Having the hardest time losing weight

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Prior to starting Lupron I was already about 15 pounds over weight, now add covid and laziness lol to the mix I'm 35 pounds over weight. The fat is mainly in my abdomen back and arms area. I finally decided to stop avoiding the gym because of covid so I wear my n95 mask and I started back Jan 11th. So far I've only lost 5 pounds. Im eating pretty good, of course I'm not perfect lol. I also do weights and cardio so I know I'm putting in the right type of work at the gym. Is it the lupron? any advice?

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  • MindiG66
    MindiG66 Member Posts: 56
    edited February 2021

    I’m not on Lupron but after radiation will begin on Femara and concerned about that as well! I was at my ideal/happy weight before chemo - gained 12 lbs on that and it’s still with me LOL

    Guess I don’t have much to offer, other than I get it! Good job hitting the gym! When the temps get above freezing I’ll get back to my 2 mile walks!

    MIndi

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited February 2021

    there are numerous threads on this board on eating and fitness and wellness post treatment.

    One thing I'll say here : you cannot outrun your fork. It is way too easy to eat 500 extra calories than to burn 500 calories.

    I do calorie count with "my fitness pal" and a kitchen scale and I exercise with a fitbit. They sync up and let me know if I've eaten more or less than suggested.

    I'll be back to post the links to the active threads:)

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited February 2021

    Here's the exerise forum with many active threads. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58

    And here's the recipe swap for healthy living forum https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/86


  • Toyamjj
    Toyamjj Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2021

    Awesome thank you!

  • abigailj
    abigailj Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2021

    Hi Toyamjj - I'm not on any hormone suppression drugs but I'm 63 and had taken HRT before my diagnosis a year ago. So between stopping the HRT and taking AIs for a few months before I could have my surgery I started gaining weight. And after I recovered from the surgery the weight started up again (low hormones due to age plus lack of exercise, etc.) I did start exercising but what really helped me was when I added in interval eating - I just do 12 hours where I eat normally (semi-healthy, keeping calories reasonable but nothing extreme) and 12 hours where I have nothing but water or herb tea (of course I am asleep for a good number of those non-eating hours). That has really helped. I recommend giving this a try - other women have reported good results with it too, some even do an interval of only 8 hours of eating but that would be tough for me.

    Some women also report that they do well on a keto / very low carb diet but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep to that - carbs and I are very close personal friends :-)

    Abigail

  • Toyamjj
    Toyamjj Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2021

    Been meaning to start intermittent fasting ,not sure if same thing but seems like it is. Just to darn greedy lol. Have several vacations booked that require a swimsuit so time to get serious. Think ill start Monday!

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited February 2021

    I certainly hear you ladies. I'm determined to get my weight down a bit. I'm only up about 8 pounds or so from my MBC diagnosis, but I don't want 8 to turn into 16 and 16 into 32... I've just started increasing my daily step goal. Some of it is walking, some of it is jogging in place (like when I'm brushing my teeth), and some of it is on my under desk elliptical machine. We'll see how this works. I loosely count calories. I used the Fat Secret app in 2010 when I was at my heaviest and lost 23 pounds.

  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited May 2021

    There's a school of thinking that a lot of weight loss/gain is related to hormones. Not estrogen, mostly, but insulin, cortisol, leptin.

    On top of that, I don't know about you, but my weight definitely went wonky when I hit the hormonal changes of adolescence.

    Chiming in to say the keto diet worked for me. The heart of keto is very low carb. There are different schools of thought on whether the focus should be on high fat or high protein, and it seems to me like different things might work for different people at different starting weights. But *many* women are low on protein, and that definitely gets worse with age, menopause, etc, and can effect bones and overall strength. So I prioritize protein over fat.

    I started gaining weight before my cancer diagnosis (I'm a stress eater and it was a very stressful couple of years with a parent's long illness and death), but it really sped up with the tamoxifen (I don't know how much due to hormones and how much due to the fatigue increasing my appetite and decreasing my energy use), and even after I switched to a different drug the pandemic hit, and my weight went up even more. I started keto on a whim in September 2020. I basically followed this Reddit FAQ as my guide. I lost about fifty pounds since September, and I'm about as light as I've ever been (albeit, I'm less fit than I was the last times I was light! I'm still quite sedentary since the pandemic and haven't figured out an exercise routine that sticks).

    From the reading/watching I've done, I think there's better evidence for the positive long term benefits of a low carb high protein (or high fat) diet than for the high carb low fat diet that's been popular for many years. Plus I really don't mind it and don't feel hungry or deprived, even eating at a purposeful calorie deficit. Once I get to where I want to maintain, I might not keep the super low carb keto any more, at least not as strictly, but I think I'll still try to stick to low carb. I'll tell you it seems just like magic to feel like I actually get to choose my weight?!?!

    I've made exceptions and even went off when on vacation. But I noticed for me that most of my problematic eating happens when I'm at home, alone. So basically I'm telling myself that if I really want to go off diet, I can do that as long as I keep it entirely outside of the house - a meal prepared at friend's or family, and I don't take home leftovers. At home, I try to be strict with myself. I'll go over on calories if I'm really feeling actually hungry (this seems to happen before my period) but I won't bring home any carby foods and will really try to stick to my carb limit.

    Anyway, I hope this isn't too evangelical. I was actually looking for a different thread on here that I remembered but couldn't find yet, and happened onto this one. I do believe that all bodies are different and different things will work for different people. But if anyone is interested/thinking about it, the main resources that I've really found helpful and enjoyable are the Reddit FAQ (super informative), the Reddit subreddit r/keto (super supportive and inspirational), and the Diet Doctor Podcast (interviews with different people working on low carb and low carb adjacent science/medicine, the host has a very kind and relaxing vibe, and you can get different perspectives and approaches). My all time favorite may be the Adele Hite interview, which also have an insightful social/racial/economic justice angle. I also liked the Ted Naiman interview, which has a very pro-protein spin and a nice chill energy.

  • YesIamaDragon
    YesIamaDragon Member Posts: 363
    edited May 2021

    I am SOOOOO frustrated! Not weight per se, but fat around my middle. I have never been overweight, but during chemo and radiation my weight was all over the place. Since cancer I have been working out (chemo destroyed my muscles) -- now at about 6-7 hours a week, including weights, loads of core, rowing, biking, trying to get into running again (but balance is off post CIPN), hiking. My weight has been stable to down a few pounds, but my belly keeps expanding, and it is fat.

    I am a vegetarian since my teens, no alcohol, minimal sweets, love nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes.... I know it shouldn't matter as I am getting back my strength to do the things I love to do, but I am still grumpy and want something that helps!

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2021

    I'm getting belly fat as well, despite a stable (and normal) weight. Oncologist said it's from the tamoxifen. I struggle to exercise because of nearly constant musculoskeletal pain that moves around, so I'm sure that doesn't help. It's hard to work out when you feel constantly injured somewhere.

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