Hi, everyone!!

First off, I want to wish everyone good luck on their weight loss goals!! But the reason I am here is because I need some motivation to get me going. Here's the rundown on what's going on...

In April 2008, I was diagnosed with lupus, an auto-immune disease. I mean, I've been on the heavy side majority of my life and weight loss never seemed to work for me so I stopped caring. But now, my weight is becoming a problem. To make matters worse, I have to take corticosteriods for my sickness, which causes me to gain weight as well. I'm very embarrassed about it. I just turned 18 at the beginning of March and I weight 252 pounds!! That is completely ridiculous if you ask me. I live in North Carolina and I'm going to University of Central Florida (in Orlando) in the fall and I want to start losing weight so I can comfortably adjust to the Florida lifestyle. When I was first sick, I was placed on a low-sodium diet, and I must admit that it worked. But then I had ONE chinese slip-up and then it was like I couldn't get back on the diet anymore, no matter how hard I tried. I don't want to turn to diet pills or patches. I want to lose weight the healthy way but I'm becoming desperate. I don't know what else to do and i just need a few words of encouragement to get me through this rough spot in my journey. Hopefully someone can help me :]

sincerely,
Victoria

Welcome to the forum! You'll be able to find plenty of support here, however, having lupus, it may be harder to make diet suggestions and exercise suggestions, depending on how serious your lupus is. I had typed up a much longer welcome here for you, but right as I got to the end of it, my internet browser conveniently shit the bed. Either way, my suggestion would be to start an every day walking regiment for 30 minutes, a quicker-than-normal walking speed will get your heart rate going, and minimize impact on your joints. As far as a diet, I'd just try to stay at or lower than 1300 Calories a day (and make sure those calories are HEALTHY calories!). Just as much, if cutting back on the sodium helps you out, I believe that means you are also storing water (a side effect of the corticosteroids?), which may look like fat, but isn't (I'm not an expert, but I try to stay lower sodium as well).

I hope this helps, but for someone in your situation, it is wisest to seek the help of a professional in order to find out what is best for you to try and maintain a healthy weight. Which you most likely have done already, but again, it may be difficult for people to make diet suggestions, not knowing if they will work because of the corticosteroids you must take. Best of luck to you!

i agree w/ the walking part, just to get moving...but you'll probably need more than 1300 calories a day to start out. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

How DARE you question me! Yeah you are probably right actually, she may need upwards of 1800 Calories actually, and there is a chance she may need even more than that, but there is also the hormone medication to consider, it could be slowing down her metabolism, or leaving it alone. I don't know too much about lupus. There is a lot to consider.

well thanks for the things that you ARE saying. it makes sense. my doctor isn't really recommending much but the low sodium diet thing but the fatigue from the medicine is a bummer. Hopefully, i'll find the strength from somewhere to get my goal accomplished

ha, sorry, had to. yeah i was thinking somewhere of 1800-2000 calories, at least to start out, then lowered as she continues to lose weight. i don't know much about lupus either. i was just assuming as long and she sticks with the low sodium diet, like her doctor requires, and she is able to get in that many calories with the low sodium diet, then that seems to be the answer.