Losing Weight While on Tamoxifin

Amy I felt the same way and will admit that after a month of being diligent with exercise and diet I had found that I had GAINED 5 lbs...It is demoralizing and I am now in complete pity party mode... 

I have made so many positive changes over the last 6 months in diet and increased exercise and I have done nothing but gain weight (maybe only a few pound a month but it has added up to 35 lbs).   I have been told that majority of the weight is because of chemopause and hormonal imbalance but I cannot afford a Nautropath or Nutritionist (not covered by insurance) and I obviously am unable to figure out what will work for me on my own. 

I just want to get on with my life and stop obsessing...first it was BC, now it is my weight...uuuugggghhhhhhh! I want to enjoy my life and after a month of following a low carb, no sugar, high protein diet and gaining weight, I am just not willing to go to those extremes again.  I will eat sensibly and in moderation, continue to exercise regularly and pray that my weight will level out.

I really hope that you do see progress, just your clothes fitting better is AWESOME!!!! You had mentioned weight training, remember muscle does weigh more so don't be discourage if you don't see a lot of weight loss. 

I was told to take measurement and use those as a gage...still expanding to now I hate both my measuring tape and my scale!  

Thanks for the feedback. I think I am going to avoid the scale for the time being.

Had another session with the trainer last night. He kicked my A$$!  I found myself anxious ahead of time - dreamt I called him and cancelled the night before, then woke up with butterflies and was a little on edge all day. The session wasn't as bad as my anticipation of it was! (Isn't that typical of so many things?)

He gave me a new workout to do on M/W/F the next 2 weeks. I do cardio on the alternating days.  It had lunges and squats and other stuff that I hate. But once I master the moves, I will blast my IPOD with my 'workout mix' and it will get me through it somehow.  He had me do a few types of pushups on the mat - girl pushups from the knees -and my knees were so sweaty, they kept slipping out from under me. Very glamorous!

I came home tired and sore but felt good (and relieved).  When I look at myself in the morning, I feel like I can see a definite difference in my body. Then at night when I look, it seems so much lumpier. Is that an optical illusion or reality?   TRYING to be objective, I do think I am making progress - slow, but steady. I will get there.

Forge ahead, sisters!

Amy

Great news!

As you ladies know, I have been too scared to get on the scale yet. But today we were going out with friends and I decided to try on 2 pairs of capris I have. They used to be too big, then when I tried them on earlier this spring, they were WAY TOO TIGHT. I was devestated.

So I took a shower and worked up my nerve to try them on. The first pair was slightly larger so I tried that first. They slipped right on! Not tight around the waist or anything. Then I tried the 2nd pair which was a little smaller. They slid right on also. VERY NOTICEABLE change in my body based on these clothes. I wore the smaller pair to lunch and felt on top of the world!

I am so relieved that all this hard work is paying off. Maybe in a few more weeks I'll weigh in. But for now, this is good enough for me!

Keep pressing on ladies. We can do this.

A.

great news Amy on fitting into those capris!

So, how long did it take you to lose weight you think?  

Weighed in again this morning, lost another 2 lbs.  That is 12 since July 1.  I am pretty encouraged. BUT I have to say this is the hardest I have EVER worked out and the most strict I have ever been with what I eat.  I am getting results, both in lbs and inches. But it is slow going and a lot of hard work.  I am convinced the Tamox makes it slower and makes the fat around the middle area more stubborn. I am keeping giong, though. The trainer says he is going to work me harder & harder until I fit into my skinny jeans again and then we are going to get our picture taken together.  I think that is a funny goal, but I'll take it!

Keep pressing on ladies. I am convinced I am doing something really good for my health! That makes it easier.

Sorry to take so long to answer this.  My approach is to cut calories pretty far down, but really pull back on carbs ESPECIALLY white flour, sugar and alcohol. Yeah, all the good stuff!

I eat cottage cheese & flaxseed meal for b'fst, a garden veggie burger for lunch (no soy) and some sort of lean protein and vegetables for dinner. LIke chicken caesar, or grilled london broil over a salad.  I do have some raw unsalted almonds for a snack sometimes.  I really don't eat much - no snacking, no desserts. I have changed my approach to food to being one of fueling-up rather than eating for enjoyment.  It isn't so hard once you get used to it.  

