Anastrazole weight gain -HEEEELP

beth1965

Hi - was bounced around from tamoxifen to shots to anastrazole now for hormones i have gained a crapload of weight. I guess some came from some depression as well.

I do zumba some gym workouts try to watch what i eat but scale is barely moving or i just look at something fattening for too long and it pops back on. Or i get annoyed and have hard time sticking with it.

The workouts i do are about 1 hour dripping in sweat can barely catch my breath by end they are heavy duty. If i had done these workouts before cancer i would have dropped 100 pounds by now.

If anyone has any helpful hints please post them - i beg of you

The doctor said i had to wait 4 years after double mastectomy before i could get breast reconstruction (which sucks) as i am high risk blah blah blah -  but now 3 years they say i can get surgery yay -but now i am too chubby. Annoying as 3 years ago when i wanted recon my weight was fine. - (just a rant sorry) feels like i will never have control of me again - so frustrated!

My newest thing i am trying is drinking hot water and lemon first thing in morning hope it helps

Any help would be greatly appreciated

GG27

I lost 35 pounds just cutting out sugar, bread, pasta, rice & potatoes. Instead of rice or potatoes I make mashed cauliflower. Instead of a sandwich, I eat the fillings on a piece of lettuce, so like a sandwich but no bread. I do eat meat now because I was anemic & can't eat beans or lentils. I still eat lots of fruit, so not like Atkins or low carb, but just found that making sure I had lots of good fat & protein I didn't crave sugar or carbs.

Don't know if this will help you, but it sure worked for me. Friends of mine tried this too & have both lost lots of weight. GG

Moderators

Hi Beth,

In addition to the helpful tips you're sure to receive here, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's pages on Eating to Lose Weight After Treatment in the Nutrition section, along with the Exercise section.

Also, you may find some tips and inspiration in the Healthy Recipes for Everyday Living forum and the Fitness and Getting Back in Shape forum.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

beth1965

Those are great tips thank-you.  I definitely need things to keep the cravings away for sugar and carbs too. Maybe i will try upping my protein and good fats maybe i am trying to cut too much out.

Love the lettuce and cauliflower ideas.

35 pounds is amazing you must be happy and feel better. I find i feel all bloaty (if that's a word..lol..) all the time. I think i would look and feel better with that weight loss.

beth1965

Thanks so much Mods -these pages look very helpful i appreciate you taking the time to post

MsPharoah

Hi Beth, what I have found is that when what you are doing is not working, you have to change it. How depressing is it that a 1 hour/day sweat dripping workout isn't helping you lose weight???? Try changing your exercise routine to frequent walks each day. And add to that lots of hydration (at least 48 oz water/day). Taking in water helps to curb your appetite (also makes your skin prettier) and the frequent walks are more healthful than one high intensity work out and get you the same or better calorie burn. I manage my food by finding lower calorie alternatives or ways to control portions. I love bagels for breakfast, but english muffins are a better calorie choice, so I do English muffins instead. I eat low calorie yogurt instead of creamy desserts or ice cream and I buy snacks in calorie controlled portions so that I always know what I have consumed. When cooking, I bulk up the vegetables and pare down the starch and meat portions. I still eat mashed potatoes and steak and fried chicken....I just fill the plate more with the vegetable. Going out to eat is a problem due to the ever-increasing portion size. Avoid that or take your own to go box and remove 1/2 of the food before starting to eat. If you want to lose weight, I strongly believe you have to give up fast food forever. I weigh myself every day at the same time to make sure my weight is not creeping up so that I can manage it right away.

Good luck and remember.....if what you are doing is not working, try something different until you find what works for you.

MsP

GG27

beth, I found that I really needed to get off the carbs to get rid of my sugar addiction. Now if I want a sweet treat I have a piece of dark chocolate. Real chocolate, not the fake chocolate bars. In the morning I have fruit with full fat yogurt because it's the fat & protein that keeps you from being hungry. A neighbour of mine lost 50 lbs and she eats a chocolate pudding that she makes out of cocoa, dark chocolate, eggs & cream, she says it keeps her full all day. She's a fire fighter so it's not like she's sitting on her butt all day!! She was the one that turned me onto this way of eating.

But you need to find the "new" way of eating that will work for you. If it's low calorie/low fat & you can stay with it, then that's the one. But if you're always hungry try my way of eating. DH & I have been eating this way for almost 3 years now and yes, losing 25 lbs does feel good. But when I'm bad & cheat, I get all "bloaty" -GG

beth1965

WOW thanks so much for all the info ladies I feel pumped and ready to give it my all again. There is a bunch of great ideas I am going to try. I am going to do a bit of each. 

mspharoah I am definitely going to do different exercises like the walking etc... your right it is depressing when you get so little results after a heavy workout.  I like your swap outs ideas and taking a takeout container to half your portion when out -love that. That way you still get the nice dinner just in 2 parts..

kayb I am going to throw in some strength training with weights I have never tried that before - just the fact that muscle burns calories makes it make sense. I am going to try my fitness pal I think keeping track may help. Its nice to know low sugar lowers inflammation I didn't know that

gg27 you always hear people saying cut out all your fat its good to know that that is not always the best. I love the idea of still being able to have a little dark chocolate. Maybe a Friday night reward could be a small piece. I definitely need ample amounts of things that fill me to stay on course especially when I exercise.

I like veggies I am just searching lately for other options than just salads

Thanks again ladies I will keep you posted on how I'm doing -hugs to you all