourself to consume. spanx definitely help too. As long as you do whatever you can to not gain more wight the water weight can get squished around. Also try to get foods that have large volume while being decently low calorie. Rice and Matzo balls are my best friends during steroid time (as long as water, I really can't say that enough)

Again, sorry if I'm oversharing. I feel your pain and definitely want to help you get through to your wedding day without gaining too much (so you can make sure to fit in your dress, mine was a perfect snug fit too)

EDIT: oh I was wrong lol, I got slimquick and slimfast (the drink) mixed up. My suggestion still stands though. I don't know about slimquick, never looked into it.

Rice cakes! Good idea, I loooove rice cakes. We've been toying with doing an elimination diet, because FH has been having tummy issues, and it may be allergen related. Basically you can eat rice, fruit, veggies and fish.

This sounds like a great time to do it. Nothing else will be in the house, so I won't eat it.

Could you quickly pay to get a corset back put into your dress? I don't know what the dress is like but that would be my fix. I'm terrible at sticking to diets so I wish you the best of luck!!

When I was on steroids I went carb free!!! I packed the veggies and the meats and drank a ton of water! I simply maintained. Lemon water kept the fluid moving...I may have eaten a whole chicken during that prednisone taper...but I will never confirm that! Good luck!

Will a one month delay seriously derail your life? If it will, we all know that health trumps wedding. If your condition can be managed, for the next few weeks, with antii-inflammatories or as needed pain meds, go that route. Anyone who has been subjected to steroid therapy knows that the side effects can be weight gain and moon face. If it is unavoidable and the only option available for your condition, then consent to it without apology. If you have a choice that will not adversely affect your health, then I'd put if off. This is a discussion that needs to happen between you and your doctor.

I called the alterations department and moved my final fitting up to July 19th, from July 26th, in case they need to add a corset back or something to the dresses. I explained the situation, and they offered to bump up the delivery date (though for one of them it is a "rush") free of charge. Thank you Davids Bridal!

They said that would give them plenty of time to do whatever would need to be done, if anything.

Centerpiece I wish - This one was a step down from what the doctor wanted to do. He wanted to do something much stronger, but said this would likely lead to less weight gain, and was a shorter duration. He gave me refills, and wants me to take a short break then do a second course on the honey moon as a bargaining chip for the lower dose. You know... when I want to be indulging in good food. Oh well.

I'm trying to count my blessings, compared to where I was standing 9 months ago, I am doing very well. I avoided surgery, and the long term prognosis is looking good. It's just putting a damper on a few really exciting life events, like pushing off TTC by a few years, and making the wedding a bit more of a strain. I am very lucky, and need to remember that!

And at the end of the day, I am marrying the love of my life... If I end up wearing an old white sun dress, we'll be just as married. And he was willing to marry me knowing they were about to shave my head, so I believe him when he says 10 pounds one way or another don't matter a bit!

Dandelion tea is a great natural diuretic. Been on steriods, it sucks.

Danielle, thanks for the tip! I'll ask FH to stop by the co-op. He works in a town where they will likely sell that sort of thing. We live in a pretty rural area other wise.

I'd give MFP a try to just loosely track you're current intake of calories.

If you are maintaining your weight now as it is- you can use it as a log to just make sure you aren't going crazy with extra hormone hunger driven issues (BC has a bad rap for doing that to people to)

It'll just help keep an eye on it.

If you don't to actually track- perhaps an actual paper food diary- so you can keep a list in a book of what you regularly eat and you can watch for big spikes in high calorie foods.

I'm on steroids as well and trying to lose weight for my wedding. I have been maintaining/losing very slowly but I drink a ton of water, juice fruits/vegetables once a day, and really watch the sodium. They make me so hungry and keep me up all night so I just try to be very mindful of what I am putting in my mouth. It is so hard because I am not able to work out either due to the condition that I am on steroids for. I feel your pain girl! Hang in there!