Hi My Name Is ...

PlantLover

PlantLover and I've gained too much weight!

I'm starting this thread for all of those who are in my shoes.  Even if you're active on another thread in this forum I hope you'll stop by and say hello.

Less than four years ago, at the age of 47, I was in the best shape I had ever been in my life!  The job I had was extremely physical but I could keep up with people half my age.  I'm not exaggerating.  I probably walked, on average, 5 miles a day and could lift 50 lbs without any difficulty.

I left that job to increase my salary and took a desk job.  Although I was still active, I started to gain some weight, You know, just 10 or 15 lbs. nothing to freak out about.  Fast forward a year and a half later ... I was diagnosed with Stage III BC and started treatment.  I worked through treatment and honestly, most days, it was all I could do to make it though the day and then come home and fall into bed.

I had 6 rounds of TCH, 1 year of Herceptin, a Bi-lateral mastectomy with immediate TE reconstruction, 38 rounds of radiation to my chest, clavicle, and back, 9 rounds of Navelbein, and an Oophorectomy.  I ended up with frozen shoulder & had complications with reconstruction due to radiation damage.  One month after finally getting my TE expanders replaced with implants after I finished the Navelbein, I had to have surgery to have one of the implants removed.  I had to have another surgery four months later in an effort to try an alleviate some of the pain and tightness in my chest (removal of scar tissue and such) after the implant was removed.

In between the removal of the implant and the next surgery the business where I was working closed.

I bet anyone reading this is thinking ... Damn, get to the point! LOL!

My point is although I've tried to work out, I even joined a wellness center but had to drop out to save money, I have failed at it big time!

I now weigh more than when I was pregnant with either of my children.  It hurts in my hips when I walk.  My rib cage is bigger than my chest, lol, and I know I can't change that without going in for more reconstruction which I'm not ready to do.  I just can't stand that my stomach is so bloated looking.  I also hate how out of shape I feel just walking up a hill.  Something has got to give!!

So, I'm starting this thread to keep me honest & ask for support.  Will someone please join me.  If you've been avoiding professing the overall change in your body since breast cancer, fess up and be my exercise buddies.  Maybe we can help each other.

Racy

Hi PlantLover, good on you for taking this step towards getting into better shape.



Do you have a plan and goals? You say that your previous attempt failed. Do you know why and can you overcome that/those issue/s so that you will succeed this time?



Of course you know that diet works well with exercise to reduce weight and improve fitness.



Let us know what you are thinking of doing and we can give you more support.



I recently joined a gym for the first time in my life and I find it makes exercise so convenient and varied. I am quite motivated as I can see results already.



Looking forward to hearing more about what you are proposing.

PlantLover

Racy ... thanks for responding! 

Yes, I know diet is important.  I've never been one to have much success at "going on a diet". I don't always make the best choices and probably eat more fatty foods than I should but I'm not one to over eat.  Really never have been.  Right now, I'm simply consuming more calories than I burn and it's adding up.

I wish I could have continued going to the Wellness Center.  I was going 3 to 4 times a week and I think that it would have eventually helped; however, money is an issue right now and I just can't swing it.

So, today I went for a 30 minute walk.  My goal will be to walk at least 30 minutes 4 times a week.

I guess I just needed to "publicly" come out of the closet and I hoped someone else might need to do the same and we could inspire each other.

Kindergarten

Hey, Plant Lover, How are you??? Great thread you have started. I also post on one of the exercise threads here, too. But I would love to get more info from you and other ladies. I am exercising like a fiend, but just not losing the weight that I need to. I would love advice and tips on a good nutrional diet. Thanks for starting this, Plant Lover. Kathy

BarbaraA

I'm Barbara and I am 5 lbs over my optimal weight and CANNOT get it off.

