"The Flare-Up Follies: Gaining Weight and Perspective"

The Rollercoaster of Weight Gain with Autoimmune Flares.🎢

Oh, the glamorous life of managing an #autoimmune condition! You know, those misunderstood diseases where your body decides it's its own worst enemy. As if handling #flares wasn’t enough of a party, #weightgain sometimes joins in. Here's a little light-hearted take on the ups and downs of this delightful duo.

Ups…literally!

Let’s start with the ‘ups’

And we're not just talking about the number on the #scale. Autoimmune flare-ups come with their unique personalities. Some days they make you feel just special enough to remind you who’s boss. You know you love it when your body swells up like a balloon at your very own pity party! Forget water retention in a vase - your body is now the blimp for a water parade!

Who can ignore the side effects of some medications? Corticosteroids, for instance, are the ultimate #frenemy. Sure, they keep #inflammation at bay, but they’re also generous in #gifting those cherished extra pounds, too. Like that friend pushing cookies at you when she knows your on a diet… we all know someone like that. 

It’s like getting a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Who doesn’t love a bargain?😩

Downs…or so they say

Now, don’t be fooled. 

These so-called ‘downs’ can actually be their ups in disguise. #Fatigue from flares ensures you skip gym sessions effortlessly. Who needs #legday when your bed beckons you into its cozy embrace? The couch becomes your #BFF, and let’s face it, why break a sweat when the world series of #napping awaits? I’m a gold medal competitor!🥇

Now let’s talk diet.

With unpredictable symptoms, healthy #mealprep sure sounds like a riveting hobby – said no one ever. When flares strike suddenly, dinner is often a sophisticated choice between cereal or last night’s leftovers. Cue sarcastic applause for another culinary victory.

Hence... this why your freezer is your friend. With large batch meal preps, you don’t have to think, just grab, heat and eat.

Finding Balance: The Silver Lining

All sarcasm aside.

Balancing weight and autoimmunity is a skill not as easy as it seems. Understanding how different foods and activities affect your body, and managing stress, can be lifelines through this chaos.

Over the last 18 months I have been dealing with my own flare and am finally coming out the other side. I was stubborn and stuck to my diet and medication plan. I added different exercise routines and even tried a few experimental medical treatments. I went up 20 pounds and back down 15…

All I can say is I never stop trying to get better. There is still a lot of life left I want to live if I continue to have the privilege to do so. It's one of the reasons I started doing this job. Helping people like me gives me even more reasons to learn all the latest developments and read the newest research.

Remember, the goal isn’t to fit an ideal but to find what makes you feel good. Maybe it’s about finding exercise that doesn’t feel like a medieval torture method. Or perhaps it's about pizzas in moderation without that side order of guilt. Find your humor, find your groove, and maybe—just maybe—find some peace in this wild ride.

Because, at the end of the day, humor might not cure your condition, but it does make the journey far more bearable. So, laugh often and live well, because if you’re going to be riding this rollercoaster, you might as well enjoy the view!

#AutoimmuneLife #FlareUpFun #ChronicLife #BodyPositivity #HumorHeals #WeightGainWoes #FindingBalance #LaughThroughPain #InflammationStation #RollercoasterJourney