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misswim
misswim Member Posts: 931
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness

I would love to hear from other ladies who are working towards a healthier diet!

I have done so much research regarding nutrition and exercise and their effects on rates of recurrence. After finishing treatment, I strived toward a totally vegan diet. And though it was too hard...... sort of flew blind and wasn't getting enough protein, and gave up on it.

I'm ready to give a more plant based, healthy diet a go, and hope there are others who are trying to do the same who might like to share the journey- perhaps tips, recipes, frustrations and triumphs.

Here is to supporting one another on our way to healthier eating!

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited August 2012

    Bump....hoping someone will see:)

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  • cathy1968
    cathy1968 Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2012

    Hello misswim, I would love to have/give support for healthy eating!!

    I too tried a radical diet change a few years back but it was too many changes all at once for me to maintain it long-term.  What I have had much more success with over the past year is making a small change every few months.  The first was simply reducing portion sizes.  Then trying not to eat so much white starchy foods.  After that, about three months ago I stopped buying crackers (I used to snack on them in the evenings and could go through at least a couple of boxes by myself per week!  Now, since the beginning of this month I have been trying to snack on fruits between meals rather than other things.

    I have found this slower approach much easier to commit to, I still break the rules now and then, and still have some bad habits to tackle but hopefully I'll eventually get where I need to be!

    Have you tried something new recently?

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  • sj3daywalker
    sj3daywalker Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2012

    Hi Misswim and Cathy1968!

    (Cathy - 1968 is the year I was born...you too? Also we have a very similar Dx.)

    I was happy to see your post and start of a conversation.  I am looking for information and support in changing my eating habits.  I know that diet and exercise are so important to us survivors especially in the fight against a recurrance (I'm terrified). I really need to get serious about changing my diet.  I had 5 surgeries in 13 months and now that that is all over, I feel like I can really focus on being as healthy as I can be. HOWEVER, that's easier said than done. After years of not eating so healthy, it's hard to change on a dime. :)

    I went on a dream vacation last May and lost 15 pounds before leaving. However, I've now gained 8 of those pounds back. Need to get back on track, but what I'm most focused on right now is eating what I should to help my body fight against any reoccurance chances.  I just ordered the book: The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nutritional Approach to Preventing Recurrence.  I'm anxious to get started.  I also have the book The Pink Ribbon Diet but haven't read very closely yet.

    Have either of you ready any books like this?  Follow any particular diet?  Or do you have any websites/blogs that you follow?

    I'll be anxious to hear from you and others.  Thanks.

    Steph

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2012

    Hello Steph, and welcome to BCO.

    As well as the personal experiences of other members, the main Breastcancer.org site has an extensive section about Nutrition in general, and with special emphasis on risk reduction, healthy eating during and after treatment, and much more.

    • The Mods

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  • MissC
    MissC Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2012

    Hi ladies - please offer some advice if you can...I love these forums and cherish the support. Now that I am 3 weeks Post Chemo I really need to detox my body of all this nonsense..I am hoping someone could offer some advice.

    So happy to be on this forum now and off the chemo ones - YIPPEE!!!!

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  • BrookeLeigh
    BrookeLeigh Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2012

    I'm new tonight to this as I tried to stay away from all "support groups" to control the information people were sharing.  I've done a great deal of research on food, supplements, meditation, laughter, massages and staying alkaline.

    I am happy to share information if you want.  I have done really well with treatment and didn't have the symptoms that most people had and I believe it was my overall health to begin with, my eating habits (mostly vegan with some fish & eggs) and customized supplements as well as daily meditations (praying lots too)

    Thanksgiving dinner will have plenty of healthy options tomorrow to stay on track but will have a piece of pumkin pie ;)


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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited November 2012

    Brookleigh- Share away! Support would be great, I too am trying to slowly go vegan. Thanks for joining:)

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited December 2012

    During diagnosis I went on a radical change of diet under a Naturpath Doc. It was 100 percent organic and alkaline based and 90 percent vegen. I did it for 2 years and felt like a million bucks with the weight loss and increased energy. One night I got sucked into eating a gourmet meal and then slowly fell off the diet. I feel like garbage the last 5 years later but last week I went back to same Doc and am starting over. People even commented that my teeth were so white. I never used whitener. It was the diet.

