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

Fellow fatty patty here! My PS said she'd like to see me lose 30-40 lbs. I'd like to lose 75! It's hard to beat the steroid munchies. I have always enjoyed the taste of food--portion control be damned vi am a foodie. Fortunately, I cannot eat as much as I used to post-DIEP. I am consciously trying to make better food choices. Now is the perfect opportunity to gain control over everything.



Barbe--I am far from being a nutritionist, but it appears that you start your day with more carbs (toast or cereal). Try starting with more protein. Your energy will ge sustained, less carbo crashing, and protein keeps your metabolism going. Just a thought--it is never easy!!!

I just got an email from Blue Cross Blue Shield today about Blue Care Connection Weight management program. It's part of my health coverage and I can get a wellness counselor to evaluate, motivate and educate me.  Maybe there are other health insurances with this?  Also we have a Thrive Well program for cancer patients here in town and the Komen foundation is sponsoring the DIVA exercise program and nutritional counseling. 

Whew, now if I can only get someone to eat right for me and exercise for me and I get to loose the weight! lol.  Utopia!

Sagina,

Does that include a consult with a dietician? I have a BC/BS plan that offers a lot of stuff online but their site is so difficult to navigate I gave up.  I have mentioned this when I actually get to talk to some one.  Please share .....

kc165,

My son studied Exercise Science and is now in grad school for Physical Therapy. My other son is a network administrator for a national trucking company so I have both my computer and fitness covered, that is if they ever stop by the house. You know the saying "the shoemakers kids have no shoes" !!

Sewingnut ~ LOL over the shoemaker's children have no shoes!  My husband is a graphic designer and insisted that when my oldest was born he would design the birth announcements... well he is 24 and I'm still waiting! haha

Gina ~ Thanks for the info. I had a hysterectomy a couple of months ago and am now in menopause. I've been reading that this puts one at higher risk for heart disiease and so I am really wanting to lose my weight and watch my fat and cholesterol intake.  I have cut down my red meat intake drastically and eat a lot of chicken and ground turkey.  I am trying to do fish too, but I'm just not a fan and hate to cook it.

Tori ~ Walking in the morning is great and it is amazing how much energy it gives for the rest of the day!  

Ha ha, on the weighted foob.  Doesn't it feel like a ton?  I actually put mine on the scale and it didn't even register but it feels heavy.

Jamie, cancer was finally my motivator to do something about my weight - finally.  I'm 5'7" and for the first time in my life I am going to admit how much I weigh - 265....embarrassingly....

Vegan is a diet void of all animal products and in Texas we are few and far between! lol.  So I've started to drink unsweet almond milk (with calcium and vitamin d), and gave up cheese my absolute favorite food.  After a couple of weeks, my taste buds started changing and I craved veggies more, fruit less, and sugar - not at all.  I got the following email today, it explains the meat connection and the plant based diet so much better than I could. I'm going to buy that book tomorrow.

5. Reduce consumption of animal protein.

Cooked meat (not just red meat, poultry as well) is known to contain breast carcinogens such as PhiP.9-11 Consuming more protein and especially dairy products raises blood levels of IGF-1, and elevated IGF-1 levels have been associated with increased in breast cancer risk in many studies.13-21 Higher fish consumption in women has also been linked to higher rates of breast cancer.12 Agricultural and industrial carcinogens, such as dioxins, accumulate in fatty tissues. Humans' primary mode of exposure to these dangerous chemicals is from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy fat.22

6. Eat lots of green vegetables, mushrooms, and onions.

Following a high-nutrient diet, as described in my book Eat to Live, protects against many chronic diseases, breast cancer included. Green vegetables and mushrooms are the most powerful anti-breast cancer foods. Take note that a vegetarian diet does not show protection against breast cancer as much as a diet rich in green vegetables, mushrooms, onions, berries, and seeds. It is the phytochemical nutrient density and diversity of the diet that offers the most dramatic protection against cancer, not merely the avoidance of meat or fat.23-27 Vegetables and fruits have been consistently associated with both reduced risk of breast cancer and improved survival of breast cancer patients.23,25,28-30 Cruciferous vegetables contain powerful anti-cancer compounds that halt the growth of breast cancer cells and promote excretion of estrogen.24,31,32 Mushrooms block tumor growth and have anti-estrogenic activity - regular consumption of mushrooms - as little as one mushroom per day - has been shown to decrease breast cancer risk by up to 60-70%.26,27,33 Organosulfur compounds in onions and garlic also prevent the development of cancers by detoxifying carcinogens, halting cancer cell growth, and preventing tumors from obtaining a blood supply.34

Barb-isn't it great being special?  As in they have never seen anything like it?  Grrrrrrrrrrrr  Must be some other ways to be special.

I'm considering going vegetarian too because of the cancer.  I just always have low protein levels, so I worry about that.  Thinking about joining weight watchers again (online probably only) as I had previously had success on that program.  

 Another post was talking about issues with weight loss and reconstruction surgery, so now I am worried about that too.  Anyone have any experience with this yet? 

I am in... I am going to bag up the stuff I do not need to eat out my cabinets NOW...

I am given up redmeat and process food...

I need motivation to exercise...

sohardbnme~a friend on these boards told me to think of exercise as my next treatment plan, that's it required for me to get healthy, like chemo or rads.  Thank kind of makes sense, and so simple.  I bought my friends stride cycle, I'm going to attempt 5 whole minutes tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol. and that will probably do me in!

Well you are ahead of me.  I bought the stride cycle, haven't picked it up yet! lol.  Let's motivate each other!!!!

The onco-physiatrist (the excercise medicine oncology guy) wants me to exercise at my aerobic threshold--that place where you feel like you are working, but not too hard.  You can talk without a problem, etc.  He said that this is the "magic" place because it helps you improve your cardiovascular fitness, making it easier (and thereby less fatiguing) to do everyday tasks.  The goal is for the exercise to be energizing, but not fatiguing.  It's such a different mindset for me, but he described it to me as my new training plan (I'm a former athlete) for this "event"--my cancer treatment.  He did say that I could try a more "regular" workout and go harder and see how I feel, but suspects that it will tired me out too much.  Another reminder of how much cancer is mess with my life!  If anyone is interested, my doc has a podcast about it here.