Unnerved: Have you gained lots of weight during treatment?

Anonymous

Hi,

I have gained weight during treatment and am completely unnerved by this.  I am thinking of doing south beach.  It was the second half of chemo and the steroids during that period that gave me a moon face and nearly 40 extra; I didn't have much room for added weight.  What have you done?  I am going to the gym again after stopping for surgeries and treatments but am exhausted and often unable to walk any reasonable distance or do more than just a minimal gym visit.  Suggestions? 

VVH 

Moderators

Hi VVH,

May we suggest taking a look at the main Breastcancer.org site's Nutrition section, including the Healthy Eating After Treatment pages, as well as Eating to Lose Weight After Treatment, with great tips on healthy weight loss.

In addition, the brand new, extensive Exercise section can provide tips and resources to get you started on an exercise plan that will work for you!

Here on the boards, you can talk with other members who have similar interests in the Healthy Recipes for Everyday Living forum.

Hope this helps!

--The Mods

carpe_diem

It sounds like you're doing just the right things, getting back to exercising and thinking about changing your diet.  My cancer center has a nutrition/exercise program for survivors that's been really helpful to me.  I was in terrible shape going in, and the lung mets didn't help, but in 17 months I've lost 75 lbs. and gotten much stronger. My diet is mostly plant-based, with small amounts of poultry, fish, and eggs, but there's lots of good nutrition info out there. You might check around: surely in NYC there are programs like this.  It's great exercising with others who understand your problems and having a coach who's trained to work with cancer survivors. I also walk or bike every day with my DH.  When I was in Manhattan last month for a second opinion at Memorial Sloan-Kettering we found great places for our walks: just loved the High Line!

Janet 

SpecialK

Also check with your local branch of the YMCA - some of them have a Livestrong exercise program that is funded by a grant, it is a free 12-week program designed specifically for cancer survivors.  You get access to all that the Y offers, plus a personal trainer.  I am doing this and also doing a diet similar to South Beach, but slightly more restrictive.  Lean organic/grass feed beef, pasture raised organic chicken, pasture raised chicken eggs, organic vegetables, high-fiber fruit -like strawberries and apples.  No high sugar fruit, no grains, no dairy, no caffeine (OK, I cheat there!), no alcohol, nothing frozen or out of a can.  There are no portion restrictions so I can eat until full.  I am also walking 4 miles a day at speed and have lost 10 lbs. so far.  I am back to pre-chemo weight, but I was 10 lbs. heavier than optimal at that time so I will keep going.  Being gluten-free also seems to have improved AI induced joint pain. 

Anonymous

Thanks all.  I will look for a NYC based program.  Before this was an issue I looked for a local offering of the Y Livestrong program but unfortunately it is not offered in NYC.  I had heard this was an issue and was guarding against it and then suddenly I was too physically weak to even walk 1 block and so my normal activities fell down ...way down and 6 weeks later, here I am...with a  moon face.  Ugh! or maybe Grrr is more appropriate. ; >

VVH 

Anonymous

Hello,

I just spoke to the person starting up the Livestrong program in NYC and it is now avaialbe in other partsof the city and soon will be avaialble at the main YMCA  on the Westside so don't be discouraged by my psoting.  This is a new development since I first looked for it at the beginning of my treatment.

VVH 

Cleoland

Hi, I gained 100 lbs, so hard to believe. I was size 2 119 lbs and I dont know what happened To me I balloon with the treatment. I finished Herceptin on 07/16/12 and now I need To figure out how To get down. I have never being obese before so I don't understand why I gained so much. I just stop taking Lyrica and lost 20lbs right away. I am having trouble exercising because of the Neuropathy and pain all over. I need to do something soon... I live in South Florida