Starting WW tomorrow ! Anyone else on it ?

trigeek

Starting WW tomorrow ! Anyone else on it ?

Callygee

I thought you were talking about WW Tomorrow=

Watch Weight Tomorrow OR World War Tomorrow ...?

can we call it chemo brain? Done with chemo 12 days ago.

Looking ahead to mastx, rads & DIEP reconstruction.

I tried and succeeded in gaining weight for DIEP - bad idea.

Now DIEP is potponed til after radx - next year!

Don't know if I can take it. Meantime -

NO FAIL weight loss for me: close to macrobiotic and/or

cancer diet suggested by Patrick Quillen.

His book, Beating Cancer with Nutrition got me down to fighting weight in no time.

paige-allyson

Good timing! I started back on WW today and could use some ongoing encouragement/mutual support. I have been successful with WW and have lost 23 pounds in the last year. This week I have had a minor setback and am +2 pounds and need to get back on track. My goal is to lose another 10-15, not GAIN weight. Something must have been in the air yesterday- ate 5 big sugar cookies (for me this is a binge). Made me feel out of control which I don't like. I hadn't planned to eat them.

I also use the Beck Diet Solution along with WW- helps with the psychological/behavioral part of the game. Today I was in control. It helps me to write out my meal plan the night before, with all the points calculated so there's no guessing and no fooling myself.

Cally I like the close to macrobiotic approach but with fewer carbs, more vegs.

Allyson

trigeek

Cally Patrick Quillens book is in the mountain of books that I am supposed to read, better bump it up to the top.

Allyson one of my lobular sisters ! Yey lets do it together misery loves company right ?

April 1 : Startingweight : 163 pounds !

The weight watchers tools system seems to have evolved since a couple of years ago have a ton of reading to do.

I am sooo psyched out that I do not even want to binge !

Callygee

Go ladies, I know you can have the will to get that strong physical feeling!

Spring is here (or is supposed to be) and that will make it all easier.



Even though I'm not doin' WW, you've inspired me to weigh in tomorrow

am. Thanks! I need SOMETHING positive right now - feeling pretty depressed

about how long this will all go on... can't have DIEP they say (today) til next year.

Hope I won't lose the stomach I have but I've gotta feel physically strong again!

I'll check out The Beck diet - never heard of that one.



What do you aim for - 2 lbs/week?

paige-allyson

Aylin- I am psyched to have someone to do this with. I've tried to buddy up in the past but couldn't seem to find any one else who wanted to do it. I'm like you. I get excited about new projects- the more challanging the better. So now we are lobular, WW, tri sisters (I am doing tri training for the Danskin in MA this summer- not a practiced tri person like you). It will no doubt help to ditch the extra weight. I am starting at 130.4- gained a couple of pounds by not being so careful these last two or three weeks, but I am back on track. My goal weight is 116. I am pretty familiar with current WW tools so if you have questions you can try me.

Cally- Cally you're another stage III sister- great that we are teaming up to support one another. We can be goddesses together this summer AND cut our risk of recurrence . The Beck Diet Solution (you can check out the website www.beckdietsolution.com ) is not a diet. It teaches you the mental and behavioral skills to be a successful dieter. I highly recommend it. A lot of my success in the last year I attribute to following the Beck approach in combination with Weight Watchers. I had used WW many times with some success could never stick with it. Beck gave me the stick with it skills and helped me to change some of my self defeating behaviors. A good example is how I am dealing with this first setback of gaining a couple of pounds. I am getting right back on track by reviewing the skills and following them to a T. If I lose 2 pounds a week that's a lot- I am a slow loser- maybe a pound a week is more realistic (for me). I think 2 pounds a week is usually considered both realistic and healthy for most people. We'll see, maybe I'll surprise myself.

Callygee

Thanks for the sorely needed support - focusing on health,. exercise & diet has so far helped

me stay away from the negativity & fear. Tho' biggest struggle now for me yet -

I'm weighin' in at 151 today.