    I'll keep in touch

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    Howdy all -- Linda here. (Been studying food and diet my entire adult life. Went to culinary school after divorce in 2000 and worked 8 years as both research chef and banquet chef)

    Last year (about this same time) I was pre-dx -- and my sister told me of a new diet several friends of hers had experienced great success with. Despite my qualms -- I gave it a shot.

    With the HCG diet I lost FORTY POUNDS in four months. It was a true Godsend. Would do it again in a heartbeat -- IF not for the BC -- but now that I know my particular cancer is 100% (!) ER+ and PR+ ... adding any enzymes/hormores found in pregnant women (what HCG is) would be just plain CRAZY!

    When I first got my dx I scoured the internet looking for anti-cancer and pro-immune-system-building foods. My first surgeon was an ass who told me that unless I was drinking a quart of lighter-fluid a day, that my diet had NOTHING to do with beating BC.

    Boy -- did I fire him fast. An 'old saying' I love is: "Thank you for revealing yourself." Thank God he was such an up-front-ass that I knew immediately he was not the right doc for me!

    Enough history.

    Here is (at least a start on) what I have gleaned during 40 years of studying diet and nutrition.

    Good for you:

    Antioxidents. Nuts, seeds, fruit (not banannas, though -- too much sugar). Berries and pomegranites especially good.

    Low-fat meats like elk, bison, chicken, turkey, fish, shell-fish.

    Beans (especially red beans, kidney beans, lentils, black beans, peas, edamame) all high in protein and low in fat. 

    Cruciferous vegetables like brocolli and cauliflower are particularly cancer-fighting -- and nearly zero-calorie. Steamed mashed cauliflower is a wonderful potato substitute -- white potatoes are high in starch (which translates to sugar in your system -- not good)

    Sweet potatoes (in moderation) are extremly nutritious, but careful about the calories and starch.

    Egg whites are extremely high in protein, with few calories -- try an omelet with only one yolk and 3 whites... try to go light on the yolks because that is where the fat is -- especially as some of our hormone therapies can raise cholesterol.

    Onions and garlic -- Good for you! And the flavor boost (with almost 0 calories) can help make any diet more interesting.

    Spices and herbs -- Go crazy! Huge bang for the calorie. Many herbs and spices are specifically thought to fight cancer: mint, thyme, marjoram, oregano, basil, celery, parsley, cinnamon, ginger, tumeric are all on that list. 

    Mixed-Messages: You will have to decide these for yourself:

    Dairy in general is high in protein but also high in calories... and there is some thought that the 

    Fruit Juice: Certainly better than soda -- but it is easy to consume a LOT of calories in only 6 oz of juice. In general you are much better off to eat the whole fruit and benefit from the satisfaction of eating and the extra fiber (which helps move the toxins out of your system)

    Dried Fruit: Again, better to eat the fruit fresh -- and some dried fruits add SUGAR (sneaky, but true -- read the lables) or sulphur to dissuade mold.

    Whole Grains -- Yes -- well. The internet glows with praise for whole grains -- but my personal experience is that when I eat grain I instantly crave more grain. One piece of bread is never enough. But if you must have grain -- at least make it whole grain with as little processing as possible. It is my strong belief that Industrial farming (Mono-culture, pesticides, herbacides, over-processing) is a huge culprit in why we GET cancer. Just remember -- farmers feed pigs and cows GRAIN to fatten them up. Grain is easily digested (sounds good, but what that really means is that it goes straight to sugar calories and is stored by our bodies as fat -- and sugar feeds cancer.)

    Tea/Coffee -- mixed messages re the caffine - but green tea is generally considered a cancer-fighter.

    Stay away from:

    Alcohol: Double whammy. Cancer loves sugar -- and alcohol turns immediately to sugar in your system.  Not just empty calories, but fuel for what ails you.

    SUGAR in all forms other than natural sugar found in fresh fruit.

    Starchy vegetables like potatoes.

    SALT 

    FAT - if you must use fat - olive oil is better for you.

