Weight Watchers...Start the recovery process with us!
Comments
-
Was off from work today after Rad tx#4
, and a girlfriend called unexpectedly to go have lunch. It was great to be available to go. DH was home for his lunch and he gave me a ride on the back of his motorcycle to the Jupiter restaurant in downtown Berkeley. (He always complains that I haven't been on his motorcycle with him since we started dating 12 yrs ago.) We sat outside in a beautiful patio in the back; what a treat. I showed off my newly returned eyebrows & lashes and my friend caught me up on stuff from her life that she kept from me last Fall while I was on chemo. I hit the local YMCA, my gym, on the way home and did the 25 minute wt. loss program on the eliptical machine, then walked the mile home. Also drank my "green juice" today (bunch kale, one apple, lemon juice); it so needs the lemon to be palatable.
-
Okay if you guys can do it so can I ! Weighed in at 205 at rads office yesterday, the last hospital weigh in was 212, so I'm happy with that. My fighting weight is 155-160 though so I have a long way to go and many vegetables to eat. I started really gaining weight about 5 years ago when my thyroid went bad, it's funny because my Oncologist figured back from my tumor size and said my cancer started about the same time. Poor body, trying to cope with cancer all by itself.
I have a really long drive to radiation so I thought I'd better pack a lunch for the way home. I ate half of it on the way there and was hungry on the way home.
Does anyone else find that if they are being good and watching calories one day the next day you find you're extra hungry? It feels almost like my body wants calories calories and more calories!
KMC hope you feel better I can't believe anyone would forget to eat, unless they are on fire or something!
Princess- It sounds like you had a beautiful day and got a lot of exercise in. Green juice hmmm not sure although I do like kale, but usually with butter on it!
-
Hi Ladies...
So great to see the motivation here....keep it going...
I had my 4th Rad this morning...and still no signs of SEs...crossing my fingers for now...
I stopped and bought a Rubios Chicken Tossed Salad...and could only eat half of it. not sure on the calorie count. Tonight fixing chicken wraps on whole wheat tortillas...a recipe from WW.
Got to lose the 34 pounds I found....LOL
Walking with DH and Roxy...(dog in picture) tonight after dinner.
Hugs....
Cindy
-
Hi!
Well, today I weighed 163.5, down from the 165 just yesterday. I'm hoping some of the weight is from the steroids or Taxol, maybe water weight. I'd like to get down to 140. I know that quick loss is probably water, but I'll take anything at this point!
Walked for 1/2 hr. only with my daughter, but must have logged miles at the school where I teach. Would go to the office, forget something in a class, back to office, up to library, etc. I'm so tired.
A co-worker bought a very healthy dinner tonight for us. Corn tortillas with sweet potato, black bean, corn filling and guacamole and cabbage with cilantro. Much more healthy than I cook. She also gave me a cookbook for cancer survivors written by the chef at Commonweal, and I need to get organized and buy ingredients and start cooking!
I have trouble with the temptations too--I usually say, Just this once. I also like to reward myself with food. I might try weight watchers again this summer. I'm now more motivated by health than looks. Good luck to you all, and thanks for the inspiration! And no--I've never forgotten to eat!
kim
-
Oops, I thought I posted something last night but it isn't here -- I must've forgotten to hit "submit. Let's see if I can remember what I meant to say.
Princess, I was drinking green juice almost every day when I was recovering from chemo. I actually kind of liked the stuff, but I've gotten lazy -- it's too much work to clean that juicer!
Barbie, definitely pack some water and healthy snacks for the road! I really feel for those of you who have to travel long distances every day for rads. I was lucky that my local hospital has an excellent radiation oncology department (affiliated with one of the big hospitals in Boston) so I only had to drive 10 minutes.
Kim, that dinner sounds absolutely delicious, and healthy too. I'm actually pretty good re: cooking healthy meals. My problem is portion control!
So I decided to start logging my calories at livestrong.com (free website). I realized that with WW it is too easy to fudge my points. I'm still estimating a lot but I think the calorie count is keeping me honest. Last night I skipped my walk and played outside with my 8-year-old son instead. I was kind of disappointed but it was a beautiful night and we had fun. I ended up teaching a neighbor how to juggle tennis balls -- and guess what, I looked on the activity list on Livestrong and juggling was there, so I got an extra 41 calories!
Forgetting to eat -- what a concept!
-
Well, I fell off the wagon yesterday - I fell so far I couldn't see the wagon! But it is a new day and a fresh start. What is this hold that food has over me?
Lorena - I am going to look up the web site you mentioned because I am the Queen of Fudging. Thanks for the tip.
Kim - that dish you co-worker brought over sounds delicious!
Yes, I find when I am extra careful the next day I am ravenous. I keep telling myself that in order for me to be healthy, I am going to have to get used to being a little hungry. It seems a fair trade-off for a healthy and strong body.
-
I don't know if any of you know what an A1C test is but it checks for blood sugar control. It checks for the last 3 months and diabetics have one every 3 months. You can always fast for a few days and get your sugars under control for a finger prick but you can't fool the A1C!
