Weight Watchers...Start the recovery process with us!

MargueriteM

One of my main concerns was getting back into shape after chemo and radiation.  I had worked out each day after work but like everyone else had no energy.  I belong to Curves and this was great to help get me back.  I developed congestive heart failure from chemo so I needed to pay strict attention to salt in my diet.  I started eating some form of protein at each mean, having a healthy snack mid morning and mid afternoon and limiting my salt intake, so no prepared foods.  I eat lots of veg with some fruit and protein each day and have healthy grains.  It is mostly a whole foods diet.  I do yoga each morning, work out at Curves most nights after work and try to walk on my lunch hour.  I am a year from my last radiation treatment and I still am slow moving some days but it is working.  Low salt and low sugar (almost no sugar) seems to be very helpful. 

One of the things that I like about Curves is that there are a number of members who have been through treatment so it is a good place to compare and discuss what is the best fitness plan.

barbiedahl

Bold Wow that's 10 pounds already! I bet you can really feel a difference.

I'm down another 2 pounds and I'm finding that I've adjusted to my new diet fairly well. I'd like it to come off faster, but I'm not starving myself but cutting back and making better choices. I have to say I'm finding that I'm less hungry, maybe blood sugar is leveled off??? Anyway it just takes time and commitment!

Koshka1 I've been taking Tamox since May and I'm losing weight. I don't think it's made it harder, at least for me, but I do exercise quite a bit and weight training to add muscle.

Went to see my Onc on Tuesday, but only saw the PA  (not really a fan of her) All my blood work was great as were my vitals. According to their scales I'm down 15 pound from my last visit at chemo. Lets not forget that I put weight on during chemo so I'd say I'm at my pre chemo weight now and have to keep working to lose 50 or 60 pounds. It seems like a lot  but I'm going to go for 5 pounds at a shot. I'm working out three times a week at aerobics, three to four yoga classes and  two weight training classes. It sounds like a lot, but it's very do-able and I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long time.

It seems many of us are leaning to plant based meals, I guess the lower calories win out. I think I'm getting used to  thinking about food a little differently. I haven't had chocolate in a long time, I don't even miss it! 

Keep up the good work everyone. We can do this!

Bold

You are doing incredible Blue!!! You are an over achiever huh? I can relate. I was wondering has anyone done any research on the acai craze? Just curious. I am still hoping for a miracle pill. But in the mean time I will keep plugging away. I think having the once in a life time trip to look forward to is helping to motivate me. I am now leaning toward Bali. Not sure yet. I love looking at all the sites and the accommodations. Its dreamy. I have a long way to go. Another 39 pounds to be exact. Failure is not an option. I am sooo tired today did not fall asleep till 3:00am. I am still going to work out then collapse. Hang tough sistas. Eat well and loose.

barbiedahl

Trying to be good this weekend, but I'm making a pasta dish for dinner and I plan on eating some! I'm finally not feeling like a big fat cow,  (just a little heifer) My DH commented that my waist was coming back, not back entirely but the big round roll is now just a little puff. Since I'm feeling better about myself and seeing progress it feels easier to say no to food and the craving for things like potatoes are really gone. I'm drinking lots of seltzer with lemon and sometimes a splash of just cranberry cranberry juice. My gym was closed for a couple of days for a makeover so that was a bummer, but I cleaned the house and I always think of that as exercise  I'll check in Monday for our weigh-in?? I'll be gone most of next week, sort of work vaca combined. I plan on sticking to the eating well plan and exercising as much as I can.

Have a great weekend all! 

Bold

Good morn my sisters.

 I thew my back out this weekend. GRRRRRR. If its not one thing its another. My poor DH has been thrilled to see me once more walking amongst the living. You know smiling getting stuff done. Waiting on him etc.... then BAM. I was just putting my pants on, to go walk to the farmers market. Not lifting anything or twisting. Geeze!!!! When I had my pet scan, degeneration of my lower back showed up. Also when I had my bone density test it showed a little osteoporosis in the same spot. Soooooo there you have it.

