Am I the only one who hasn't changed my lifestyle?

I do like the idea of eating healthy. I am lucky enough to have many farmers markets with affordable organic produce, meat, fish etc. I do take supplements, which I didn't before bc. Alcohol makes me sick these days but I did have a delicious elderflower mimosa on Mother's Day that didn't make me sick and yes, I now exercise but...the thought of never eating chocolates, cheeses, felafel, Indian, Afghan, Chinese etc. food, strawberry rhubarb pie, apple crisp and homemade whipped cream, lukshen kugel, chopped liver, bagels, cream cheese and lox, well, I could go on and on. Food is a gift and one of life's great pleasures and I will enjoy it all, in moderation ! Caryn

Selena,

Mmmmmm, I get the best smoked salmon at my Saturday farmer's market. Current favorite is dill/ brandy!

Caryn

@lago... I'm 5'8" and 135lbs... not thin, but not carrying much extra either.  I am strong annd healthy; surprisingly so only 3 short months out of treatment.  My doctor and my MO are happy with me - and with my fitness level/activity - but if one more "well-meaning" person goes, "... OMG, you're so thin !  You poor thing ... " one more time, I'm going to come out swinging!!!  Whatever happened to that old adage my Nana used to say, "... never, EVER make personal comments about someone... it's the height of rudeness..."?

I looked back at my posts at the beginning of this thread which were from the beginning of this month.  Big change is that my training is paying off, and I am now super fit from cycling.  I found this out on my trip last weekend, when I cycled up a major hill and was fine.  I still walked a few hills anyway, but way fewer than I would have earlier this year.

I noticed a difference too in how my tight jeans fit.

Will train again this weekend, and that should put me in good shape for the rest of the summer.

Yesterday's "exercise" (other than my weights/crunches routine) was three miles of walking to bank, shoe repair, German meats store, and wine bar.  I am noticing I power walk a lot more now that I am well trained for cycling.

My "diet" is featuring whatever goes well with asparagus, as bought 5 lb of it on my way back from Eastern Washington.  So cheap and the best on this planet.   Cherries are coming into season, so the first of the summer fruits (other than the rhubarb I need to eat).

Anyway, life is good.  I do need to get 10 pounds off, but am not sweating things either.  Summer cycling will take care of a lot of this.  Was hard over the past year as had a very sore ankle for much of it, which made things like power walking really tough. Now, it is nearly healed!!!

I can't wait for my summer wine selection from the wine club I belong to......Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.  And Copper River salmon should come down in price shortly.  Double mmmmmmmmmmmm. - Claire

There is another point with "moderation" which is that we need to think about the "rest of us".  My father had diabetes, and I don't want that.  I think much worse than an early stage breast cancer diagnosis.  I don't want heart disease either.  I want to be able to climb mountains, swim in oceans, lug my own suitcases, and cycle to the car repair if I get stranded (which is what happened last weekend).

But fresh peach cobbler sounds divine!!!  Or a crumble, once peaches ripen here in the NW.

So other than eliminating soy, I don't think of this as a "post cancer lifestyle" but what I need to be doing anyway.

And of course enough wiggle room to enjoy life's pleasures.

Love this thread!  I was in the best physical shape of my life when I was diagnosed at 53.  My niece, who died from BC 5 years ago this coming September, was the healthiest person ... diet, organics, exercise - very natural and conscious of what she put in her body.  Still got BC.  After she died my attitude changed a little, to "we're all gonna die from cancer anyway, eat your cheeseburger if you want it."

After surgery, chemo & rads, I am doing much better with supplements and trying to increase my fruits & veggies, back off the red meat ... but I still have a few beers a couple times a week.  I went 6 months without drinking during chemo, it did not agree with me. 