    SODA/CARBONATION -- and if you care about potential cancer-causing -- avoid diet sodas especially because they contain aspartame - and regular sodas because they are pure sugar!

    Some sources claim anything packaged in plastic and all commercially canned goods as suspect

    Some sources claim Aluminum is a huge cancer-causer (although I haven't found any hard studies). I decided better safe than sorry -- I traded in my aluminum pots/pans for ones with a (non-stick) ceramic coating. Surprisingly aluminum is also found in baking soda... and anti persperiants. 

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2012

    Linda - great list!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    I had my BMX w/TEs a year ago, and found out I was 100% ER+. I didn't need chemo or rads, but my MO wanted me to take 5 years of Arimidex. I had read so many horror stories here on BCO, I absolutely refused, saying that I was post-menopausal, had already had a hysterectomy, and therefore had no estrogen in my body!

    She very kindly pointed out that estrogen was produced in body fat - especially belly fat, of which I had plenty.

    Standing there, at 5'5" and 204 pounds, I had no snappy answer.

    In March 2012, I started the Optifast program at Kaiser. It was a tightly medically monitored Very Low Calorie Diet - basically four months on a liquid diet. 

    I was taken off ALL my prescription meds (12 a day) except for thyroid. The only thing I consumed for four months was four Optifast shakes, one Optifast soup, and one Optifast nutrition bar.

    Within a few weeks, something strange happened. My fibromyalgia pain, which had been an 8 or 9 on my pain scale, leaving me crumpled on the couch or in bed all day, began to go away. Within two months it was down to a level 2. It wasn't from the weight loss - it was because Optifast is gluten-free!

    I'd always wanted to try an elimination diet just to see if it would help, but I was too lazy to do it on my own.

    I was never hungry, and the pounds kept coming off. Exercise was mandatory. The first time I went out, I hung onto DH's arm as I limped down to the mailbox. Then I walked to the end of the block and back, then around the block, and finally I was able to power walk for an hour at a time. I was even doing 90 minutes of water aerobics in the heated therapy pool at our local rehabilitation hospital, three times a week.

    After four months on the liquid diet, we slowly transitioned back to regular food, using the American Diabetes Association meal plan.

    Most important was having limited choices in the beginning, and sticking to portion control.

    A few weeks ago, I met my goal of losing 60 pounds, and more than 65 total inches all over my body. I went from a size 18 dress/pants to a size 8, and from a size 1X/2X top to a Medium.

    But more importantly, I feel better than I have in 20 years. I am STILL off all my prescription meds (except for Thyroid, and yes, Anastrozole Wink ) and all my lab work is totally normal for the first time in my life.

    We do eat mostly a plant-based diet because my husband has severe kidney disease and is limited in the amount of protein he can have.

    We do not eat any processed foods, and if we get packaged foods, we are careful to read labels to eliminate any chemicals or preservatives. I try to stay at less than 2.5 or 3 grams of fat per serving of anything, and when I do eat a slice of bread - maybe once a week - it's gluten-free.

    On the advice of my MO, I am taking calcium, magnesium, a liquid, sublingual B-complex formula, fish oil, a daily aspirin, and Biotin. 

    NOTE: What I am NOT taking are antioxidants, especially Vitamins A and E, as the latest research has shown that while they encourage growth in normal cells, there is evidence that they can encourage growth in cancer cells as well. The MO says to steer clear of those.

    I asked her specifically about an "Anti-Cancer" diet, and she said that there was no really strong clinical evidence that any one diet could prevent cancer.

    She did say that the best policy was to eat a variety of fresh, healthy foods; to try to get your nutrients from real food, not supplements; to avoid chemical additives and preservatives; to watch your portion control; to stay hydrated; and to exercise daily.

    In other words, eat what would benefit your entire body and overall health instead of trying to find something that would just prevent cancer.

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    Oh -- and of course -- the more you exercise -- the more you can eat, because muscle burns more calories. 

    A great (free) online tool you can use to keep track of your weight, daily calories, and exercise is: 

    http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/

    You can enter your starting weight, age and activity level, and the tools there help you figure out exactly how many calories a day you need to maintain weight (or lose 1-2 pounds a week). Then it automatically sets your goal calories up as the base, and you can enter the foods you eat throughout the day to keep track of whether or not you are eating the way you mean to!