CLC

Hello, ladies!...I  wanted to pop in with my 2 cents...  I have lost 50 pounds over the last 5 years and for the first time in my life am not struggling to maintain the loss.  I wanted to throw in my advice/experience.  I credit my success with doing it slowly.  I planned to lose only 10 pounds each calendar year.  If I hit the 10 pound mark, I would stop trying to lose and try to maintain until the following January.  I stopped limiting my food and instead, I tried to eat only food that was in its natural form (looked like it did in nature...no processed food) and eliminated animal fats.  I tried to eat at least 7 servings of fruits and veges.  It was heaven to start trying to eat enough of something rather than limited what I could eat.  The only foods I was careful about keeping low were fats...avocado, nuts, olive oil.  I actually removed oil altogether as a processed food.  Along with all of that, I started moving.  Ten minutes of walking during lunch break.  Thirty minutes on the treadmill after school...  Whatever moving I could do...and I counted up the minutes each week.  I loved being able to "count" a ten minute walk during lunch.  That was very motivating.  Originally, my goal was 150 minutes of some moving each week.  As I got more fit, it required more moving to keep losing.

If there is any advice I can offer...it is in how to measure success.  It is important to lose, but slowly.  I record my weight each morning, but I only look at the week's average weight and compare that to the previous week's weight.  If it is down a tenth, success, even if the last day of the week was up.  I found this very helpful, because I wasn't knocking myself down for a day when I simply hadn't gone to the bathroom or something.

I wish you all the best with your efforts!  It isn't easy, but it is doable.:)

PlantLover

Hi  Kathy ... thank you so much.  I was starting to think it might be a stupid thread to start.  Honestly, I've had a crappy day but it has nothing to do with BC or weight, thanks for asking.  It will get better.

Barbara ... LOL ... 5 lbs??? Get off my thread.  Just kidding!  Thanks for posting.

Sweet CLC - congrats on your 50 lb loss!!  How did you eliminate all animal fats? 

Kindergarten

CLC, Great info, thanks so much!!!!!! This thread is great, Kathy

CLC

You made me smile...calling me sweet...thanks...:)  I eliminated animal fats by eliminating all meat and cheese.  As for animal products, I limited it to egg whites, fat free yogurt, fat free cottage cheese and fat free milk.  I have since reintroduced white turkey meat.  I tried reintroducing beef and egg yolks recently, but it wasn't working out, so I am back to no animal fats other than turkey meat.

It didn't take long for me to adjust.  I just started eating a lot of beans.  Homemade bean burgers, stir fries with beans, hummus, chili, pasta with kidney beans in the sauce...lots of beans.  I credit my breakfast with a lot of my success.  Whole rolled oats made with salt and milk.  Blueberries for sweetness.  No sugar, no syrup.  I have eaten that same breakfast every day for 5 years.  I don't think I've missed a day.  I love the oats microwaved with milk rather than water.  The blueberries are just sweet enough.  I think in the beginning I might have had some honey or syrup and just reduced the quantity each day until it was unsweetened...

The real motivator was that I didn't limit the amount of food I eat.  I eat 1800-2200 calories a day.  They are just animal fat free and refined food/sugar free.  I eat all day long.  Today, I had 6 servings of fruit alone.  Add to that 7 cups of salad...I eat like crazy.  The oatmeal is 3/4 cup of oats...that's a lot of food once it is cooked.  But, if you try my method, be prepared...it is SLOW.  You have to be satisfied with a tiny bit at a time...

Racy

PlantLover, I think it is worthwhile to have a one off appointment with a dietician. There are all sorts of weight loss diets but not all are nutritionally sound. Perhaps your cancer centre can link you with a dietician.



Do you like Dr Oz? His info is very sound and there is a lot of helpful info on his website.

CLC

I agree that a nutritionist may have a lot to offer...  I think it is really important to remember to listen to your body and adjust as you go, too.

