I thought I’d write about the biggest challenge I’m faced with right now. Weight loss. The only barrier I have to qualify for transplant, at the moment, is my weight. It sounds easy, just lose the weight, right? Well, it’s hard and it takes time to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

I’ve never been naturally thin. I’ve always had to watch what I eat and exercise to maintain my weight but after years of prednisone, I was at my highest weight and I felt like a completely different person. I really dug in and began my weight loss journey in December in order to start lowering my BMI in preparation for transplant.

The first thing, negotiate with the doctors to taper me off prednisone. This drug was a huge contributor to my weight gain. It makes you feel like eating all the time. I also got Moon Face, another side effect of the drug, in which your face gets very round.

The second thing, adjust my diet. The biggest part of weight loss is what you are eating. Meeting with a nutritionist at the hospital was fine, but really nothing new and mind blowing came out of it. Eat less and move more, something I think deep down we all know. For me it was about introducing more protein into my diet, lowering (not eliminating) carbs, and loading up on fresh vegetables. Fruit is a fine option too, but I have to mindful of my sugar intake. I already drank a lot of water, so that has continued. I also began drinking protein shakes. The nutritionist I saw recommended Premiere Protein shakes because they are low in calories but high in protein. You can get them at Costco! Chocolate and Carmel are my go to flavors.

Another huge element was being able to exercise safely and fully. Pulmonary Rehab has been life changing for me. I’ll do another blog post on it soon, but it really has been one, if not the main, factor in my weight loss success. I attend 3-4 days per week and with an oxygen mask I can walk swiftly on the treadmill (at a sizeable incline) and use the elliptical on 15-25 liters with little issue. Of course, some days are better than others, but that’s the way the ball bounces with this disease.

I’ve been able to lose close to 50 pounds since December. I still have about 20 more to go. It is getting harder but I’m determined. My life depends on it.