Any "fuller figure (or former) " warrior survivors out there?

Hi- I just answered your PM.  I was looking for your stats in the wrong thread!  I'm on the DIEP 2011 thread the most.  I did buy some yoga pants and some shorts too.  I was wondering about the feeling (or lack thereof) on the tummy.  I had considered the possibility that my missing tummy would feel like a weird kind of loss like the missing breast does.  No, I don't WANT a big ole tummy, but it is part of me and getting it cut off/out is a weird concept for me.  Amazing what the medical folks can do, but still it is a bit out there when really thought about.  Thanks again for the good thoughts, wishes, and prayers and hugs...

I'm also overweight and so frustrated about it. I was just diagnosed and started neo-adjuvant chemo.  To my surprise, my medical oncologist said that it is okay if I lose some weight during chemo, I'm just not supposed to go "crazy."  So, my plan is to really watch what I eat when I can and listen to my body.  I am exercising, under the supervision of a doctor as part of this cancer program at my clinic and am lobbying to increase my activity level as I'm able.  I feel so out of control of everything and know that I don't want to focus on weight loss per se, but it would sure be nice and affirming if I could see those numbers go down!

I just found this thread and am interested, although I prefer the term "Athena" or "Queen-sized" 

I was "Queen-sized" before my diagnosis in mid-2009.  I wasn't really able to shed any weight (but didn't gain any, thank God), until a little over a year after stopping the chemo.  What has really helped me is avoiding sugar and carbs - I try to follow the Eat Right for your Blood Type program.  My doc also gives me Nuvigil which helps give me energy and suppress appetite.  Still, have about 30-40 more pounds to go ...

I HAVE to comment on this thread!!  I started out on this journey in 2007 and had a bilateral mastectomy in December of that year.  I waited until 2010 to have my final breast implant augmentation surgery.  They took some fat from my tummy to fill in the indentations and lumps from my reconstruction.  After the surgery, I decided to FINALLY do something to get my weight under control. I did TWO things.  First, I kept a food diary to track my calories and then started to track my calories and keep them at about 1500 calories a day. The second thing I did was start running, actually jogging, because I don't run very fast, lol!!!  I have been VERY faithful to these two things. I keep my calories to around 1500 per day and I exercise EVERY day, alternating between running one day and walking the next.  I go about a 5 K each day. I have lost 40 pounds in the past year, going from a size 14 to a size 4.  NO diets or anything like that, just watching my total calorie intake and exercising.  It has been SOOO easy!!! It's really pretty simple. Just eat LESS calories than you burn.  It's a plan you can stick to for a lifetime!!!! SOOO happy with my results!

Mother of the bride not slim but oh so happy.

ToriGirl: Eat Right for your Blood Type is a book - you can get a used one on amazon.com for a really cheap price.  pretty informative!

also Nuvigil is typically prescribed to people who have sleep apnea that use a CPAP to counteract daytime sleepiness; also for people who work swing or graveyard shifts for the same reason; but it basically "peps" you up for about 10-12 hours in a non-jittery way, and for me personally it also suppresses appetite.  You have to have a very savvy doctor and/or excellent health care plan in order to get it covered.

What do you gals about negative feedback?  My mom told me the day before DIEP surgery that she doesn't mind the missing boob but my stomach really bothers her.  Well, now I've had the DIEP and much of my stomach fat was removed, the noob (new boob) is in jeopardy of tissue loss.  I am sad.

Hello, I would say that I am fat.  I need to lose about 50 pounds.  I had lost 25 but have gained back 15 since chemo ended (not while on chemo, AFTER chemo).  I have tried to stay on the South Beach as it really worked for me but it has been hard.  Today I had ice-cream..and a couple of marshmellows.   I had been exercising ever other day for months and didn't lose one pound.  I hate it, got frustrated and stopped.  I need to get it together.  I have just been sooo unmotivated lately....but I would be soo much happier with myself if I could just be thin again. I never had a weight problem until AFTER I had children.  Yes, another after there.  I did not gain while pregnant but after each pregnancy...

Anne,  the PS didn't really say the words fat necrosis, but I guess the noob isn't supposed to be mottled purple or have cool spots.  I also have big seeping blister type things all over the noob.  The DIEP flap was chosen because I had radiation treatment.  Implants are not an option for me.  Thanks for the hugs.

I was told all along that my tissue was too damaged from radiation for an implant.  I saw on another post that someone mentioned that she was told she wasn't healed enough from rads to have reconstruction yet and that she still had a defined tanned area.  I have a tanned rectangle from the bolis and I was told it was permanent.  I was burned pretty badly during rads.

Barbe1958, I could easily stand to lose 60 lbs as well.  How in the world do we accomplish that?

alexanjb ~ Just PM'd you!

Barbe ~ You had me chuckling.. I know exactly what you mean. I saw myself in a mirror in the furniture store today and got a little shock at the "fluffy" chick in the framed mirror! LOL!

Lewisfamily ~ Thanks for the tips!

Mum ~ You look beautiful!

Sagina ~ I like what you said " ask yourself what your goal is - loosing weight, reducing risk etc.  then when you reach for the food ask yourself will that get me to my goal?"  BTW, do you get bored with exercise?  I find I have to change mine up regularly or else I get bored and will stop for a while.

I do NOT eat a lot and yet I cannot lose weight!!! Cereal or toast for breakies, no snackie unless I'm hungry and then it's fruit. Yoghurt and fruit for lunch. Then dinner is normally a salad or rarely a pizza (little pieces!) or a bit of meat. NO potatoes, NO breads (except toast) NO rice, NO pasta. Just veggies (grilled). I even cut out bananas (too starchy) and apples (hurt my tummy) and oranges (too acidy). Only eat berry fruit or cantaloupe. I don't drink juices or pop, just water or tea with milk. NO sugar!!

What the hell am I doing wrong!!!! I'm NOT hungry, so my body can't be in 'starvation mode' and hoarding the calories. What the heck can I do?