I see that everyone has run to the computer to weigh in this morning.  I only lost 1 pound this week. I guess that I have adjusted to the diet. I am thrilled that I have lost 11 pounds in three weeks. I need to take it to the next step now. More veggies and as soon as I can more exercise. I do get pretty hungry on this so I need to read more about filling foods etc....

I hope everyone is pleased with their progress this week and if not regroup and be pleased at next weeks weigh in. We can do this!!!! We have little control over so much in our lives that it is a wonderful feeling to know that we CAN control what we eat!!! It is hard enough dealing with cancer. I want to at least be at a healthy BMI.

thinking thin!

carolinachick

I'm finally checking back in after a long absence.  Life is returning to normal and my DH, kids and I had a wonderful cruise to celebrate the end of my treatment.

I'm also eating a mostly vegetarian diet, with many of the "clean eating" principles.  So far I've lost 5 lbs. in the past three weeks.  My energy is returning and I'm back at the gym on a regular basis.  I'm looking forward to running (slowly!) the Race for the Cure in October.

I don't know if anyone is interested, but the WINS study has some interesting facts about a lowfat diet, especially for those women with triple negative breast cancer. 

http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/WINSBreastStudy

barbiedahl

Bold great about the pound, horrible about the back. I hope you feel better soon. Think cold veggie soup! and maybe chopped salad with lots of yummy veg chopped into lettuce???

carolinachick interesting study, but I wonder if it wasn't the lose of weight more than the lowfat diet, although a lower fat diet will help you lose weight. 5 pounds in three weeks that's great! It sounds like you are making diet choices that you can live with as a life style.

 A dear older friend who's wife had breast cancer and has since passed away of other causes asked my husband if I was losing weight because they did a lot of research and losing weight helped reduce the return of cancer. I was pleased that he cared and sort of upset that someone noticed that I'm fat. I mean you can't miss it but really most of the time I try not to think about it

Lost a pound, but I wasn't as active as usual, my gym was closed. I guess cleaning and golf isn't as hard a work out!

Wish me luck eating well and keeping up the exercise while I'm away. It's so easy to be lazy!

Bold

Barbie, I know what you mean about the observation on weight loss. I am in some sort of denial that I was ever FAT. But fat I am. I am giving myself a great Christmas gift of thinness and health. You can do it while your gone. The thought of going through this again is pretty motivation. I know that it is still a crap shoot, but there is something about doing all we can huh?

Low fat wight watcher blue berry muffin for breakfast. I have not been to the store this week because of my back and there is no food in the house that is on the diet soooo. I will take some advil and venture to the grocery store. UGG

Best to all. Hey where is everyone anyway? What a bunch of losers. Get it!

Anonymous

Bold, how are you feeling?  Is your back any better?  My DH threw his back out on Saturday - said he heard it pop while bending wrong to pick up a box.  Hope you are moving around a little better.

Oy, weekend at my mothers is plenty to throw off my good intentions!!  Breakfast was the only thing I didn't have white flour with.  Lunch - yup.  Dinner - at 3:30 pm (seriously) because my great aunt and great uncle like to get there before the crowd - and then back to her house for birthday cake for my uncle.  By the time we got home yesterday, i could not eat another bite, and my DH said I didn't eat that much to begin with, but I could feel the "bad" stuff - and my swollen fingers and face proved it.  Took a 4 mile power walk in the rain last night just to get moving again and I am planning my usual workout today.  Weighed on new doctor's scale, which is not the same as what I've been weighing on, so I need to find one scale that I can check periodically.  i do notice that my belly area is not as bloated as it has been, and my face looks a little thinner.  maybe it's the hair.  not!

Bold

Thanks for asking about my back. It is still very very sore. I get sharp pains with certain moves. It will most likely be sore for the week and improve by the weekend. I hope I hope I hope. Do not feel bad about the weekend you are living!! I bet you did not gain that much if any. I missed your loss or gain for the week. I am going for at least 2 pounds this week. I wish it was quicker but you have to eat. I got that progreso soup with 0 points to help with the hungryess. Good luck this week.

carolinachick

barbiedahl - I'm inclined to think that it's a very lowfat diet that made the difference, rather than the modest weight loss.  Either way it's a win-win situation. 