I am NOT doing so well with the walking.  I have miserable pain in my lower legs, neuropathy in my feet, and my ankles just feel frozen up - steps are a bitch.  I have fallen down twice, once requiring stitches.  I believe the neuropathy is left over from the chemo, and aggravated by the Arimidex.   So no power walking for me just yet (I miss it so much) but I am getting good upper body exercise working in my flower beds.  And walking thru airports as I am back to business travel.  Airports kill me!

Anyway, no self righteousness here  ... live your life, drink your red wine, don't feel guilty when you do.  Quality of life is important.

Debbie

I am also at about a year out - have 5 inches of frizzy hair now and am a bit heavier.  I just had a hysterectomy because I hated the tamoxifin and there were some cysts brewing.  As soon as I am released from the doctor I plan on getting back on my exercise regime.   

I think we are all trying to "figure out" if I do or eat this or that will that promote or detract from breast cancer and sadly no one knows - the disease hits all figures, races, health statuses...etc....

One thing I started during chemo was taking these superb vitamin and mineral/calcium supplements.  I was pointed to this online store by a friend and these are by far, the best, easiest on the stomach and supposedly have the highest absorbion rate of any of the store brands.  I can tell when I take them and I can tell when I miss them - so I DO NOT MISS TAKING THEM.

I can't say I have started eating this or that or stopped drinking wine but I can attest to taking these vitamins.  I am happy to share - it's more than I want to type here so just message me for more details.  

Has anyone begun working out that had NOT been working out before?  how did that work out? 

Selenawolf, seems we are in the same boat. I am 5'9" and weighed 137 last month, but seems EVERYONE has a comment about how thin I am and how I need to put on 20 pounds (wtf?). I have gained 5 pounds and am now 142. It is just sitting in my gut. Yuck. I eat chips all day long. All day. That's my secret weight gain program.



Started back at gym this week. Its been 6 months. I downloaded the app "5k to 10k" and started running a bit this week. I haven't run in so long...so it feels like hell. My f/boobs sting and ache, it's very distracting and annoying. I signed up For a 5k on June 3. I think aiming for a goal will help with this funky dark depression.

Molly, yes, in Ayurveda they say that broaken heart , posesivness, taking things personaly, and supressed sexual desires are the  root cause of breast cancer for ladies, and also for all kind of breast lumps.

I got the same conclusion, because otherwise i was living healthy lifestyle--veggie for 20 years, no smoking, no drinking alcohol, water was destilled, yoga, aother sports, active lifestyle.

Emotions can be so harming sometimes, isnt it.

I started out walking the local nature trails.  Could barely do it, at first: I was still in radiation treatments and tired, but hanging around the house was driving me crazy.  This past week, did 15 miles on the trails (5 miles at-a-time) and 10 miles on my bicycle.

Baby steps.

Well said Debbie, I agree with your thoughts. I am tweaking my diet and supplements, but I won't take the tamoxifen and I won't compromise my QOL. Still... I won't obsess, just everything in moderation, like before cancer.



I was in excellent shape at 51 when I was diagnosed. Have always exercised, maintained my healthy weight of 125 lbs at 5'7," moderate drinker, non smoker, yet still caught cancer. So, what more is there to do except enjoy the odd cheeseburger and get on with life.



Diet and excercise are only two pieces of the puzzle. Genetics, cumulative exposure to toxins, history of illness and viruses and stress are other pieces.



It's a mystery to me why some people can live healthy lives and get cancer, but some people totally abuse their bodies and just beg for cancer to get them, but it doesn't.



I'm still recommending the "Catching Cancer" documentary that may be viewable through YouTube. You'll see it all from a different perspective.



Cheers ladies.... Have a lovely, relaxing weekend and enjoy that margarita, should you decide to indulge!

Just saw your post and wanted to mention that there are Bulldog Rescues.  You also see them in shelters occasionally. I just adopted a pitbull/bulldog mix from the local shelter. He is awesome; so sweet and gets along great with my other 2 rescues; chesapeake and chesapeake mix

 Hope you can find a bulldog in rescue!