    It can be a shock to find out how many calories are in your favorite foods... and that makes it fairly easy to target where the most beneficial changes are needed.

    Livestrong also has lots of informative articles and an exercise tracker that shows you how many calories your specific exercises are burning. It takes a little maneuvering to side-step the option to pay for an upgraded membership -- but I have found that the free level is extremely helpful, and plenty of tool for me. 

    I am 57, and had my BMX (with immediate DIEP recon) on Nov 6, 2012. 

    My oncologist suggests I loose at least another 30 pounds -- because my cancer is 100% ER+ and 100% PR+ -- and fat creates more estrogen.

    Plus, prior to my second-stage DIEP recon, I need to have already lost all the weight I plan to, for the best stage-two results. 

    SO -- I am taking this challenge on full-throttle! I see this BC as a wonderful opportunity to finally loose ALL the weight that I have always wanted to -- and get into the best physical shape of my life. 

    Yesterday I stuck to my 1200-calorie diet -- and walked 2 miles (over uneven terrain) and was rewarded with a 2-pound loss on the scale this morning!

    Oh-- and the previous post was (obviously) incomplete -- Please make your own additions!

    Also on the good list:

    Mushrooms (almost no calories, lots of flavor, and some claim anti-cancer wonder food)

    Green Leafy Veggies (especially spinach, kale, collards -- supposedly the darker the color the more anti-cancer)

    The hanging sentence about Dairy should end: The casien in dairy is suspect in some cancer-fighting circles. Also -- be careful that you are getting dairy from cows which are not treated propholactically with antibiotics or growth hormones (rBGH). Another challenge -- finding dairy products not packaged in plastic!

    Good, generally accepted ideas: Attempt to eat most of your food fresh and raw (as compared to commercially processed or cooked. A raw apple is much healthier for you than a glass of apple juice from concentrate.

    Also attempt as much as possible to buy ORGANIC and FREE RANGE. This site has some great pages about eathing healthy -- one about organics: 

    http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/food_chem

    Getting really brave now -- posting my weight. Today I was 195 -- the same weight at Dec 20 (pre-Christmas travel and family-food). My goal is 160 -- by the first day of Spring (March 20). A year ago I was 232! Being below 200 now is truly wonderful ... I am really looking forwar to 160 (and being fit)!

    MissSwim -- thanks for starting this thread -- hope to see you all again soon.

    Linda 

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited December 2012

    Linda and Blessings- such awesome information!

    I was in the process of losing weight when I got diagnosed. I was doinf Weight Watchers and started an excercise regime in 2010 and went from 177 to 150 in about two months. After my diagnosis, I was riddled with anxiety, no appetite, and lost another 8 pounds. I lost an additional 8 lbs during chemo. I have gained only five back, because I exercise like a maniac, but I am SO struggling with my diet. ate so many cookies this holiday that I am amazed my weight has not skyrocketed.And I feel awful for it!

    My goal for the new year is to eat as close to vegan as I can. I just received the book "The Kind Diet" for Christmas, sort of a guide book for aspiring vegans..... I shall report back as I make my way through it. Please keep the info flowing- so appreciated!

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  • sj3daywalker
    sj3daywalker Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2012

    I am so thankful for all of you sharing your experiences on this post. I enjoy reading how each of you are tackling the challenge of living healthy.  What is hard for me is self control.  I KNOW what I should be doing. I KNOW that I should be eating mainly a plant all mybased diet. I KNOW that I should be exercising daily.  But I don't.  You would think that a cancer diagnosis would scare me in to make that lifestyle change, but it hasn't.  I get really down on myself about this, but a friend of mine said something recently that really stuck with me.  She said a simple phrase..."it takes practice."  I need to accept the fact that I can't completely overhaul my diet in a day. It's going to take time and practice.  Small changes will turn into big changes.  2013 is going to be a good year for me.  Happy New Year to you all!

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2012

    I am not feeling particularly dedicated today, as I ate both a small bowl of Dreyers Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, AND a bowl of popcorn this afternoon. Granted, it was the reduced fat ice cream, and I did only have one half-cup serving...and the popcorn was Trader Joe's 94% fat free, single serving microwave popcorn, but still....