I'm procrastinating today and don't want to go to the gym for my run/walk regime.  I really just want to eat my lunch and read during my precious lunch hour.  Ugh!

BooBee

May I join you ladies?  I gained 20LBS on chemo and 5 more after.  I'm now over the 200 mark.  I can't believe it.

My walking partner just joined WW and has convinced me to join too.  There is also a wedding in my DD's future and I'm NOT going fat.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I need to join the online WW or is there a way to do it without?  Any advice girls?

Anonymous

By all means, welcome, Renee!!!  Everyone who is trying to get rid of the chemo (and other) weight is welcome here - and if you find something working for you, please share it!

I believe you can join WW online and it works similarly to going to the meetings, except you do your weigh ins at home or wherever you have a scale.

I was home on furlough this week, and I thought it would be the best workout week ever, but I haven't worked out one minute - I've been so busy doing errands and chasing around after things that need to be done, plus deep cleans on the house, and crap, that I just realized its Friday and nothing!!  It's definitely easier for me to work out when I'm working, because I come home and change and immediately get to it.  On the upside, I haven't pigged out like I have in previous furlough weeks, because I'm way more conscious of what I'm eating, so I guess there is an upside to it! 

Bold

Good for you for curving the cravings chelev. House work is exercise. Especially deep cleaning. I have to clean my garage out! Oh boy! It will be a lot of lifting and sorting. I have put it off as long as I can. We have lived in this house for 12 years. I have collected enough stuff to sink a ship. My DH is not exactly a neat freak. My work is cut out for me. I will have a big garage sale and be all organized and ready to move.

Renee: My H and I joined on line. It is a wonderful tool. I use it mostly for the point calculator and to weigh in on Mondays. It has fun recipe's, that are easy to make. I like the fact that on the weekends I can drink my fruit points if I choose. I have slowed down on my losing, but am still going down. You sound like me. I am 5'9 and gained 20 some during and after chemo. I was already trying to lose before. So I too went over 200. It was another very scary hurdle this disease threw at me. BUT I am now on my way to being thin and FIT!!!!! I have lost 16 pounds in one month and hope to reach my goal by the end of December. I am on Herceptin and will be finished by then. The only weapon I will have to fight is diet and exercise and prayer and of course the support of the beautiful friends on this site. Welcome and let get healthy together.

My back is better and better. I should be ready for some serious swimming by Sunday!!!

Very Hot (110 degrees) and very Smokey. We watched the flames of the La Canada fire last night peak the ridge, from our living room. There is ashes on everything, including the pool. The police called last night at 11:00 to tell us to prepare to evacuate. But we are just fine.  Sumer drama.

Anonymous

Bold, I was wondering if you were near the fires.  I am hoping you will be okay - it is scary to see on tv.  Know that we are thinking of you!!

Cruise4life

Hi WW gang....and Welcome to all the newcomers...

I have not had much time to respond or keep up with this fabulous thread. I am now taking care of my 7 1/2 year old granddaughter who is keeping me very busy.  In fact I lost 8 pounds since I last posted....Yeah....must be all the running around.

It is so great to see many new faces/posts and supporting each other.  Our stories seem to all be the same...so let's keep this thread going and best of luck keeping the pounds off sensibly....

Hugs...everyone!!!!

BooBee

Thanks Bold.  So for so good on day 2.  The wine is difficult to give up I must sacrifice, I can't live like this any longer.  I'm so miserable.  It's time for me to get control of my body.

Anyway.....I dehydrated some tomatoes from my garden and I nibble on those as a snack. mmmmm

kmccraw423

Well, once home, I fell off the wagon (okay, I jumped off!) but I am back on the straight and narrow.  I am afraid to get on the scale.  And I was doing so good.   Help me!