There are a lot of diets out there that are accepted by the mainstream, but do not work, like weight watchers.  It is totally accepted, but everyone I know that has gotten to maintenance weight using it, have gained it all back.  That is why I started trying to lose slowly.  To be sure I was getting all I needed, I would occasionally add up all of the various nutrients I ate and compare to the rda.  That worked really well, until after my mx...when the healing requirements were demanding more b12 than I was getting, and I ended up deficient.  Unfortunately, no one suggested nutritional counseling with breast surgery. 

If you cannot afford a nutritionist...do consider adding up nutrient intake from time to time and comparing it to the rda.  The us government now has a web site to help you do that as do many other web sites...  I think the us gov site is myplate.org...or something like that.  If you are interested, I will find the url for it...

Claire

CLC

Here is the US government website to help track and monitor nutritional data and exercise.  It is helpful to check to see if you are getting all the essential nutrients.  I wouldn't want to enter the info all the time, just occasionally.  I write everything down each day in a notebook, though.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/supertracker-tools.html

PlantLover

I'm going to be honest, CLC ... OMG! and you know I use the "G" loosely *wink*,  I can not give up all meat and cheese!  I think I'd rather look like I'm having my third child, LOL!  I'm glad I made you smile... makes us even because I think every time I see you post it seems to make me smile! You are a sweetie!

Racy ... I'll check to see if the Cancer center can offer the help of a Nutritionist at no cost otherwise, I can't afford it right now. 

CLC ...  Good idea to add up my nutrients (read, calories) on a day to day basis.  I never do that & I know it really won't help if I'm continuing to consume more than I burn. Thanks for the link!!

Kindergarten

Dear CLC, you are so disciplined, Racy, I love Dr. Oz, I try to watch his show every day. Plant Lover, you still have your great sense of humor.  Barbara, how are you and wow only 5 pounds over, that is awesome.!!!!    I remember seeing pictures of you on your cruise, you looked marvelous.  We can all help each other. Thanks again, Plant Lover. Have a great night. Kathy Oh, I am giving up the bad carbs, wish me luck!!!!

PlantLover

Nobody else wants to join me. 

Maybe this thread wasn't such a good idea after all and I don't mean to sound like I'm being a baby ... oh, booo hooo hooo people don't like my thread. LOL!  I do appreciate those that posted.  Barbara, I hope you did understand I was just kidding with you.  Maybe I'll just go tag along in another thread.

I'm still going to head in the direction of losing the extra pounds. 

Someone posted a cool site on another thread today ...Lose It 

I tried it out and it's really easy to use.

I walked two miles yesterday and two more today.  My goal is to walk at least 4 times a week.  I really would like to be 20 lbs lighter before I go back to my oncologist in May.  That may be a little too aggressive but I can try.

Right now I have a little ACC basketball to watch.  Perhaps I'll burn a few calories cheering for my team ... GO UVA!!!!

CLC

PlantLover...I am rooting for you!!!  Check in on the Post Daily Exercise Thread...there are lots of people moving over there!!!

Jaytee

Hi PlantLover

My name is Jaytee and I have gained too much weight too!   I am down to one comfortable pair of jeans and I just dont want to buy a bigger size!   It is the slow season at the place that I work and I won't be going back to work until March so I have determined to lose some weight by then.   If you need a buddy, I'll join you.  Sounds like we both were good and exercised today.  I went to a track and walked all 8 lanes, about 2 miles.  It did feel good!!    Now I just need to change some bad habits, one of which is eating at the computer.  I was about to go and get a big slice of my daughters homemade banana bread, but you know what----not gonna do it!  See, you helped me----your thread was a very good idea.

Good luck----and hope your team wins the game!

SeasideMemories

Hi PlantLover,



My name is Seaside and I am also shocked to see a number when I step on the scale that I have never seen in my whole life, including 2 pregnancies!



I, like you, was going along just fine and really happy with my weight when I was diagnosed... My weight held steady and even dropped a bit during treatment... Once radiation treatment was done and the Tamoxifen began the pounds started to creep on. Then I quit smoking, and gained another 8 pounds... Then my dog died of cancer that summer and I went into a bit of depression after that and, you guessed it, more weight gain....



