Weight Gain On Ant-Inflammatories

[willowe]

Hi All,
I am currently trying to lose about 40lbs and have been enjoying the benefits of Cathe's great workouts. For the last 3-4 weeks, I have been eating very clean, drinking loads of water, exercising 5 times per week (cardio & strength), and I have GAINED 6lbs (It was 4lbs as of last week, but as of this morning another 2lbs have gone on).
I know I shouldn't put so much emphasis on what the scales say, but right now I am really upset and frustrated at this gain, particularly when I am doing everything right!
I have been taking anti-inflammatories for the last 4 weeks (Diclofenac) for a back problem, and am wondering if these could be the culprit. They are also making me feel very tired and a little down.
I guess I'm looking for a sane reason for this weight-gain and am wondering if anyone else had had similar experiences with this type of medication.
Any advice would be welcome, as right now I just feel like giving up.
Thanks in advance,
Kaz.

 

[getnfit@38]

Hi Kaz
No~don't give up, there has to be a logical reason for the weight gain. As Bobbi said in a previous post, if you're maintaining approx. 1500 cal/day, it can't be fat.
I don't have any prior experience/knowledge with anti-inflammatories, but can you check with your pharmacist to see if perhaps water retention is a side effect of your particular prescription? Or call the Dr. him/herself to check on possible side effects?
Also, lighten up on yourself a bit with the 1500 cal/day thing! If it's easy to maintain, go ahead, but we're at about the same weight, I'm 204lbs, and I had to actually increase my intake from 15-1600 cal/day to 17-1800 cal/day in order to have the strength to workout at full capacity, plus I'm actually losing MORE weight eating more cal/day than I did at the lower calorie intake (go figure?)
So after you check out whether or not the gain is due to your prescription, if it isn't, then maybe it's a metabolism thing~like it's slowed down to preserve fat loss since you cut back so sharply to just 1500 cal/day.
Child please~at 200lbs, we need 1500 cal/day just to grow hair!
Let us know what you find out,
Donna

 

[willowe]

Hi Donna,
Thanks for the reply - as always, you put a smile on my face!!
You know, I was having the calorie discussion with DH last night and he was telling me to cut back to 1250 cals a day! I kept trying to explain to him that I am NOT a small person and that I do not want to jeopardize my metabolism and end up feeling tired all the time. However, he remembers me losing 40lbs 3 years ago (when we married) on 1250 cals a day, so he just thinks this is the answer now. He is actually very supportive of me in my quest to lose weight, but I don't think he really understands the "science" of it. Granted, I am not as active in my job now as I was 3 years ago, but I am still doing 5 Cathe workouts per week.
I am going to take your advice and increase my calories to 1700 per day and see what happens. It's funny, the idea of eating more calories goes against everything I have done before - it's going to be a challenge to eat that many!! (hey, it's a hard job, but I'm willing to try!!). Would you be able to share one of your typical day's menu's with me? I'm not sure where I'm going to add the extra calories in, so it would be useful to see an example of what you are doing.
With regard to the AF's, I have spoken to my GP who tells me that there is no evidence to support weight gain when on them. However, I know of several people who have been on them and have gained "water weight".
Thanks again for giving me new inspiration!
Kaz.

 

[prfitness]