Anonymous

Kathleen - that's what I did too - but I think it's okay every once in a while to dive, jump or just climb down off the wagon, as long as we get back on it.  I was disappointed when I got on the new onc's scale, but then again, it isn't the scale I've been working with regularly.  But, it was still a blow.  I am noticing the belly bloat is much less and I am seeing my collarbones peek out more, which is good.  I wish I could use weights, but the rads onc doesn't want me to until December, to allow my tender cartilage to fully heal.  So I do all of the exercises without weights.  Darn.  I really wanted to firm up those triceps. 

Just keep going - eating cleaner and healthier - slow and steady will win this race!!!

Bold

Well said chelev! I wish it was not so slow too. I think back on when I was in chemo a mere 17 weeks ago. I have learned about patience. Boy am I learning. I mean the greatest example would be hair. Need I say more. It seems that we are always waiting for something. The two year survival mark is a big one too. Well I remember talking to someone when I was still in chemo that was trying to lose weight. I remember thinkin I would rather be on a diet than do chemo. Well now I am and it will have a huge impact on my prognosis. Soooo determined we will stay, goal will be made, healthy and fit we will be!!! (and real cute too).

I hope that more and more of us take the challenge for the Monday weigh in. I know that we are not judging each other but are on the same road and can help each other move toward optimum health. Some of us have long term weight lose goals and some only have small hurdles but each are presented with temptation and lack of motivation at times. Then there is the gathering of friend and family and the call of the wine and margaritas, mai tais, and martini's (chocolate and apple), YES it is hard. My goal is to be with in-reach by Christmas. That is a long haul. WW is my diet of choice and I am taking it seriously.

I believe if you are like me and need to loose a boat load of weight it is a commitment to ourselves and our well being. The good news is that we can do it!!!!!!!!! This is something that we have control over!!!!!!!! It is our choice!!! Not like frigging cancer. I hope that I have helped motivate someone be motivated for today. That is the only day that we have to worry about.

I am honored to have friends like you guys to be on this path to health.

We are totally smoked out today. We live about 2 miles from the Station fire. We are in lock down. Windows closed and air on. The ash is snowing down on the pool and garden. It is over 100 degrees and is just awful. I am heading to the beach. I have to get out of here. A long walk on the shore would be great.

swest

Hey girls!  Can I join?  I was very successful with WW before BC.  I had lost 35 lbs and had kept all but 4 lbs off until diagnosis.  During chem I gained 20 lbs, after chemo I gained 5 more.  Well it is time to get back at it again.  I like going to the meetings.  It keeps me accountable.  I've been back for 2 weeks lost a few pounds but now I've had my implant exchange I'm afraid to weigh in.  It seems after each surgery I gain weight.  Oh well. 

ReneeS -  You can have a glass of wine.  It's two points for red wine.  Just leave your 35 points to any extra's you want to have.

Bold - You be careful with that fire so close.  Really, you should not be breathing all of the smoke.  Don't wait too long to leave.   I know I sound like your Mom but you can always replace your things.

Chelev - Are you on an exercise plan.  That seems to be my problem.  Can anyone give me idea's?  I can't really do anything but walk for the next couple of weeks so that my incisions heal.  I've always got a good excuse not to exercise!

Anonymous

swest, welcome!!!  I am not on any formal plan, but I did purchase The Firm's "The Wave" to work out with, and it comes with a couple of different DVDs to follow along with.  I think I am going to join WW as well, just for the points thing, to help me follow along better.  Everyone has such great luck with it, that I feel it's time for me to do the same, even with my comittment to eat better.  Yes, Renee, have a glass of wine!!  Especially after the road we've been forced to travel on, allowing yourself a nice glass of vino is a just reward . . . and the grape extracts are healthy!!!!

BooBee

Thanks swest and Chelev.  Once I have a glass of wine I have no self control.  That's why I have to cut it out.  Lost 2 LBS this week.

