Losing circumference and weight with lipedema legs

By Tatjana van der Krabben

Losing weight from your legs and losing circumference on your legs. Despite having lipedema. Can it be done? Many say no. Some say yes. Now, what is it? It’s individual, that’s what it is. It’s always individual cases of people saying they managed to lose weight and they do it with very personal, customized regimes.

But what makes weight-loss in lipedema legs possible for some?

There are 3 factors that we know of. If you’re lucky one or more of these factors could help you reduce mass on your legs (and lipedema arms).

Inflammation

Although still not broadly supported, and certainly not in literature, it is believed that lipedema flares up with inflammation. With inflammation not only comes pain and fatigue, but also swelling. If you manage to reduce inflammation, you may be able to reduce the swelling. You’ll mostly shift water weight and toxins, but as a big added bonus you’ll feel better for it, too.

We don’t respond all alike to inflammatory factors. Some of us have cut out so many foods, additives and allergens they are clueless what else could possibly be causing the remaining inflammation. Others drop bread and sugar to a degree and shed pounds instantly. No, fairness is not on the table in the lipedema world.

An untreated serious edema component

If you have lipo-lymphedema or a strong edema component with your lipedema for another reason and you haven’t started treatment for that, there’s a lot to gain. Or to lose, actually. The more edema you have, the more water weight could be shifted.

Could, because the edema component is there for a reason. If you’re prone to swelling, it won’t magically disappear with (self) management. Or perhaps you can’t afford treatment or don’t have access to proper treatment. It takes hard work and more so dedication, but with untreated edema there’s usually margin for improvement there.

Amount of lipedema tissue in your legs

The top two factors I was aware of. But this one was an eye opener:

We don’t all have the same amount of lipedema tissue in our limbs.

As explained to me in a presentation by a therapist specialized in lipedema: some of us are lucky and still have a good amount of normal fat cells in their legs. That would be good news since normal fat cells do what the fat police wants: they do respond to diet and exercise. And there’s your personal margin for improvement. Assuming your thyroid is on top of his game and you’re physically able to exercise and, and…

Unfortunately all these factors are highly individual. This makes good results with diet, exercise, supplements and what not also highly individual. “Because I did it” is not proof you can lose lipedema weight. Most likely, if you have lost weight, you lost water weight and/or normal, unaffected fat, which is great, of course. Even if you don’t care too much about your size, dragging less weight around with you is always easier. It also may very well be a sign you are not only managing your weight, but also your lipedema in a way you experience less symptoms.

I would say (self) management of lipedema matters always. Whether you manage to drop weight or not. There are other things to gain from lipedema management: less discomfort, less pain, less fatigue and improved mobility. As I get older I must say I value these factors more than that number on my scales.