Ways to start new diet plan and succeed?

I'm like you, just starting, but thought I'd chime in with my approach, not yet proven of course. I am trying to add things one or two at a time so that they become habitual. First, is getting the basic aerobic exercise and dietary changes in place. Exercise is scheduled every morning before work in place of the previous radiation appointment. Those are admittedly big steps, but I'm finding them easier than in the past, knowing that my life could literally depend on them. Next, I'm going to try to get any blood tests that the books have advised and come up with a supplement strategy in connection with a naturopath or similar. Then I'm going to try to add other complementary activities like yoga, qi gong and acupuncture. I hope to do yoga and qi gong at home via programs on my iPad so that I don't have to make it to a class at an appointed time. I am also going to integrate meditation into my schedule, probably before the yoga etc. but not sure.



I have found that my MO does not discuss these things unless I bring them up. Even then, there's not much discussion and he referred me to the nutritionist on staff, who was quite good. I think you mean that your MO may recommend an anti-hormonal. I am taking one as well. I also got myself on Metformin.

My MO is thrilled that I'm on Optifast. She said if I hadn't referred myself, she would have put me in the program. Because I am ER+, she said the very best thing I could do for both my overall health, and my breast cancer, would be to drop this excess weight (and body fat, where estrogen is produced) now.

So for 16 weeks, I am off all regular food, and drinking only the Optifast products through a medically-supervised weight loss program (Kaiser). I am off all my meds!

They call it a "vacation from food"; I call it my "food detox" program.

I am down 40 pounds from my highest weight, with 35 pounds to go.

I haven't felt this good, or this young, for years. I don't think it's due solely to the weight loss, but rather it's the elimination of white sugar, white flour, and gluten from my diet. (I also exercise, but not as much as I should.)

We always ate healthy (DH has kidney disease) but every time I tried to go on a stricter diet and eliminate the "whites" and the gluten, I always got too bored/stressed/lazy to continue.

Now I have a new motivation: a BC dx. I didn't need chemo or rads, so I consider this part of my BC treatment.

In July we start Transition, where we gradually add in regular foods to the meal plan. That will last for 14 weeks, and I am going to make sure I am VERY careful about what gets put back in. After that, there is a year of follow-up to make sure we are sticking to the behavioral changes that are necessary.

I already know I will have to take Arimidex for five years. The MO and I have had MANY discussions about this. We finally reached an understanding that I would give it a try, and if I had too many side effects, I would try another - or possibly two other - drugs, but in the end, I mostly cared about my quality of life.

She agreed. In fact, she told me to wait until after the fasting phase of the diet so there wouldn't be any confusion over possible side effects. But my pass runs out in the fall!!! At least, with a healthy eating plan and excercise plan in place, she knows I am serious about ridding my body of estrogen, and getting as healthy as possible.

She said that with my kind of cancer, studies showed that just a healthy diet and exercise alone could mean a 23% reduction in recurrence.