In September 2008 my A1C was 14 (should be under 5 or 6). Yikes!!!! I was told that today it is at 7.2!!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!! That tells me that at least the meds are working. Now I have to stay on my diet and get it to 5. I went so overboard after learning I had breast cancer that I am surprised the refrigerator is still here - I was eating everything!
Help me stay motivated.
-
kmccraw423 - can I stray off topic to say that your dog is precious!!!
I too fell off the wagon last night - Mexican food, it's my weakness.
-
Lorena, I bought a new juicer last summer after bc diagnosis and I left it in the box until Spring this year because I was afraid it would be hard to use. When chemo finally ended in March, I got it out of the box and was really surprised at how Easy it is to use and clean. It's the Samson GB-9001, I picked this one because I knew that I wanted to juice green leafy veggies, but it also does carrots, beets, etc.
Kmccraw - - That's great about your blood sugar control!!
-
Thanks JanMarch. They are Coton de Turlear - we have two - sisters. I love Mexican too.
-
A benefit of the long drive to rads this morning was my local talk radio station. They had a nutritionist and personal trainer on speaking about how to lose weight and get in shape. She suggested that women especially can benefit from strength training, I think yoga comes under that category because you are working against and with your own weight a lot ( for me that's power lifting!) She also said that the most successful "losers" weigh themselves at least once a week and don't allow themselves to gain more than a few pounds before they cut back again. I guess the scale should be my friend. I'd like it more if the numbers were lower.
Lorena, I took your advise and brought grapes in the car. I usually don't eat grapes unless they are crushed and fermented, but they did the trick and I had a happy drive!
KMS The dogs rock! How cute!
Princess I may take my juicer out of the pantry and give it a run again. You make all that juice sound so good !
BK Yeah down weight! The sweet potato thing sound so good, and healthy. I too love Mex food it doesn't have to be unhealthy, but I do love stuff smothered in cheese!
-
kmc. I used to dog sit for a Coton. What a funny dog. He loved to dance and smile. And sooo soft. Just a sweetheart. They really are a fun little breed. Great news about your blood sugar!!
Strength training does help keep bones strong.
I never used to weigh myself. If my jeans started getting tight, I would just cut back for a while. That kept me at a consistent weight for my entire adult life, until BC and chemo that is.
Does anyone have some good recipes or fruit/veggie combinations for the juicer?
-
Firni - Cotons are bred just to be charming, sweet, loving and cute. Ours dance, prance and paw the air. They also would kill for belly rubs and will give you a hug for one. You are exactly where I want to be - Denver. Do you like it?
When I am feeling up to it I want to try strength training and swimming. Do you know that I normally eat all the time to the point I don't have a clue when I am hungry! I know when my body needs food because I get a blinding headache or my blood sugar dips too low.
-
Evening Ladies...
Princess..I bought a juicer that I saw Oprah use...and it is still in the box. Are they really hard to clean...and where can I get some recipes?
kmccraw...cute pooch...my puppy is a yorkie...named Roxy...she has helped me through therapy....she is still a puppy and very active...keeps me going...and we started walking her on a leash for exercising...YEAH....
Barbie...I think weighing once a week is better....although we are tempted to weigh every day...
Actually trying on pants in my closet will tell me if I am losing or gaining weight...LOL
-
Cruise - I love Yorkies too. They are such big dogs in little packages. Years ago I had a Yorkie that, on walks, would bark furiously at large dogs and then hide behind me.
-
kmc, I love Denver. You can enjoy city life with tons to do or you can drive a bit and you're in the mountains. All the nature, fresh air and beauty. The weather is excellent too. Winters are pretty mild and snow melts fast. But you still get all four seasons. Almost a perfect place. Where are you?
Cruise, how clothes fit is a better indicator for me too. I used to do a 30 min. power workout at Balley's and my weight went up, but it was muscle. I was very toned and certainly didn't need bigger clothes.
-
Firni -sorry for popping into this thread, but I have been thinking of you the past weeks and have not seen you anywhere on the boards I have obviously been looking in all the wrong places. I read some of your post here, sounds like things are looking UP for you (yucky about the toe nails though). Just a big Hello!!!!!! Stay well.
XOXOXOXOXOXO -Cathi
-
Ugh, I got to work this morning and realized that I had left my lunch and all my healthy snacks at home -- out on the kitchen counter, of course! I packed leftover fish from last night's dinner -- it's supposed to go up to 90 degrees today, my place is gonna SMELL!
A nice coworker just gave me a baked sweet potato that she wasn't going to eat, but I am still hungry. I think the coffee shop downstairs sells fruit and yogurt, I'd better go check it out!
As for weighing in -- I think I mentioned that I won't buy myself a scale. I don't want to get obsessive about weighing in every day. I usually go to the gym on Saturday mornings so that is my weigh-in time.
Enjoy the day, everyone!
Lauren
-
Firni - I am in Ashburn, Virginia. I like the idea of city and country life co-existing. I've gone on Craigslist for Denver to look at real estate. Some really great homes.
