Weight Loss and Tamoxifen

Hi All.

I was wondering if anyone had the same problem as me. For nearly a year I have been doing Slimming World in an effort to try and shift some of the chemo/radio/herceptin weight gain but its getting more of an uphill struggle. I have lost over a stone and a bit but am getting so frustrated that its not coming off as quitck as it should. I’ve joined the Facebook page of Slimming World and everybody is going on about how well they’ve done and how much they’ve lost this week but I’ve seemed to have got stuck.

I have told my SW Consultant about the tamoxifen (who told me not to use it as an excuse) and everyone keeps telling me that I’m on steriods so its going to be difficult but that’s not helping.

I can’t seem to get motivated to exercise either, I feel really lazy but am still at that “can’t be bothered to get off the sofa” stage.

HELP ???

I was doing the Dukan diet before I was diagnosed. I put on about about a stone back on during treatment, and am now back on the diet (and Tamoxifen).
On the same diet I am losing weight at about half the rate I did before - I reckon that’s down to the Tam. If I wasn’t making an effort to lose weight I think I’d be gaining, while eating normally.
Peg

Hi , have been in the same position as you. Joined slimming world last September lost a stone and half so far but with breaks for hols It was so depressing at the beginning usually in my first week loose 5 lbs but lost only 1! Some weeks I would go and want to give up. My SW consultant is so supportive though. She said the Tamoxifen does slow wieght loss down . The thing is you have to keep going it will be slow and very frustrating. Some weeks I stay the same some I loose 1/2 but then I manage a 2 at which point i nearly pass out in shock! My waist during chemo and post tram went up to 47 inches , it’s come down to 36 inches. I still have another stone and a bit to go. I find walking helps . Some days it’s the last thing you feel like doing . I force myself to go out with my iPod just for 20/30 min walk and I always feel better when I get back.Don’t give up, if I can do it you can . I thought I was never going to loose my excess wieght but its very slowly coming off. You just have to ignore all the slimmers of the week and the super thinies . It’s hard I know , but remember its a good healthy eating plan too. Good luck and try the walking and get off the sofa.xx

I began myjourney back in 2007 and I agree with Reddottyback you have to not see what other people are losing and just concentrate on yourself I put on 3 stone and have managed to lose one but I am managing to maintain which can be dis-hearting but I know if I wasnt following a plan I would be huge by now. The exercise is very important even if its only a stoll around the block keep at it and good luck

Thanks for your replies guys it really helps to know that I’m not alone

xx

Hi there

My post treatment goal is to loose weight - I was already significantly overweight at my diagnosis.

Thankfully, the Tamoxifen has not led to an increase in my wieght as I was careful with my eating from the outset (my onc warned me not to gain more weight).

I have been doing the 5-2 diet for 3 weeks now and the weight is slowly coming off. I don’t expect miracles overnight.  I am also aiming to get a brisk 30 min walk in every day to improve my fitness. Breast cancer has been a wake-up call for me to improve my overall health.

Good luck to the rest of you with your weight loss plans!

Andie