Anonymous

Oh, you're a go for the chips & dip with the wine or an entire cheese platter (oh, wait, that's me!) girl.  I gotcha!!

Going to pick up some stuff (all healthy!! - we had a tupperware party at my place on Thursday and my tupperware "lady" (actually an old classmate of mine who is a former Disney employee who is fabulous and funny and a chef, and he's this big ole queen) made this amazing fruit salsa and homemade cinammon baked tortilla chips from corn tortillas that I want to make again) at the grocery store this morning and will hop on their scale, which is what I've been using, to see where I'm at.

ajlive

Hi May Radettes & fellow Weight Watchers.  I am in need of some motivation and think I need to join the club.  I have been watching what I eat but can not get motivated into doing exercises.  Need a little push and shove.  I have lost 8-lbs since rad treatments ended but need to get firmed up with exercise.  It has been so hot here in Texas I just cant get myself out in the heat to walk or jog.  Bought a beginner Yoga & Pilate's DVD but have not yet opened them.

carolinachick

Well, I hate to say that I didn't lose any weight this past week.  DH, myself and 29 of our closest friends rented a party bus Friday night, and I totally blew it in terms of eating and drinking.  Jumped back on the wagon Saturday, and walked/jogged a 5K on the treadmill yesterday in preparation for the Race for the Cure on Oct. 3.  I guess another reason for no weight loss was that after a six month chemo-induced vacation, Aunt Flo came a-callin' this weekend.  I had just assumed (and hoped) that chemo had put me into menopause, since I'm 45. Sorry if that's TMI, but I figured you all would understand.  I feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy (girl?) and don't want to go to the gym today.

Anyway, here's to the week ahead, full of healthy eating and exercising!

Bold

Good morning. I only lost one pound again. GRRRRRR! I know at least I lost. But it seemed like a lot of effort for one pound. The good news is that I have been eating more healthfully. I have not even had my usual weekend wine. (I save points for it). Well seeing that my back was out as of last Sunday morning. I did not really hard core exercise till this last weekend. I went to the beach on Sat and Sunday walked for miles and played in the very aggressive surf for hours. I am sore and a little pooped today.

I can not exercise too much today as the air quality is very hazardous. I was thinking I have a 500.00 gift certificate to a Spa at the Huntington Hotel Pasadena. I wonder if I could use there Gym. I will give them a call. The massage sound real good too. I am so grateful that I am not on chemo and am only challenged by making good food choices. My onc told me that exercise is more important than even dieting for breast cancer survival. That is my motivating message for the day. That and WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

swest

Bold-Glad you've lost 1 pound.  Not bad for not being able to move much last week!  Are you ok with the fires.  I have heard that it has doubled in size.  Good time to go to a spa!

Bold

The fires are about a mile from me. I am not up against the mountain so I am safe for now. The smoke is just horrible. Thats why we left this weekend for the beach. I only have a wall air conditioner but I have it going and all the windows closed. I have to go out and water as I have an extensive exotic garden that requires allot of water. The wind seems to be picking up and bringing the ash snow with it. It is just terrible.  I pray for all the fireman and people that are in danger. I also pray for rain!!!

Thank you so much for asking.

barbiedahl

I hope you're alright bold, safe and protected from the fires.

I have decided not to weigh in this week. I don't want to make myself sad. I did exercise a lot while away, but I ate and drank a lot too! I am buckling down this week and hopefully will have good news to report next Monday. I'm feeling fluffy, it could be from all the additional salt from restaurant food. I really don't use much salt and I notice that my eyes look puffy after eating out.

We were hiking tons and that was fun (blisters are now healing) I noticed that my bc breast was a little swollen, I think from the weight of the pack???? Anyway I'm going to be gentle to that side this week. Yesterday skipped push ups during aerobic class and opted for more ab work instead. All the instructors are so great and understanding. I make a lot of modifications to protect my arm from over use. I want to keep that side strong, but I realize I'm still healing and I want to be well forever!

Water, water and more water for me this week, flushing out salt, fat and all those yummy drinks I had!