    I said in another thread that I think that right now I'm sort of pushing the envelope to see what I can get away with before the pounds start to creep back on.

    What I really need to do is get my butt out there and "Move it, move it..." (like the lemurs in "Madagascar" Wink )

    As for programs, I am loving my "Lose It" program that I have on my iPhone. Instead of typing in all the food I eat, I just scan the bar codes with my phone, and all the nutritional info is automatically entered into the database.

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    Blessings -- sounds interesting -- so how do you scan with your phone? I have a droid, but still learning it, not sure it has that capability. What about 'real' food like fresh fruit or eggs? Does it also have an exercise (calorie-burning) component?

    I had popcorn last night -- but because I walked 3 miles yesterday, I had the extra 400 calories to play with. I love popcorn -- hope that once a week with a movie can fit into this game plan... although I know that if I could cut it altogether I'd loose quicker.

    Part of me at this point, though -- just wants my "normal" life back. Yes -- I expect 'absolutely normal' plus even MORE healthy! And it seems to be coming true for me! :)  I know that BC may have more surprises in store down the road -- but I am determined to LOVE EVERY MINUTE of this sweet-spot in time, where everything seems pretty darn perfect!

    I am about 8 weeks out from the BMX/DIEP recon stage 1 -- and my body is really starting to 'feel right' again. The cording in my arm is much better -- hardly notice it in daily life now... and the new breasts are a little tender, but amazingly 'normal' looking and feeling... guess I am one of the few lucky ones to maintain skin sensation/nerves -- just a little numbness in the node-removed-armpit, and along the abdominal scar. Last night, though, I realized I was cuddled to my honey in a completely comfortable old position -- with no worry of what I was squishing or touching or bending... just sweet warm cushy comfort. I have so much to be thankful for!

    My guess is that loosing weight and more exercise is only going to make live even MORE perfect!

    Amazing that I feel like the luckiest woman alive -- despite breast cancer!

    Life is GOOD!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

    Linda

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  • pegs54
    pegs54 Member Posts: 45
    edited December 2012

    Linda-Ranch What an absolutely positive outlook..I had my surgery mid November & starting to get my normal back. I also had a great start on healthy living before my diagnosis. I went from 202 lbs to 158 between weight watchers for over a year year & then Physians Weight Loss Program for abot 3 months after WW. With that said between Holiday eats & lack of exercise the 6 - 8 weight gain since has got to gooooooo. Living in Wisconsin has it's drawbacks for outside walks but I have no excuse not to get back on the treadmill & Wii Fit Routine. I think mostly I need to get back to work to make my days pass quicker to. We have a family business with 2 other ladies in the office that allowed me the luxury of an extended recuperation & spending extra time with my grandson this last week. But I see getting back to my daily routine is going to be good for my own personal well being. I am so happy to have found these sites & wonderful ladies to share our experiences.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2012

    Linda - I have no idea how the bar code works...I have a new iPhone, and I'm a complete techno-dummy. Undecided

    What I do is open my program on my phone, hit the button for "Add Food" and a little bar code icon appears at the top of the page. When I hit that, the screen turns into a sort of camera, with orange outlines where you're supposed to center the bar code on a package. As soon as the phone recognizes the code (within seconds), it saves all the information in the database.

    As for fresh produce, etc, there is a database built in that you can choose items from.

    Like pegs54 said, I LOVE your attitude. It will serve you well in the coming months! Wishing you many more squishy cuddles!!! Laughing

    ~~~~~

    pegs54 - Congratulations on your weight loss!!! For me, losing weight was the one thing that helped me realize I do have control over some things in my life, and that I CAN become the strong, healthy person I want to be instead of the weak, sick one I've been in the past.

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2013

    hi ladies, just found this thread and would like to join you.  I lost 30 pounds with exercise and "healthy" diet but need to kick it up a notch to lose the last 10.  Read a book over Christmas vacation that I think will help a lot.  It's called, "Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight" by Dr. William Davis.  My mom had it and I got 3/4 done before I left. Just ordered myself a copy.

