Weight Gain and MS

Okay, I'm obese. Well, according to my doctor's lovely chart, I'm obese.  I was recently invited, well, no told, to visit a weight management clinic.  New medical insurance, new rules.  So when in Rome blah, blah, blah. Now, mind you, I have never had issues with my weight until 2006.  The year 2006 was a really bad year for me.  My father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and I didn't want to live if he wasn't going to be here.  So, I gave up, hoping the MS would take over and just take me home.  With that being said, my MS progressed rapidly and I was on oral steroids and intravenous steroids roughly once every three months.  And I was on the regimen for roughly four and a half years.  My grief had taken over, but, for some reason, God kept waking me up and making me fight.  

Now, the side effects of steroids are truly terrible.  Steroids cause difficulty in sleeping, increased appetite, anxiety, heart racing, nervousness, increased sweating, mood swings and water retention. Now ofcourse with the concentrated or intravenous steroids, solumedrol, the side effects are increased.  Steroids also alter your metabolic rate.  This metabolic rate does not reset itself for six months after you are OFF of steroids.  Now, in my case, my metabolic rate and body never readjusted itself because every three months I was on oral and intravenous steroids.  So, there the ruse.

So, I say that because due to all the steroids that was keeping me alive, trying to stave on the progressing MS, (which now I am secondary progressive), I am the first time in my life considered obese.  This term means that my BMI is over 30, 32.1 to be exact.  Now, my new health insurance wants to stop this before it gets worse. That I understand. With obesity comes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc., which all cost the insurance company more money.  So, when they see an opportunity to nip things in the bud, they go all out.  

So, I have seen my weight management doctor.  He kind of gave me a look like, "What the hell are you doing here?", but continued with his presentation.  He totally finally heard the struggles that I have been going through since the passing of my Daddy and the reason for the weight gain.  I mean, it's not like I was just pigging out all day everyday! I mean, come on.!! He said that what I was eating was okay, just needed to be tweaked, but let me know that he expected weight loss.  Well, heck, so do I!  So, I have been on my weight management new eating regimen.  I am watching my carb grams, making sure they are well below 60 grams.  I have to tell you, I thought MS makes you weak.  MS, plus hardly any or no bread, pasta, rice and sugar  equals Carla about to pass the hell out. But, it's all for a good cause.  I am also helping my little girl lose a few pounds.  Her weight is over what it should be, so she eats what Mommy eats, or doesn't each.  However way you look at it.  I expect big things.  I just don't expect any energy.  Oh, well.  I will keep you all posted.