Stopping weight gain on steroids

I've been on steroids for nearly a year now, and have regained the stone and a half I'd lost before my diagnosis ( Giant Cell Arteritis)
Didn't particularly notice " munchies", but did get the " moon face". Mind you, my thyroid was underactive also, so an increase in Levothyroxine has resulted in a weight loss.

I'm recording everything I eat on My Fitness Pal ( google it!) and making a diuretic drink of root ginger, lemon juice, and cucumber in iced water.
Hopefully if you watch what you eat from day 1 of steroids, you'll be fine.

Useful information Daddima.

Has the moon face gone now ?

I doubt they will put my thyroxine up as I am already on 150mg a day.

Yes I intend to watch my diet very carefully.

Isn't getting old a bu**er ?

Moon face is definitely getting smaller.

Someone I know cut out all sugar, and that seemed to definitely work. Mind you she has had an eating problem in the past so I guess will power was relatively easy for her.

I have no experience if steroids (so far) but plenty of managing my weight! My only permanent success has been by dieting on alternate days. To lose weight I eat 500 calories on diet days and whatever I like on the days between. To maintain I eat up to 1000 cals on diet days. It is so much easier to only have to wait a day to eat something I fancy, rather than permanently feeling deprived.
If I was in your position I would do this right from the start of medication, hoping to prevent weight gain. Unfortunately the moon face seems to be unavoidable, however a friend who hade PMR looked really well and younger with a fuller face!
I hope you will soon be rid of the pain , which is the most important thing. Take care.

I had that fear too when I needed steroids but mine were by injection (not into a joint) but I was told by the consultant just to watch the diet and it should be Ok.

Thanks so much. It is really helping me through the miserable days up to definite diagnose and the start of medication.

I have completely lost my appetite (never known to have happened before) but it is horrible. Each meal I want to refuse, but know that I will feel better once I start eating. So hopefully I will lose weight before I start gaining it.

I will take your advice to start watching my diet from day 1. My face is quite thin so maybe a plumper look will be ok. I could always wear a burka