    Fascinating!  And scary.  Wheat has been so modified, it's become a super-starch and is not healthy.  I couldn't go 100% wheat-free during vacation but cut down drastically.  Weighed myself when I got home and finally broke through the plateau I'd been stuck at for six months.  Been not-so-good the past few days and I can tell I'm back up again. 

    But I'm motivated and as we know, Tomorrow is another day .....  HNY everyone!

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited January 2013

    Hi badger! Get to hang with you on two threads, yipee!

    Girls, I am reading "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. It's really amazing. She gives you a choice of three kinds of diets- and her recipies look so yummy! She is a vegan herself but does not push for any extreme commitment to veganism by her readers. She has a very cool website as well!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2013

    hi misswim!  Cool

    Do you know about protein complementarity?  It's a way to combine plant-based foods with certain amino acids to maximize protein.  I learned about it in the the 1970's from "Diet for a Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappe but there's a 20th anniversary edition:  http://smallplanet.org/books/diet-small-planet

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2013

    hi ladies, happy healthy new year!  I'm back on track after a weekend of snacks & football food.

    Only gained a few pounds but it was enough to convince me I have a wheat addiction.

    Had actual cravings yesterday but not today.  One day at a time, right?

    Blessings, I tried the Lose It app and liked it except for typing in all the ingredients.  A smart phone would make it MUCH easier.  Loved seeing exercise subtracting calories.  However, for now, I'm going to just try avoiding wheat and eating sensibly, instead of counting calories or measuring portions.  I do chart my weight on Lose It.  According to the app, I'll reach my goal weight in April 2013.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited January 2013

    Made awesome vegan meal last nite.

    Tofu triangles-marinated in asian sauce

    And spagetti squash with soy beans and onion in asian sauce

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2013

    No wheat for the past two days!  Steel-cut oats and a tangerine for breakfast; carrot sticks and natural almonds for morning snack.  Yay for almonds - a serving is 24 nuts and 160 cal (130 from fat), 14 g total fat, no cholesterol or sodium, 210 mg of potassium, 6 g total carbs (3 g dietary fiber, 1 g sugars), and 6 g protein.  Lunch is a cup of the kale recipe below; afternoon snack is a Chobani blood orange yogurt.  Dinner last 2 nights was roasted veggies, homemade Honeycrisp applesauce, and left-over meatloaf (which was good but I'll be glad to eat the last of it tomorrow!).

    This recipe is from a vegetarian friend here.  Enjoy!

    Suzanne’s favorite thing to do with kale:

    4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

    1 bunch kale, stemmed and torn into bite size pieces

    1 cup vegetable broth

    1 tomato peeled and chopped

    (hint: immerse the tomato in boiling water for 30 secs, makes peeling easy)

    1 cup chickpeas

    Basmati brown rice, cooked

    Saute the garlic in olive oil for a couple minutes (you could also add some onion here).  Add the kale and stir until it starts to wilt.  Dig a hole in the middle and put the tomato in there.  Put a lid on it and let it cook until the tomato starts breaking down (5 minutes or so).  Add the broth and chickpeas and put the lid back on for about 10 minutes.  Add carrots or corn to make it pretty.  Serve over basmati brown rice. 

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited January 2013

    Badger, that sounds amazing! I am day 3 no dairy. Going very well. Sugar is the next culprit to kick to the curb!

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2013

    I am stuck at same weight for FIVE days now! First time ever, I think -- normally there would be at least water weight gain or something going on...

    And the last two days I have been getting plenty of exercise... but Wed/Thurs I had to drive 3.5 hrs to Santa Fe for PT appt (and back the next day because I don't want to blow the PT by jumping right back into the car...) And while in SF I didn't eat as well, and didn't walk, and even had one margarita with my yummy mexican dinner... and still the scale didn't budge!

    Les said maybe the plateau (seemingly unrelated to food/exercise) might be my body changing fat to muscle since we have been walking 3-4 miles a day...

    Who knows? These plateaus have always confounded me!

    Today -- lots of salad -- and another long walk! This baby has got to crack soon!