Did anyone have a mastx? or time in between surgery & reconstrux, It scares me that I'll have psychic damage from the scar visual & wait - maybe I'm just projecting.



Thanks for the Beck reference.

I'm going to run the dogs on the muddy trails now...

then eat some seaweed (Hijiki) salad (it's great) & think of you gentle warriors!

paige-allyson

I had mast with no reconstruction. The scar visual I can deal with although don't care for the extra fleshiness under my arm. Just back from my ellipitical workout- lots of wind here today and my husband convinced me to workout indoors- he was afraid a tree branch might take me out if I went for a run. Feel free to share you Hijiki salad recipe- I love seaweed and always up for an new spin on it.

Happy trails.

NYJanet

I've been a WW lifetime member for about 10 years (lost 30 lbs.)  Kept most of it off until diagnosed with DCIS in 2/04.  Gained back about 20 back (chocolate cookies were very comforting).  I started back on the program fully after I completed rads at the same time the WW came out with their CORE program.  I found I was very successful with that program and immediately lost the 20 lbs I had gained, plus an addition 6. I've since put on some (which I partially blame on Tamoxifen).  To anyone just starting out on the WW programs I would highly recommend the CORE program.  If you can't handle the strictness of the CORE, try adding the CORE foods to your program while counting the points (that's what I've been doing lately).  Hope this might help any one new to the WW program.

Tigwin

I started WW about two years ago and lost 25 lbs the first year and have kept it off for now.  Just diagnosed three weeks ago, started chemo yesterday and surgery in October.  I am starting to really think about what I put in my mouth to feel strong and better.  The first thing I did was throw out anything I knew should not be in my home. Then I went grocery shopping trying to find good foods to eat to feel strong and combat the hunger of Decadron and nausea.  I am hoping to drop 30 lbs by October. 

The next step is to try and walk power walk what ever I can do every day.  This is to help keep me regulated and strong during chemo....off to the treadmill.....

Who else is exercising today????

Shari

Callygee

I run/walk our 2 dogs on some trails. Lots of up/down hill.

I try to do at least 30 min/day. I'm just coming back from my last chemo !!! Hooray!!,

so I didn't exercise for a while. I am certain that exercising while doing chemo made it easier to deal with. I also ate lots of berries, brown rice, drank A LOT of water, with lemon when I lost my taste for water, then water w/a little juice added. Also, fish, caulifower, broccoli & the biggest nutritional help for me: juicing daily with romaine, celery & beets!

trigeek

Had a major slip gals arghhh... Wednesday night had a particularly insistent hot flash ( I was sweating profusely for at least 10 minutes ) I got up.. tried everything to get me to relax ( including sex hehe ) then ate a ww english muffin with feta cheese so far so good right ?

Then.. I remembered THERE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATE !

I went online chatting with the bc sisters eating my chocolate at the same time sampling different tastes, and before I knew I had eaten my whole 35 flex points for the week and plus a couple more.

Darn.. went back on it again and did not do any damage on thursday but going out of town so we'll see how that'll go.

I am still hopeful that I will show some loss since it is my 1st week.

Oh and my pre-chemo borderline cholesterol seems to have went sky high to around 253 ! have a doc appointment monday, that also will give me some umpphhh.. to stick with the plan.

Happy fridays !

Aylin

Callygee

Well good, you got it out of your system and now you're done for a while!

Hope it was good chocolate. (or is it all good?)



I was doing great, took our kids' godmother out to dinner tonight.

Had a glass of wine & 2/3 of a fabulous Belgian choc custard mousse ....

the taste was great, the memory fabulous but my stomach doesn't feel so good...



Tomorrow I'm back on. It's spring so it should be easier, right?



My challenge: knowing when & how much to feed my lions

before they consume me...



I'll weigh in again april 9.