Anyway, you get the picture... I now weigh about 20 pounds more than I want to and when I look in the mirror, especially a full length one, I'm not sure who that person is...



Last year My New Years resolution was to quit smoking... This is the year I do something about my weight!



I started on January 3 doing 40 minutes of walking on the treadmill (a bit over 2 miles) and 20 minutes of working out with weights... I have been doing it 6 days a week... Haven't lost too much weight-wise but am seeing a real difference in my shape.... That Tamoxifen belly is starting to disappear and am seeing some muscle in my legs and arms.



Also been trying to work in lots more vegetables and fruit and just in general eating healthier!



I would love to lose 20 pounds by the time we go to the beach in August but, would be good with 10 pounds down by then, too..... I would be happy to join you, too!

PlantLover

Thanks CLC!  I'll check out that thread.

Jaytee ...Yippee, I'd love to be your buddy!  Mmmm, homemade banana bread.  Now turning that down took some willpower!  Maybe you could have a small slice for breakfast.  I've gotten in the bad habit of snacking later in the evening.  I've got to stop doing that because I know that's the worst time to take in calories.  I'm on my third glass of water since dinner tonight.  That's also a part of my plan.  Hopefully it will make me feel more full and less likely to snack.

Too funny about being down to one pair of jeans ... I'm in exactly the same situation and that one pair has even gotten so tight on my tummy that it hurts to wear them.  I refuse to buy a bigger size again.

Excellent job with your walking today.  Let's both try again tomorrow! 

Btw, I went looking for your posts and saw that you're having some pain in your shoulder.  Assuming you have insurance coverage, I'd get your doc to refer you to a physical therapist who specializes in working with breast cancer patients as soon as possible. Seriously, don't delay because you DO NOT want to end up with frozen shoulder.  TRUST ME!!!

Oh, and UVA won!  Woooooooot!!!!

PlantLover

Hi Seaside!  Didn't see your post before I posted.  I was writing while the game was on and highly distracted.  Glad you're joining us!  Congrats on giving up the cigs.  I did that almost 3 years ago and I know it's not easy. 

Hmmm, tamoxifen belly??  So, part of my problem may be tamoxifen?? Didn't know that.  Well, I still know a lot of my problem is not burning enough calories.

Wow ... you're doing great working out 6 days a week.  At that rate, I bet you meet your goal by August.  Remember what they say though ... muscle weighs more than fat so seeing the difference in your shape is probably more important that the numbers on the scale.

SeasideMemories

PlantLover,



I was never one to gain weight around my middle until the Tamoxifen so I think it has a lot to do with it but could be natural changes due to age....ugggghhhh.... I just know, I need to get rid of it!



I really did not like working out but thought, at least at the start, I will throw everything I could at getting things jump started... I find it easier to set aside an hour each day and just do it.... Now after almost a month, I can still say I don't like it (lol) BUT I feel so much better when I do it! Much calmer...



In my mind I know that the scale isn't the only measure of results but, just wish it would at least move so at least I know it's not broken....lol



As an aside, my teenage son started working on getting back in shape aroung the same time.... He's lost 8 pounds..... Oh to be young and have that kind of metabolism!

Jaytee

Yay for your team!  

I am with you-----will definitely try and get out and walk again tomorrow.  I have to watch the evening snacking too.  I'm going to try really hard not to eat anything after 7.  Its hard to do sometimes--my husband will make coffee in the evening and then you just want to dunk something in it,  He is the type who can eat anything and never seems to gain weight.  

 So I am not the only one with the one pair of jeans problem!!  Mine are at that perfect level of softness, almost too soft as in if I am not careful I'm going to get a hole in the knees real soon and then I'll have to make the dreaded trip to the store.  Well we have got the motivation.     We both seem to know what habits we need to change.   Lets start with the not snacking at night and go from there.  

