Can't lose chemo weight *&*^%!!!???

Rubyluby

Hello ladies,

I know this is a topic that recurs frequently on these boards, but I'm desperate enough to air it again...

I put on a stone - 6 kg - during my FEC chemotherapy, which I finished on July 8th this year (2009). I was warned to expect some weight gain because of the small dose of steroids they give you with the chemo.

 What is a complete and utter mystery to me now is that despite four gym exercise classes a week and a meticulously low fat diet I haven't lost an ounce in the three months since chemo ended.  I know I'm in chemopause as my periods stopped and I'm now 43. I'm not hugely overweight, but firmly over my body mass index limit (I think my BMI is 26 now).

Is there anyone out there who has successfully lost their chemo-chub???? And how did you do it?

Be well,

Lucy 

Raye99

Hi Lucy -

Great job on exercising four times per week and eating the low fat diet!

My suggestion would be to count your calories. I realize that you are eating a low-fat diet; however, you still may be taking in more calories than you are burning off in order to lose weight. A journal where you notate everything you eat along with the calorie content (if available) is a very helpful tool.  Calories consumed per day in order to lose weight varies depending on height, body weight, etc., but in order for me to lose weight, I need to eat 1200 calories per day (if NOT exercising); 1500 to maintain (again if not exercising). If exercising you can, of course, add more calories to the mix, as you will be burning these off.

Also, if you do not have much weight to lose, that small amount of weight can be harder to take off than if you had more to lose.

Best,

Raye

BMac

Are you on Herceptin?  Until I stopped herceptin I didn't lose any weight.  I think it made me sluggish.  Since finishing Herceptin on Jan 8 I've lost 10 lb.  I only weigh myself once a month.  There have been months where I've put a pound or two on when I fell off the wagon with my eating.

I did an interval class at a place called Wellspring which is for cancer survivors.  This exercise program was tailored to each person's unique needs and goals.  That's when I really noticed improvement.  I've continued this form of exercise and it seems to be working. 

Rubyluby

Thank you ladies for your fine advice. I'm not on Herceptin yet - I'm on Tykerb for a few more weeks (as part of the ALTTO trial) and then switching to Herceptin. Didn't know weight gain was also a SE of H! 

I've started to write down what I eat and the points (weight watchers style) and hoping this will help.

Hugs,

Lucy 

London-Virginia

Hello ruby - nice to hook up again.

I find www.fitday.com  very useful - you can track calories, your exercise and  a lot of other stuff, and it is free.  Also, it works out your individual basal metabolic rate and a bunch of other useful stuffr.

Good luck!