Good luck all

KariLynn

Aylin,

Don't beat yourself up - flex are there to use.  I did WW a couple of years ago and had great results.  Earn a few extra activity points - I exercise to eat was my motto!!

catbert4209

Great timing!  I have just started back on WW, too!

Let's go for it--healthy eating habits, exercise and feeling great!

Cat 

paige-allyson

Janet- I also find it really helpful to focus on the Core foods- basically do the "plan B" you suggested- mainly core but counting points. The other thing I find helpful is that I factor in 5 bonus points each day- starting the day with 25 points. I learned that this works better for me psychologically- I don't feel deprived as I do with just the 20. For bonus points I just use exercise earnings. (I second you on exercise to eat Kari!)

 Aylin- great that you got right back on track for Thursday. Re" going out of town. I find with these things that the more I plan the better chance I have of making good choices. I try to  think ahead of where I'll be eating and what healthy options are available. I also pack food so that I don't find myself in a situation where I need to eat convenience store or fast food out of desparation.

Cally- I'll be here for the April 9th weigh in. When did you finish chemo?  Lions?

Cat- Which plan are you doing?

I have stayed on track except for going 3 pts over yesterday. I had not had enough sleep and worked per diem at the hospital. I ended up eating one small package of dark chocolate covered raisins and one slice of very healthy banana cranberry bread that were not part of my plan. Both of these are foods I LOVE and I am a "fatigue eater"- tiredness/lack of sleep is probably my #1 trigger for overeating. I just read an article about this topic- lack of sleep increases hunger by altering levels of substances in the body that regulate appetite. Had a good sleep last night so I should be fine going out to lunch today - going to a Japanese restaurant which is also safe for me.

Callygee

Okay- April 9th weigh in for me:

Started 151, I'm 149.

How are y'all doing?

Lost 2 lbs. Almost like a cheat b'cause I gained before I started.

Mastx surgery 4/22 - I hope to "buff up" for surgery.

Next weigh in, 4/16. Then comes Passover seder- 14 relatives coming here for the feast -

& eating for socializtion... I'm taliking to myself already...

have control, have control....

Cally

trigeek

Cally right on target !!

"My challenge: knowing when & how much to feed my lions
before they consume me... " that seems to be the key.

I am on the flex plan trying to stick to core food.  

Well gals my mom visiting ( I love her dearly but I need my space in the house which does not quite happen when she was visiting), going out of town for the weekend and sleepless nights ( due to nightflashes) did me in last week and I had more binge attacks.

First weigh in on April 1 was 164 ( home scale was 163)

April 8 weigh in 164.6.. which I am quite happy about cause I ate everything that was not moving and had high sugar/cal value .

I am back on track today I WILL LOSE THE STUPID 20 POUNDS I GAINED, my mom left I discovered Ambien CR ( YEY ! the only med that lets me sleep through my nightsweats),so getting things under control slowly will bump up my activity level - depending on how fatigued I am ( I will start rads boost tomorrow so will be done with the rads on the 21st yey !! 25 sessions done 8 to go )

Cat, Allyson how are you gals doing ? ( and everyone else )

Callygee

Hey Trigeek!



Glad you're holding steady - even in the turmoil!



Did you know about spicy food, caffeine & booze adding to hot flashes?



Also, I'm looking at rads after mastx & hoping to get & stay fit.

Can you tell me side effects of your rads. I know I am a low-NRG/

tired eater--- see those sugars, the sirens calling me for that quick pick me up

quick slam me down, yummmmm. I hear rads make one tired????

I hope for 25 instead of 30.



You will lose those 20 lbs!!! I can hear it!!! How bout 4 at a time?

happy spring (up har in these northern parts)

trigeek

Cally that is exactly what I do low-NRG/ tired eating), my counselor ( which I was going to previously) said that I was trying to eat to stay up, energized.

CONGRATS on the 2 pounds !

I hardly drink at all, cut off all caffeine and do not usually eat spicy. I am trying to find consolation in the fact that since my night sweats are so bad this must mean that any hormone dependent c cells must also be starving  too !  

