Brief Answer:
Hello and Welcome to HCM! I need more information, please

Detailed Answer: XXXXXXX This is not an uncommon occurence when taking Prednisone. I can help you with all of these issues. Prednisone is a steroid with a side-effect of weight gain and edema, so part of your weight gain is water and that can be quickly lost.

The first place is your waist size and exercise. It is often said that you cannot "target" where you lose weight, but you can. And, stomach fat is metabolically active, meaning it will cause you greater trouble with high blood lipids and/or blood sugar. I have pictures of exercises you can do for all body parts, including the waist, on my website at http://www.pinterest.com/kathyshattler under my Fitness Board and you can see what you are able to do.
Here are some basics: 1) squeeze your abdominal muscles and hold 5 seconds and release. Do this ten times every day. 2) Do tummy tucks lying flat on the bed ( I noted your age and don''t want you to lose balance by doing this on the floor), pull your abdomen up towards your chin pressing your lower back to the floor. If you don't feel the tuck you aren't doing it correctly. Do ten times. 3) standing up reach one arm as high to the ceiling as you can and reach up and over to the opposite side stretching the lateral muscles, do ten times and repeat the other side to tone down love handles. These are good warm-up exercises that target the stomach. I have others in my Fitness Board, let me know if you are able to access my site and find the pictures. Enlarge, print out. Cardiovascular exercises for weight loss should be started - walking briskly 30 minutes a day to start is a suggestion, but tell me what you are interested in and I can give more specific ideas. Your dr. needs to clear your heart for any exercise program.

Diet wise to lose weight I will need your height and weight to provide calorie calculations. Essentially, belly fat will respond to a reduction in overall fat like any other part in the body(i.e. eating fried foods, bacon, fast foods, restaurant foods) but also to SUGAR and too many carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, pasta) and alcohol.

You have already told me you eat because you are actually hungry meaning there is growling in your stomach because it feels empty or because you are thinking of food and want to eat? Please describe specifically. Do you crave certain foods when you are hungry? What are they if so?

If you were my patient, I would first of all advise you to restrict your sodium to between 1500 mg -2300 mg per day which is about 1 tsp of sodium chloride, or salt, per day. That will help reduce the edema or water retention that usually accompanies prednisone.I suggest the DASH diet to guide patients in lowering sodium in their diets.

You need to increase your protein with prednisone, so suggest lean proteins, can tell you how much when you send me the info I am going to ask for.

You are probably vitamin D deficient, suggest a lab or supplement with D3, 400-800 mg depending on the amount of fortified milk you drink. Your doctor may recommend an even higher dose.Prednisone increases the need for D. It also increases your need for K, A, C and you might want to have your potassium checked (do not ever supplement yourself as this can be dangerous to take on your own). Avoid grapefruit on prednisone.

Please send me a height, weight, any labs you have, doctors diet order if he gave you one and let me know your usual diet and I will try to help you out more with your nutritional plan.

I will be waiting for your reply, further information and any further questions you may have.
Respectfully, XXXXXXX Shattler, MS,RDN

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Brief Answer:
Yes it will work fine for me

Detailed Answer:
I noted you are in Canada. It is 3:58 pm right now where I am. I will most likely be available until 6 pm most days including weekends.
Be Happy, XXXXXXX

PS, Try and access my website to let me know if you could find any exercises for you.

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Brief Answer:
Any news on your glasses yet?

Detailed Answer:
HCM is telling me I have to respond to your last reply. Please write them about this as you only get so many queries with your question on a gp portal. XXXXXXX

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Brief Answer: XXXXXXX I just want you to get your moneys worth

Detailed Answer:
When we chat the computer `counts it as a question. I am in no hurry, but the computer will lock me out from helping others if I have an outstanding gp query that doesn't have an answer attached to it.

Computers! I bet you feel the same way as I do, sometimes they can be helpful but basically they are pretty stupid.

If you have trouble getting any questions through to me, just complain to the company. We will get it straight eventually.

I have given you so much information to digest. I look forward to you getting your glasses. Smile and be happy! Oh, I am out of the office on Monday but will be here Sat., Sun., Tuesday.

Respectfully, XXXXXXX J. Shattler, MS,RDN

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