Tamoxifen and weight

farmerlucy

On my "farm" days I may spend 4 - 5 hours doing manual labor - I love that I can add that back in! The program does motivate me to try to exercise everyday if only for the fact I get more calories  I have been eating about 2000 calories a day. Yes, I'm a good eater!

farmerlucy

rozem - I am much heavier than you. I can't tell you how much, 'cause then I'd have to kill you. (Kidding!)

rozem

famerlucy - 4-5 hours a day WOW you deserve a lot more calories - I work out but i'm a sloth compared to you LOL!

I am ready to take my scale and throw it out the window

new_direction

I also find it almost impossible to lose weight. I just expected to drop a few pounds after i begun exercising.

mommcat

I have been on Arimidex for three years now and have gained 30 pounds!!  I also get a shot of Lupron every three months.  Was already overweight, but had never had trouble losing weight before.  Am faithfully doing weight watchers and exercising five times per week and can't lose weight for anything!!!  Very frustrating.  Have thought about asking my onc what's worse, the weight gain or not taking the drug!!!  Help!!  

Tinanicu

I'm pear shaped and strongly ER/PR positive, and have gained 10 lb since August. I think the steroids (going on and off) had a lot more to do with your weight fluctuation than the tamoxifen. But who knows? I wonder if age til menopause has a lot to do with it personally. My theory is that the nearer to menopause, the less drastic change you'll see. But it is only a theory. 

rozem

I agree with that theory - I was 42 when diagnosed,so very far off of natural menopause and I am strongly er/pr positive and yes I am pear shaped.  I lost 12lbs during chemo ( I did not look good - too skinny)  because I was so sick to my stomach but it came right back on after I was done plus some for good measure.  I think that if you were already in menopause your metabolism was in slow down mode whereas those of us who were pre-meno kinda had a system shock and we didn't gradually go into menopause, we were slammed in to it - maybe that's the difference??? 

SophiaMarie

I lost close to 40 lbs from diagnosis through rads - extreme anxiety killed my appetite.  I'm back to eating (and that anxiety is gone) but I'm still pretty careful and avoid refined carbs and sugars.  I don't know if that has helped or not, but I've been on tamox for close to 3 months and my weight is holding... Actually I think I did lose a couple more pounds.  I've been trying to keep up with exercise, but am not as diligent as I was during rads.  I did not have to do chemo though - maybe that makes a difference?

edwards750

BlessedGirl...you are welcome...I need one of your SheCaves instead of the boring treadmill in our exercise room. I am going to start doing jazzercise again too; at least that's half fun and you move around a lot.  Onlookers probably think I got this midriff bulge, which I have managed to hide for now on the outside, because I eat anything that doesn't eat me first. I really don't. My husband keeps insisting its aging and while that is at least partly true Tamoxifen has certainly sped up the process. I have always been weight conscious, almost obsessive, so this is a painful reality for me. Starving myself isn't getting it. I can still get into my clothes but I have to go from a Sm to a Med in shirts. The smalls are just too uncomfortable and tight. I am so glad to have this forum to vent about this because it is not something I can discuss with my doctors and expect to elicit any sympathy. One of my friends is giving me all these clothes from Talbots in the size I used to, and hopefully probably still, wear...diane

DawnCT

Tina and Rozem - I think there may be some truth to that theory too.   I am 52 and skipped my first period after being diagnosed.   I think I have been perimenopausal for years without realizing it.   I was having trouble losing weight for some time.   I was doing WW and if I was not completely on track I would not lose any weight at all.   

Upon starting Tami 6 weeks ago I decided I was going to walk for at least 30mins daily and log 10,0000 steps on my pedometer.   I also have been keeping the carbs and sugar to a minimum.   I actually have lost 5 lbs!   

I was so worried when my MO said that Tami causes weight gain.   There is hope!   I do think my metabolism had already slowed down so the Tami was not such a shock to my system. 

Okie9000

VMC83: Same here! been bale to do much exercise and have gained 10 # since December, when the "ride" started. I am not blaming the Tamoxifen,I am blaming my indigences, comfort eating and little exercise. Curious to see how it is after I finish rad treatment and can get back to real exercise. Its the only way I can lose. 

Good luck to you , keep moving!