The other day I was slowly eating/worshipping a Milky Way thinking that how the pleasure I get out of biting slowly into the chocolate shell into the soft caramel was almost as much pleasure that I have doing ...  I know this is sick, but what can I do, I just feel that way !!! wrong wiring at one point in childhood I guess.

Interestingly I gained about 6-7 during rads one would think otherwise. I also slowed down my workouts because I think that we need to direct all our bodies' resources to recover from the radiation.

First week of radiation I felt fatigue and got nausea.Then I was ok on the 2nd 3rd 4th weeks. Also got into a depressed mode which I do not have a clue why !!! since the end of treatment was in sight, but I heard this happened. It has been a long haul ( diagnosed August 1, bilatera mastec w recon Aug 31, chemo until jan 11, expander exchange surgery feb 14, start rads march 6)

dang ! thinking about it, it is like being pregnant ( 9 months !!! ) with the weight gain lol.

Then the fatigue went away, however starting last week ( towards the end of the 4th week ) I have to take a nap almost everyday. I am listening to my body and not forcing it.

Discovered etools, they are pretty cool !

Yeah luckily the passover is at sisinlaws next saturday so I do not need to get exposed to the yummy cooking.

Please do not skimp on the protein you are going into surgery and you need all the good quality stuff to recover quickly !

Callygee

Okay - I'll order a case of Milky Ways please.

I also started August 07. They got my dx mixed up.

So I still have mast, rads & recon ahead. Had chemo, lumpec. chemo.

With all the luck & quick healing each step, I may be able

to have 1st step DIEP before this year is out. (Would help

w/calendar yr. out of pocket too). I feel like I may have the

more likeable, pleasant part of my personality back when I get

to the other side. Then again, I'll bet summer will really help.



Thanks for the rads info. I'm on to the proteins & lots of veggies.

Can't wait to get my seeds in the ground. Worked to clean the garden a bit today.



You're almost done!!!! Go woman go!!!

paige-allyson

Cally good going on the weight loss exactly as predicted. My results seem a little closer to yours Trigeek. I was resistering a loss of about 1 pound up until weigh in day- today- when I weighed in at 130.6, 0.2 over my start weight of 130.4. Grrr. I was very much on track today though- stayed in my points range, got 3 points of exercise in (power yoga and a 40 minute walk despite working an 8hour plus day).

Aylin (sp?) so great you are almost done with rads! Cally. I didn't have much trouble with rads- just fatigue at the end which lasted until mid February (finished rads on 12/18 I think).

I will have to catch up with you guys on Fri. I just got home from work and have to go to bed so I can get up at 5:30am  to go work some more. Yes there is life after bc treatment. Re: up coming sedars- my daughter is hosting one on the 19th. I will be checking out the menu with her this week and planning ahead re: what I will eat. I don't do the alcohol so that's a big calorie saver. I fully intend to enjoy the meal without going wild. Actually the menu is usually pretty healthy so I am not too concerned. Definitely will have the matzo ball soup and the dessert- daughter is making herself an almond/matzo flour birthday cake- her birthday is the 18th. 

Sweet dreams and happy working out and point counting!

paige-allyson

Bumping up and update. I weighed in at 129.2 this morning. I know the official weigh in was Wednesday but I was pleased to see the loss and had to share. I am still on track as far as staying within points- a little odd/irregular with the eating yesterday due to a family crisis but stayed in control with the food. Okay- accidentally changed to italic and it won't switch back- grrr. I actually had the foresight to pack some healthy snacks before going to deal with troubled stepdaughter at college on a moments notice. I decompressed before bed with a Rodney Yee yoga workout- semi- helped. Today I had cortisone injections into my shoulder and knee and am semi-incapacited by the shoulder pain and stiffness but looking forward to good results (at least in the shoulder- the knee is a little trickier with some torn cartilage- yet another great reason to keep the weight down).