I had never heard of frozen shoulder before.  Did you have it soon after surgery?  It will be a year since my surgery in mid Feb.  I'm thinking that my shoulder problem might be from taking femara.  Its worse on my surgery side but I am feeling it on the other side a bit too.  I also have the joint pain in my hands and some swelling.  It seemed like my right hand was more swollen than my left so I was getting a bit scared of lymphadema and my oncs office set me up with an appt for some rehab. I will ask them about frozen shoulder the next time I go in.  Thanks for the advice.

 Have a great day tomorrow---again thanks so much for starting this thread, and hello to you too Seaside----here's to losing that extra weight, its going to feel so good.  Good luck to everyone!

SeasideMemories

Hi Jaytee!!



CLC and PlantLover,



Thanks for the links to the SuperTracker and LoseIt sites!! I checked them both out this morning and I think they will be very useful to both my son and I.... I think the charts with the interactive sample menus on the SuperTracker is perfect especially in getting a real idea of what an actual portion size is... I think we have definitely super-sized our portion expectations over the years....



It was do nice here yesterday that I thought maybe I would outside today but, it's raining.... So off to the treadmill, I go!

Jaytee

Hello everyone

 Day 1 started good for me---I made oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast, it kept me feeling full all morning.  We got some rain in the night and today is unseasonably warm again so after an appt I had this morning, I was able to get back out to the track and walk my 2 miles.  I hope this weather stays for awhile---not sure what I will do when winter comes back.   Wish I had a treadmill but there is no room to put one.  

 Seaside, thats neat that your son and you are doing this together...Good luck...I will have to check out those websites too.

PlantLover

Hello team.  It was a really a rough day due to some family issues.  I'm sorry I don't have the energy to write more tonight.  I'll try to catch up tomorrow.

SeasideMemories

PlantLover,



Sending you hugs and strength to get through whatever it is that you are facing.... Tomorrow is a new day...

Kindergarten

Yes, PlantLover, sure hope you have a better day tomorrow . Kathy

PlantLover

Thanks Seaside & Kathy. 

lovemyfamilysomuch

I'm in sisters.  Joined the gym again and have been doing the treadmill every day for the past week.  My goal is my daughter's wedding in October--got to look good in that mother of the bride dress!  I will look forward to supporting this thread and hope it helps keep me honest! xo

tenaj

Good morning! You got me too!!!! It's a little over 2 weeks since my exchange & I just got the OK to go back on the treadmill again, still no lifting. I would love to go down 2 sizes & 30 lbs. OMG!! Can that even be done. Lord knows I feel like im always trying to loose weight. I was blessed with a body that the fat went to the right spot but now @ 52 & all the surgies, lack of excercises & meds I'm going in reverse. Inspiration & motivation is needed. I started using my fitness pal on my phone to record your intake in the fall but the holiday's put a stop to that, I'm gonna start that up again. So.....I'm with you sistas :-)

Jaytee

Hello to everyone and welcome tenaj and lovesmyfamily!

Plantlover, hope you are feeling better today....

 Wanted to share about yesterday----my day started out so well, did the walking, felt great...

..then the mail came-----got an unexpected large bill in the mail----seems like the ins has not paid for my prosthetic and bras I was fitted for at the end of last year.  Had to go through the maddening phone menu to speak to a real person, then they can't find a record of the claim,----stress level rising!!  

 Then I had to go to the grocery to get a couple more items I needed for dinner and thats after having already been to the store earlier in the day-----then on the way home Im sitting at a red light and somebody runs into the back of my car!   I wasn't hurt and the damage turned out to be pretty minor but I was so frazzled by the time I got home.  Realized that this is the kind of day that usually leads me to go head first into a bag of chips!   Awfully glad there were no chips in the house yesterday.    I am an emotional eater----much of the extra weight I am carrying around is 'stress poundage'.   I am putting that on my list of bad habits to work on.