Scottiiee, I totally changed everything initially. Watched Forks over Knives and Fat Sick and Nearly dead while in recovery from my bmx (btw, I recommend). Went Vegan. Started juicing daily. Ditched fluoride toothpaste. Changed all body lotions, hair products, cleaning products, didn't eat sweets, stopped drinking (though mostly because I was on meds). Tried eating only alkaline foods. Organics mostly, a least the "dirty dozen".



Here's the thing, I got too skinny from so much restriction and felt out of touch with my friends and family. I have taken a lot of these best practices and continue with them but not in a strict way. I brought meat back in our diet, but organic. I have been drinking wine, but with friends/family (not on random week nights solo). My birthday just past, I had cake, 2 slices in fact! I still am doing a pretty good job avoiding dairy for myself (using almond or coconut milk) but still buying orgnanic milk for my kids. Will I eat something with dairy if a friend prepares it with love? yes. I don't want cancer to control me, but I stay mindful. You have to do what's best for you. Good luck!,

Scottiiee... why would we hate you?  Everyone has to get through this the best way they know how and, if becoming vegetarian- and organic is going to give you a bit of peace-of-mind and less stress going forward... well, you go, girl!!! 

While I espouse "moderation", I do try to buy organic whenever I can.  I've grown my own vegetables for years and use absolutely nothing on them, but tender-loving-care, so - when I shop - I tend to look for the same thing.  But - cancer aside - that makes sense to me on a number of levels.  I like the concept of whole food, but that is something that's been creeping up on me for a number of years pre-bc.  That's why I taught myself to make bread, do my own canning, grow my own vegetables.  I love the idea of "home-steading"!  If I could have a few chickens in my backyard here in the city, I would (for eggs only, I couldn't eat them.  Once they have names, I figure that they can never be dinner.)

I, also, find myself reading labels more carefully.  On everything.  "Moderation" doesn't mean you can't be thoroughly aware of what you are consuming.  There's room for "choosy" in moderation, I think.

Not crazy.  We all understand that fear. 

In the beginning - soon after surgery last year - I was terrified to eat anything, even some vegetables because some well-meaning family member sent me an article of all the foods I should stay away from because they contained phytoestrogens, i.e., naturally occuring plant estrogens, and - with an ER+ diagnosis - if I ate them, I was risking a recurrence.  "Recurrence" is the most frightening word after you've been diagnosed with breast cancer!  Then, this same family member sent me articles on how I should stay away from anything with sugar- or fructose for the same reason... there's goes most of the fruit I was eating.  Then, there was the flurry of articles about not eating red meat- or anything dairy because of the hormones, and avoiding fish- and seafood because of the pollutants.  Every time my husband came home from work, I had "slashed" something else from my diet.

Then, my MO stepped in (I love that woman) and she, gently, steered me towards "moderation".  And I realized that - for me - this was the best thing.  The worst feeling in the world was being absolutely terrified of everything around me as "cancer-causing beasts" and I decided that I just couldn't live like that any longer.  Especially when my MO pointed out that I had very good chance that the cancer wouldn't recur and, if I spent the rest of my life being afraid every day that it would, how was I supposed to embrace my "second chance"?

For me, personally, that made a lot of sense.  That's how "moderation" became my goal.  I still hesitate now- and then over something, and pause when that family member sends me, yet, another article, but I sincerely believe that a good, healthy diet and approach to life will get you through those once-in-a-while guilty pleasures.  Like chocolate.  And a great, chilled vidal!  And a night out with well-loved friends at a great restaurant.

Yes.  I still worry sometimes.  It's why I continue to read labels.  And stay as well-informed, as possible.  But I refuse to have nightmares over a Girl Guide cookie.  But this is what works for me.  And you will find what will work for you.  You will.

 Edited to add: PS  A lot of restaurants these days are embracing the "whole food" and "organic" philosophies, and offer these choices on their menus.  You may be able to find a local restaurant that does this that you feel comfortable with...