Aylin, Cally, others, how are you all doing?

unlimited

Ok Girls  -- I LOVE to Join you with the WW Journey ---  I joined WW on Thursday March 27 ....... 1 st weigh in Lost 2.4 .... yesterday weigh-in April 10 down another 1.6 pounds  - so thus far  lost 4 pounds  wooooooohoooooooooo  LOL

I think this WW and using the POINT system will actually be the key to my success -- I started to excercise at Curves 5 days a week .....  vs 2-3 times as in the past ----always blamed my under-active thyroid for my struggles with weight -- and now the Tamoxifen weight/ fluid gain -- really prompted me -- to DO SOMETHING for MYSELF         I hope to be down 25 pounds by end of June----- 40 pounds by Labor day --- are my goals .....

I can't share my starting weight  .  ....   grrrrrrrrrr  NEVER should have allowed myself to get to THAT NUMBER   lol .......

Good Luck to all of you -   my weigh-ins are on Thursday ---- 

trigeek

Allyson you are a trooper ! Staying in control in crisis, you are definitely on a strong track.

Unlimited CONGRATS, 4 pounds is awesome,

I am still slipping gals but be sure that I will join you asap, I am at the home stretch for rads ( doing the boosts 6 more to go ) am on Ambien CR for sleeping( only med that makes me sleep through hot flashes but does not somehow give me the rested feeling) working full time, my mother just left from her 3 week visit which was nice but tiring and my dad is coming tomorrow, my car died so had to do emergency car shopping.. ok stopping whining. In a nutshell the little willpower I have gets eroded with the constant fatigue.

But overall LIFE IS GOOD !!! Keep on the good work I will be joining you shortly

Oh and the best news is Paxton ( from bc forum) is coming over tomorrow and I will get to meet her, she was my September chemo buddy !

TerryNY

oh, goodie, a WW thread!  I just joined three weeks ago, lost four lbs and then added 2 this week...sigh.   Two steps forward, one step back it seems.

Finished treatment last Sept and actually lost weight (15 lbs) but once the tastebuds returned so did my appetite and I regained every single ounce and then some.  

I'm like Unlimited and won't mention my starting weight, it's too scary. 

But, good news, I was having heart issues (due to chemo/steriods?) and was just cleared by my cardiologist yesterday to resume exercising which should make this weight loss process MUCH easier.

I belong to a local dragon boat team and was unable to work out with them for a month until the 'all clear'.    I'm looking forward to starting back up tomorrow! 

I'm doing the flex program as the core seemed too lax for me.  I could binge on all the 'free' food which I was doing just fine all by myself before joining.. LOL 

Here's to a good week for everyone, healthy eating!

Callygee

Good going ladies!...You continue to inspire me. wonder where all those lost lbs go anyway...

Slipped today, just finished some ice cream.

I've been a bouncing ball.

First I was a "puddle" last week after PS said I couldn't have reconstrux same time as mastx.

Today, beloved Breast surgeon says he thinks it should/will happen. I love this guy.

He's checking with NY & Hopkins mavens & calling be back 4/19. Thinks we'll change

my simple mastx date 4/19 to both procedures in May!!! I'm almost afraid to invest in the happiness.



hmmm... could that be the source of my yen for Edy's French Silk ice cream?

I was one additional lb less, after the -2 loss, so I think I can get right back on track tomorrow -

even iwith 4 teenage girls sleeping over! (= BIG breakfast)



Plan to make toffee, chocolate covered matza for seder, tomorrow.

Plan to put it in container, duct tape, freeze it, put alarm system on it! ooh it'll be tough.

No one wants this recipe, do you?



Thanks for these updates. Your losses help keep me going. Gotta get in shape for the marathon

mast DIEP surgery! yeah... Then rads & I'll be done!



Aylin -- you are so so close to being done!!!!!

