Weight Loss on Tamoxifen

eleataylor

I started Tamoxifen March of 2008 and within a few months put on close to 30 pounds. My oncologist told me I could lose weight but breast cancer survivors who had been on Tamoxifen said it was impossible. I went to a MD who specializes in weight loss and nutrition. I followed his meal plan which was very similar to South Beach. It mainly consisted of two fruits per day(only apples and oranges), 2 slices of Ezekial bread per day, lean meats, 2 oz of hard cheese, no processed foods, etc. Had to go weigh in every week and also received B12 injections weekly. I lost 33 pounds, stopped going to his office due to the expense, and kept it off until earlier ths year. I really got bored and missed my carbs and the weight poured back on. Now I weigh more than I ever have and am very unhappy with myself, however I just can't seem to get started back on the plan I was on before. I have started exercising so I am hoping that will help. But I seem to stay hungry and no matter what I eat I am never satisfied. Any suggestions???

kk69Z

I've been on tamoxifen since 08/08. I put on probably about 20 lbs. That is probably from the tamoxifen plus quitting smoking. I lost 10 lbs. I'm not dieting, I'm just eating a little better. Getting excercise. More fruit and vegs. Whole grains, low fat cheese, 1% milk, more fiber. Just think before you eat. I can't go on a diet, because I would get bored and like you would miss the good stuff. I still have hershey kisses (dark choc). I eat three and not a whole candy bar. I eat ice cream maybe every other week. So I probably could lose more, but then I would be cutting out everything I like. Good Luck

Jorf

OMG, this is such a recipe for disaster. That weight loss doctor ought to be shot (or forced to eat a box of chocolate chip cookes and a spice cake with cream cheese frosting followed by pot de creme chocolate and an aged port). They were asking you to starve! No wonder you lost weight. No wonder you "got bored" and "missed your carbs". Your brain was probably going completely nuts the whole time yelling, "feed me!!!"

I think kk69Z has it right. Eat well, exercise. Stay away from processed foods. Stay away from excess (in any direction). Get at least 4 hours of exercise a week (heart rate up, etc). Even if you do end out heavier than you want (or, for me, I just don't believe the scale because my body has Changed! My belly is certainly bigger than it used to be at an even higher weight!) you will be healthier. 

I've been on tamoxifen for 3 years. I was stick thin when I started (chemo and major stresses left me way underweight) and I've gained back most of the weight (tho, as I said, my clothes fit the same as pre-cancer even tho I weight less) and have gone through menopause. I have to work harder than I did before to maintain some sort of balance - mostly emotional. (I've been saying that the worst thing about having cancer was losing weight - which is obviously not true in the fact that I'm alive but it has kicked up long dormant eating disorder type thinking that I worked hard to control. Very hard. Very hard.)

Anyway, be reasonable about it, please. There are no magic bullitts. It's all about what kk69z said - eat smart, eat your dark chocolate (I'm sucking on Valrhona 87%, or something, right now) and don't deprive yourself of things you love. Hey, you've gotten through BC treatment - why stop living now????

nygirl1951

Just throwing this out there - I put on 15 pounds during the last 2 1/2 years on Tamoxifen and then 2 years on Aromasin.  As part of our Wellness incentive where I work, they offered an in-house, paid by the company,  Weight Watcher program. I thought I had nothing to lose, other than weight so I signed up.  After 12 weeks, I lost 12 pounds   We had 75 employees sign up and as a group we lost over 1,000 pounds.  One diabetic employee will be off all insulin in 3 months.  I strongly recommend WW for weight loss - it's just a program of eating the right food groups, in the right number of servings, in the right portions.  Most of us found we were eating more on WW than before, so you are never hungry.  Our company is offering another 12 weeks and I've signed up   

I know how difficult weight loss can be when you are on AI.....good luck!

Pam 

Claudster

I'm going nuts on the weight loss thing. I'm perimenopausal and got put on Tamoxifen because I'm high risk for breast cancer. My surgeon said losing weight would really help me (I was 60 lbs overweight). So determined, I started watching what I ate, paying attention to calories, and exercising. I go to the gym four times a week and really sweat. After an inital loss of 10 pounds, the number on my scale will not budge! I tried changing up foods, exercise, routines, but nothing takes off the weight. Seems kinda ironic to tell me to lose weight at the same time you put me on a drug that will make it impossible. I'm just about losing my mind. I eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, mostly locavore and drink lots of water. I eat very little red meat, and not that much chicken or pork, either. I keep wondering if I will become thin very suddenly when I get taken off the meds.

peachy-pie

I've been taking Tamoxifen for about 9 months now.   I found that weightloss was difficult for the first few months I was on this drug,  but once my body adjusted to it things seemed to get back to normal.    I was about 100 Lbs overweight in the Spring of 2011 and had started counting calories and walking everyday.   In 2.5 months I had lost 26 Lbs,  but hit a brick wall when I got diagnosed that June.    Over the past year I gained 16 lbs back, and decided a month ago it was time to try to get back on track.    So once again I started counting calories, and walking 2 miles everyday.   So far i've lost 9.6 Lbs and have my energy back and feel really good.    I have 81 Lbs more to go,  hoping to accomplish that goal by Summer 2013.