-
Afternoon Ladies...
Well I went to my favorite store today...HOME GOODS...and I can't leave without spending a fortune...anyway I bought a YOGA DVD...and I hope it works...I think starting with breathing and stretching will help me get some of my strength back.
Anyone else doing YOGA????
-
I'm not, but my niece did yoga for quite a while. Not only did she limber up and gain strength, she also lost weight. She said it was kind of hard to do. I'm sure it is if you're out of shape. Just like all of us here. Let us know how it is.
-
Hi all: I'd love to start yoga again. I truly believe it got my through having 3 babies w/out meds. And now the oldest turns 22 next month!!! I've been walking through chemo, but I really need to get the rest of my body stronger. I'm worried about my "bad" arm, which can't take too much. Wearing my LE sleeve helps.
I've been off the diet wagon. It really hit me this week that I'm done with chemo, and what could I do but load up on comfort food. Plus my dd made a carrot cake for her swim team dinner--left a loaf at home. I tend to be a binger (sp?)
Lorena-I left my lunch at home yesterday too. Had to walk down to the 7-11. Tried to buy healthy, but am still scared of the prepacked sandwiches so close to finishing chemo. So, yogurt, nuts, banana, reese's big peanut butter cup. and coffee. oh well. Better than the school cafeteria.
Hope you all have a great holiday. This is my first friday w/out Taxol in 12 weeks! And I'm not asleep!!! (Of course I'll miss the steroid high tomorrow, but not the crash on Sun).
-
Well Happy Taxol free Friday Kim. It is soooo good to get to that point.
I talked to my LE therapist about doing exercise with my LE hand and arm. She said that studies have been done and there is no increase in bringing on swelling from doing exercise. But take it slowly. Do exercises you've done before and know the correct movements. If you're doing weight/strength training or resistance training, use light weights. Start with 10 reps and gradually do more reps until you're doing 40. If there is no reaction, increase the weight and do fewer reps for awhile. Then increase the reps again. Continue until you're at weight and reps that you want to be or if your arm swells up. If that happens, back down with weight and reps. She also said not to take up new things like tennis or racket ball if you've never done it before. And she confirmed that the rebounder is VERY good for LE and just in general.
So happy exercising ladies. We can't use LE for an excuse. (Of course, if your arm/hand is being nasty, don't irritate it.)
-
Thanks, Firni. Felt good indeed!
I think I'll start with a loose reisistance band for my arms. My lightest weight is 5 lbs. Thanks for the advice. My arm hurts, and I definately need a ps.
I was reminded of why I want a rebounder when I saw one of my kids old teachers (now 70 yrs) biking up a very steep hill today. She swears by them for clearing lymph. In fact back in the pre-meno days when I'd get migraines during Never did. Maybe that would have stopped this damn bc. My migraines disappeared with menopause and I never got one. Maybe that would have stopped the bc. who knows!!
-
I started a yoga class on Tues. I hope it helps me limber up. What is a rebounder?. I exercised every day this week except today. I'm expecting company for the weekend and went to the grocery store and cooked all day long. But, I cooked healthy stuff to keep my points down.
I'll sure be glad when my radiation starts. I'm just not very patient.
-
Yoga sounds great Deb. I asked the same question about rebounder; it's one of those small personal trampolines that you can keep indoors. I was doing some arm exercises and had rt. side chest pain which sort of surprised me until I realized it was the muscle over my TE. How weird is that?! The take it slow at first advice sound.
Cruise, I don't have a lot of juice recipes. I bet when you unpack yours, there will be some in the literature that comes in the box. Here are two that I make: 1. "Green Lemonade" = juice of 1/2 lemon, juice from one organic apple, plus a bunch of kale (I'm thinking of experimenting by adding a little ginger root); 2. Spinach and carrot with a little parsley.
A friend at work wants to go on the detox diet with me, so I think I'll try it one more time after the holiday weekend. We're off to the coast for a few days after t-ball game tomorrow. I plan on doing a lot of walking. Have a great weekend Ladies!
-
Ladies...
Have a great Memorial Weekend...Stay active, exercise and try to keep on task....We can do it!
-
Cruise4life: yoga saved my sanity during chemo. I found the poses I could do decreased as the myopathy got worse, but are slowly coming back as it slowly gets better. Susan Deison's yoga for weight loss from Gaim does a good job of showing modifications for different levels of strength and I used those modifications as my strength decreased.
Going to be at a party this afternoon where I know the food will be good--and fattening. Think I'll fill up and eat before I go and stay away from the food while I'm there
-
My youngest sister keeps telling me and my other sister how we need to lose weight. Wednesday was middle sister's birthday and what does youngest sister give her? Godiva chocolates - a whole box! She then told me I could have just one and I told her no I couldn't. Its like cigarettes or potato chips - can't just have one. Ugh and Grrrrrrr.
Don't you just love little sabotuers?
-
I think I'd be thinking of the perfect gift for youngest sisters next birthday : )
Like, I'm waiting to see which one of my siblings with young children should inherit DS's drumset now that he doesn't use it.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team