Allyson -- I'm learning from your controlling your environment - and your lions are fed.

unlimited --Good going!



I'll weigh in Wed.

delorisann

Hello ladies, I too am on the ww journey. This next wednesday will be 10 weeks and I have lost 24 pounds and now it seems like it is just going off so slowely. I realize the first big weight loss is mostly water and I am determined to get it off this time. I will have weeks when I know I wont lose much and sometimes I know I may not lose any but as long as I dont go upwards then I am ok. would like to have 50 off by October if possible. Good luck to you all and if you have any good recipes to share, please do. I am doing the flex plan as I dont fully understand the core. I feel more confident logging everything I eat and counting the points..

Deloris

trigeek

Cally DIEP looks soo cool ! I am happy for you that it worked out, and yes if you do not mind I do want the recipe for the toffee, chocolate covered matza for seder ( will surprise

my sisinlaw)

Deloris  losing 24 pounds is no small victory, you are my hero ! The pounds will continue melting away, I know the feeling of getting stuck at a certain weight, sometimes even going

up a pound or two for several weeks, despite being on the plan. But then suddenly 3-4 went off ! I think of it this way, the harder to lose the harder to gain, it has to work that way right ?

Terry I row too ! ( single scull ) and found a Row for theCure put together by Susan Comen in town in August, wonder if they have a survivor team. And yes I too would go nuts on the

core so have to count my bites doing flex.

I have my weigh in tomorrow, I did not count points up to today but I stopped my binges I think things are getting under control. We just had to hit haagen daaz with paxton when she came over to visit not feeling bad about indulging when it is worth it(unless it is always)

Love !

paige-allyson

Cally- I've had that matzo recipe with the toffee/chocolate- daughter has made it and it is really good. Just FYI daughter is Jewish and I am not, but I've learned to be . Her biological dad is and she converted-it's more of a cultural/identity thing for her. I've found it a nice addition to our lives and I love the seder ritual and imagery. Anyhow, back to the topic(s) at hand. Cally -I used to do with cigarettes what you're doing with the toffee matzo . I am so glad you got your PS situation resolved.

Deloris- congratulations on your weight loss! I am a "slow loser" too. It does get slower when you have less to lose. Keep us posted on how you are doing towards your goal and any words of wisdom you have about staying on track, etc. You don't lose that much weight by luck so obviously you are doing a lot right! What kinds of recipes/foods do you like?

The good thing with slow loss is that you are building good habits for maintenance. I know that in order to maintain I can only eat a LITTLE BIT more than what I eat now. It can be a hard thing to get with weight loss- that you always have to be working hard at losing or maintaining. It's not like when you paint your house and you can just leave it for 10 years until it's time to do it again. Go back to "business as usual" after weight loss and those pounds will jump right back on.

Aylin- I hate to say it but my experience has been that it's always hard to lose and always really easy to gain...unbelievably easy in my case. Getting a lot of exercise helps but I can recall maintaining a few extra pounds even while running 20-25 miles per week by telling myself I could have extra food (umm NOT) since I was burning so much off.  I remember someone telling me "Gee you don't look like most long distance runners I know." Grrr. (But it was true!).

So today is weigh in day and I am happy to report that I weighed in this morning at 127.2, -3.2 from 2 weeks ago which for me is excellent. My neighbor has signed up for the Danskin Tri and we are going to be training together which is a huge mental boost. She's really excited about it and I like her a lot- great to have an enthusiastic training partner right next door. Hopefully my knee will cooperate in all this. I had a cortisone shot in it Friday and we'll see how it does. Aylin- have you ever seen people walk/powerwalk the run portion of a tri? It's not what I want to do but I will if I have to. I really want to do the event no matter what.

How's everyone else doing today?

ashaby

Dear Trigeek,

I came onto this board c/o ww but hey, you're a rower too!!! I coach at a local school and row like a madwoman all summer and fall. Lucky you you're in FLA. Tell me all about it!!! Basha