I am no expert on any of these matters, but I know that even slightly strong medication makes me bloat. I think it puts a little more stress on the kidney and causes water retention. I find that drinking more water helps. Also I was having the same problem as you - Eating clean, working out well and still gaining a pound or two here and there - I was just stuck in between 130 - 132lbs. Although my reasons for not losing the weight are more complex (I have overtrained myself causing depression and fatigue) - the main culprit was actually my caloric intake. I was on 1,000 calories with no protein. I have recently visited a nutritionist who has upped me to 1,400 calories (for the time being!) with the aim of actually getting me up to 1,600 calories next month. I am only 5 ft 3" and if I need that much I can only imagine that you may need more. Of course we all have different metabolic rates etc. but 1,500 calories is apparently very light eating for those who are lift weights and exercise regularly. I know pyschologically it can be difficult to accept that eating more can help you lose more weight (I struggle with it everyday!) - but it seems to be true. I have been on 1,400 calories for 2 weeks now (with more protein) and a very reduced exercise regime (mostly yoga and pilates)and have already lost 6lbs. So I think Donna is right - 1500 calories does sound pretty low to me. It is probably just enough to digest your meals. Also I think the weighing scale is the most useless piece of equipment ever invented! Although it tells me I am 124 lbs, I felt a lot thinner at 130 lbs. I feel I have lost some muscle definition as I have not been able to do my usual strength training routines. I would let the mirror and a nice tight pair of jeans be the judge of what is happening to your body. It is the flab rather than the pounds that needs to be battled with. I hope my ramblings have helped.

 

[kristina]

Check out:
my.webmd.com/content/article/4046.1614#sideeffects

From my reading of the info on this one, Diclofenac works by lowering hormone levels in the body. One of the possible side effects includes fluid retention. (makes sense.) Soooooo--you are more than likely just retaining fluid. If it doensn't even out soon, or if you keep gaining, call your doc. They may change your scrip or put you on a water pill. Hang in there, you are doing everything right!

 

[getnfit@38]

Hi Kaz,
Here's a sample day for me, as you will see, I start eating first thing in the am! (you know how "they" say inside us all is a little fat girl screaming to come out?" Well, my little fat girl wakes me from a sound sleep every am screaming, 'yo Donna~new day, fresh journal sheet, let's grub girlfriend'"

5am (pre-workout): cup/green tea & nutrigrain bar (140 cal)

8:30am (breakfast): Egg Beaters omelet (2 eggs)w/lean ham and fat free shredded cheddar cheese, wheat toast w/jelly (280 cal)

12:30 (lunch): big salad w/ lettuce, tom, onions, hot peppers, bell pepper, fat free shredded cheddar, (3oz)extra lean ground beef (cooked and crumbled), fat free Italian dressing. Jello fat free pudding w/2T. cool whip free (440 cal)

3:30pm (snack): Breyers fat free Apple pie ala mode yogurt and a banana (225 cal)

7pm (dinner): (3oz) chicken breast, 1c red beans & rice, 1.5c mixed vegetables (broc, corn, peppers blend) (491 cal)

8:30-9pm (tv snack w/hubby): 52 (Sam's Club) pretzels (110 cal)

Caloric total: 1686 calories
*of course, also in there is about 100-120 oz. water (I drink water almost exclusively, except for am green tea, and an occasional fat free Swiss Miss )

This is fairly typical, some days are better fiber days, I usually try to keep the fat intake to 25% and my fiber intake at at least 30g.
Let me know if you want anymore examples
I seem to like talking about eating almost as much as actually eating!
I've now come to the conclusion that my "little inner fat girl" will be with me the rest of my life, so I might as well learn to live with her!
Donna

 

[willowe]

Thanks so much for all your support!

Donna - sounds like you are eating great - that example gives me something to work on calorie-wise. Like you, I am at my hungriest first thing in the morning - my IFG (inner fat girl) usually slaps me round the face and drags me out of bed by the hair (he he)!!

prfitness - I'm sorry you've had such a difficult time! Sounds like you're really getting there now, though - good for you! You are so right about the scales - it's stupid that we let an object like that dictate how we feel about ourselves. And I think you and Donna are right about the calories - I am 6ft tall, so I'm sure I need more than 1500 a day, and have now increased to 1700.

Kristina - thanks for the link - I'm heading over there to have a look now. My hormones have always been finely balanced (even taking Evening Primrose upsets my "balance"), so if Diclofenac has an effect on the hormones this would explain why I have been so weepy and low.

I've spoken with my GP again, and decided (for now) to stop taking the AF's as of yesterday - and wouldn't you know, I was up 5 times in the night peeing!! I thought I had Niagara Falls flowing through me at one point!!

Thanks again for all your wonderful advice and support!
Kaz.