    Linda

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  • Speedy4
    Speedy4 Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2013

    I've been making dietary changes since my dx last month and I know we are supposed to stay away from dairy...What kind of other "milk" is ok? Is Rice milk ok to drink or is Soy, Almond, or Coconut better?

    Thanks!

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited January 2013

    I am wondering what the point of those fake milks are?



    They have no protein. They are fairly decent in cereal or smoothies. Just calcium and some other minerals.



    I had the most amazing indian vegan meal last night. Will try making indian food this weekend.

    Had some of the bread stuffed with spinach. Omg was so good



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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2013

    Third day wheat-free, weighed in at 169.4 this morning. Cool Below that plateau again!

    Haven't been tempted by any of DH's junk food, either.  It's like a switch has been turned off.  Don't want any Pringles or Cheetos or even the choc chip cookies that I made last week.

    Bought a variety of organic veggies today.  Going to wash & cut them up so they're handy.

    I do drink milk.  Not a lot but gotta have a splash in my coffee and also on my steel-cut oats in the morning.  I go through a half-gallon of organic skim milk a week, from Sassy Cow Creamery, and eat a Chobani greek yogurt every day.

    My exercise is gentle yoga and brisk walking so I'm not one who can eat anything I want and burn it off.  Enjoying the natural feeling of hunger, and eating until I'm not hungry anymore instead of eating until I'm full.

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2013

    Go Badger! 160 is my goal weight -- I am jealous how close you are to where I need to be!

    Good news is that my plateau finally broke - 194 this morning! Walked 2 miles of steep trail yesterday - hips and knees a little sore last night, but it did the trick!

    Yesterday we had a huge "Mexican" salad for dinner. I made up a big bowl of lettuce, a huge bowl of pico de guayo, and another of redbeans mixed with (organic low-fat wonderful tasty) ground elk. Then heated tortilla chips with shredded cheese on top -- and put it all on the table. My plate was mostly the fresh veggies, with just a few chips and a little beans/meat -- Les's was mostly chips, cheese and meat! I dressed it with a little fat-free ranch dressing -- and pretty much ate until I was full. Love that about salads -- about the only thing you can eat about as much as you want to. 

    Today I am making a wonderful soup with chicken breast and lots of veggies (carrots, onions, cauliflower, kale, garlic) -- with a preponderance of cabbage. I saute all the veggies (on high heat, until they just begin to carmelize) for a really rich flavor -- and then add the chicken stock, and serve immediately, with lots of fresh chopped parsley, cilantro, and fresh cracked black pepper. Very yummy, for very few calories.

    Another favorite is the same basic soup only no chicken meat -- using red beans, a little spicy sausage and  tomato juice along with the chicken stock. 

    I also bought some organic/natural/cage-free liquid egg whites, and have been making omelettes using one whole egg and 1-2 sloshes of the whites -- to cut back on cholesteral and fat... filling the omelette with a TON of veggies (mushrooms, brocolli stalks chopped up fine, onion, sweet red pepper) and one ounce of cheese. I do this for brunch, when I can add both lunch and breakfast calories together... then just have a piece of fruit in mid-afternoon.

    Anyway -- tonight we will be outside hiking and hunting -- (cow elk). So I probably will get more than my share of normal walking in, and the soup will be a great thing to come home to! (It gets COLD here after the sun goes down -- immediately drops almost 30 degrees!)

    Oh -- and yesterday I finally began 'normal' exercises again -- going very carefully with the sit-ups since I had abdominal surgery as a part of my (DIEP) breast recon -- but leg lifts, side bends, arm circles (carefully-- re the lymph node removal).

    Feeling inspired -- going to get up off the computer and go do the exercises again now!

    Linda

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited January 2013

    I have been bad girl. I was at grocery store and wanted donuts. So i settled on bag of little debbie chocalate mini donuts. I ate almost the whole bag. They were so good. But I am not trying to lose weight. Am just eating vegan and doing life over cancer diet for prevention. Havnt given uo my cup of coffee with half and half yet. And still enjoy super light beer with hubby sometimes when I am making dinner. My chance of reoccurance is 40% so I am doing all I can to lower that.

    Was thinking of changing my liscence plate to FUBC

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