Now that it's been 3 months, I can REALLY tell the differences in my body. I am a lot stronger, leaner, trimmer.  STILL have more to lose based on the scale (boo!) but my clothes are fitting better and the jeans I couldn't wear last winter slid right on.

I would say I eat 'whatever I want' (within reason) maybe one meal a week - like if we tailgate at football, or I go to an event. But I try to compensate for it the rest of that day and the next day, and I really don't do it often.

Sometimes I get discouraged and it gets boring, but I am trying to do other non-food-related things in my life to make it interesting and exciting, and it works most of the time. My trainer is really pleased and I am, too.

So there you go. Hope it helps!

Amy

I was told that it is a weak phytoestrogen and there is controversy about it. Some scientists think it is beneficial as it bonds instead of stronger estrogens to cells or something (I dont really understand it) and others think not.  It helps me poop (sorry TMI) so I keep taking it. I don't eat any soy though.

My onc. said the same thing koshka, to really watch those carbs and red meats.  She said fruits and veggies are good.  But, watch things like pasta, breads, baking of any kind, and rice.  I am now finished with rads in the city, and will be incorporating this into my diet. 

I know it's tough!  My stepson had a friend over for the weekend, so of course I just 'had to' make them snacks. Muffins, cookies, pizza....  :-)  But today is Monday and the beginning of a new week - we can do it!  ((hugs))

Not sure where else to post this.. but if you're having to pay for Tamoxifin out of pocket and/or it's a hardship for you, please send me a private message.  Thanks!

 Miya

Hey there, Kosh!  I've had the same problem with Tamoxifen as everyone else on this thread--gained almost 35 lbs in the past three years.  My onc finally gave me some good advice, which is that tamoxifen is basically throwing our bodies into menopause, and we have to eat like we're in menopause. 

 I did some research and found information that tells me I should not eat more than 1100-1200 calories per day.  I've cut back on breads, pastas and sugars, and am becoming a rabbit because I eat so many veggie!  For the first time since my surgery, I'm finally losing weight!

Hang in there!!  We'll all do this together!

Catbert

Thanks for starting this topic, it is very relevant for me.  I was diagnosed in September 2010 and have had chemotherapy and BMX with TE's.  My exchange surgery is in 2 weeks or so.  I have been on Tamoxifen since February and have only gained weight.  Before I was diagnosed I was working out a ton and had lost 15lbs through working out and Weight Watchers.  I was so close to my goal weight and then I found a lump.  Like others here, people have told me that I probably found the lump thanks to my weight loss.  I gained about 4-5lbs during chemotherapy but was pretty sure I would lose it once I was done and felt that I was on my way until I started Tamoxifen.  I even went back on Weight Watchers thinking the 5lbs would come right off and I could hit goal.  Well, nothing went as planned.  I was working out a ton and watching my food intake but the scale just wouldn't budge.  Not shortly after the weight creep began and now I am up to about 9lbs over my starting point.  Needless to say I am pretty frustrated.  I found myself weighing myself obsessively and decided to go off Weight Watchers since I was more worried about the scale than how I felt.  Until recently I still felt good and have maintained my workout schedule.  I run more miles than I ever have but you would never know it based on my weight!  It does make me upset.  My husband keeps telling me not to worry about it that it is more important for me to be well than skinny.  It is just sad to see all my hard work go down the drain!  I am trying not to feel sorry for myself but honestly I feel like many of you.  There are so many people who do nothing to promote their health and yet I am the one who got cancer.  I have decided to try not to be obsessed with my weight and just try to be thankful every day for what I have.  I am a half full kind of person so that helps.  To go back to the weight gain though, I agree it is all belly fat and definitely feels like water retention/hormonal weight gain.  I plan to work out as much as possible and be somewhat conscious of my diet.  I won't give up the things I love though because life is too short to deprive myself.  Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories.  My hope is that I can at least maintain my weight if nothing else and count the years till I am done with Tamoxifen!  I don't understand how my oncologist can say that Tamoxifen does not cause weight gain.  These doctors need to read these forums!  Good luck to all of you.  Be well!