hi,
I'm new to the group, and I'm trying to read enough to figure out who is
 into the flame wars, and who will be good for advising me. So far,
it's a lot less flame based than many other groups.

I spent most of my childhood battling the pudgy kid look. As a gal in my
twenties I slimmed down and dropped to a size five, staying that way for
nearly fifteen years. When I hit thirty five, I started developing signs
of a genetic illness, and ended up gaining nearly seventy pounds. I'm
five foot three, (okay 5-2 and a half). Three years ago, I dropped
sixty-three of the seventy pounds. I was able to keep all of it off,
fortunately with little effort. It almost seemed that perimenopausal me
was destined to be thinner.
Then I got put on prednisone. I gained twenty pounds while on it, and
then dropped fifteen, slowly, after getting off of it. Now I'm on
specific pain and other medications, and I see that I've been steadily
gaining at least two pounds a month in the last few months.

I've cut WAY back on portions, and I've got an appointment with a
nutritionist. Because of my illness, I'm losing ability to use my
joints, and exercise is limited to isometrics and non-weight bearing
strenghtening physical therapy. I'm getting married in April, and I want
 to get back to my "I feel great at this weight" feeling. That may mean
I'm a size five again, or it may mean a seven. It just means I don't
want to feel overweight and I don't want the joints to feel worse
because I've gained so much on this medication.

I know twenty pounds doesn't sound like a lot to most people, but on
someone my frame, it's enormous. Any advice, help, and encouragement
anyone can offer, I'm all for. I'll do the same.
Thanks

Cathe