Weight gain in Parkinson’s

I have been diagnosed now for about 3.5 years. I am doing well and medications seem to be keeping my symptoms under control. 

There is one issue that I really do need to be mindful of and that is my weight. Having seen my parents with Parkinson’s go through physical and psychological changes, I think has very much influenced how I react to having PD.

Both my parents had about 20 years with PD – give or take a year or two – and both lost significant weight along the way. I know my Mum had struggled to lose weight over the years, trying various diets but like me, she wasn’t always successful in losing the extra weight.

I am currently the largest I have ever been. Part of the issue is that due to a bung knee I have not been able to exercise much at all. I had said to my husband that I want to have lost some weight before I return to work for many reasons. Most importantly, it is not healthy to be overweight and I already have significant health issues that won’t be helped by being overweight.

I know that it is not healthy and would like to address this, but it is like I have a little voice in my head sometimes, telling me that – like my parents – eventually PD will make me lose weight. It is a feeling of ‘why bother’ to lose weight when ultimately PD will make that happen anyway. It probably is true that that will be what happens, but in the interim I really need to take better care of myself. I think I have been comfort eating and also eating out of boredom due to being limited to what I can do in the way of exercise. As much as I tell myself I need to be more aware of what I eat and avoid sweet treats, I am really not helping myself at the moment. I can’t stand being bored and sitting around on my own when my husband is at work. I love to bake and I especially bake when I am bored. This is usually managed by getting my baking fix but taking the end result into work. As I am not working at the moment, if I bake we eat it!

I have read on the Facebook Page that I follow that some people have experienced weight gain with PD. Perhaps they have the same issues as me? 

I know apathy is also a part of PD. Perhaps it is apathy making me lack the motivation to lose weight? Logical me knows I have to lose weight, but apathetic me seems to be losing the battle. I know logically that I need to reduce my intake and increase my activity, but actually sorting myself out is easier said than done. It is hard to resist cakes and muffins and other sweet treats to have with my coffee. My husband and I both like sweet things, so we are both as bad as each other.

Hopefully, I will be able to sort this weighty problem out soon and start to live more healthily, which in turn hopefully will aid me in losing weight.