how to lose weight on tamoxifen

Hey Kitty cat 

Way to go with losing 4lbs  !! Pilates is great too all the core strengthening and muscle lengthening :)

It just takes time really doesn't it ? Go at your own pace there isn't a race or pressure and everyone is different. I was majorly active before all this so possibly have that as an advantage or what I'm pushing for - but some days I'm tired and achy same as everyone, although I do find moving makes any stiffness better - oh er !!

A little and often is the answer :) Ohhh holiday sounds awesome - you deserve it !! xxx

Thanks for all the responses here, it seems there are a lot of us in the same fat boat. Not sure why they didn't get forwarded to my inbox,  but oh well. 

Fiona j, your hilarious! Its good to have a sense of humor through all this, or we'd all probably go mad.

I've done the exercise and diet regime, to no avail. I've tried pillates, zumba, and purchased an exercise bike that I rode for an hour a day. Still no weight loss. 

At my first meeting with the oncologist after chemo was over, I expressed to her how upset I was about the weight gain. She told me not to be concerned, unless I start gaining lots of fat in the abdominal area. Well, for the most part, that's where most of the excess fat has settled. She said if you get to fat in the mid section, you will create more estrogen, and in my case (estrogen positive cancer) that's not a good thing. As much as I sweat on a regular basis now, I guess I use that as an excuse not to exercise as much as I should. Just carrying a bag of groceries home (15 min. walk) causes me to almost always have to change my shirt and bra because of the sweat. Its disgusting. For the life of me I can't understand whats happened to my body, that I can't shed a pound. Is the tamoxifen preventing it, and how the h*ll is that possible? I'm guessing my metabolism no longer exists, and that isn't helping me on my weight loss journey either. Not sure how to get that back. 

Tomorrow I go in for (hopefully) my final reconstruction surgery, and another episode of liposuction. Had it done with the last reconstruction surgery and can't see any results.... sad..  

Thanks to all who have responded, your all a great group of people :-)

Hi,

I am one of the strange ones who has lost 2 stone since diagnosis last April. I just cut out biscuits, cake, white bread, jam etc. Basically most of the rubbish that I used to eat to keep me going through the day. I still do eat chocolate a bit and have the occasional treat but mostly it's fruit and veg for me. I haven't put any weight back on and I've been on Tamoxifen since the beginning December - having said that, this cold winter weather is making me want to eat all the time!! Cassie xx

Since my diagnosis in April 2016 where I had 6 x chemo, surgery and finished with 25 radiotherapy sessions, I’m now on Tamoxifen for 10 whole lovely years (only 8 1/2 to go).  I have definitely noticed weight gain since this all started.  I have always eaten really healthly during the week and let go at the weekends, but noticed this wasn’t doing anything anymore no matter what I did.  I have always excercised and was very aware that this may just be what I needed to do.  I joined my local gym and I can honestly say that in the last 6 weeks where I have done (and this is the honest truth) 42 spinning classes this being 7 every week and 20 Pilates classes and not a dicky bird.  Now I know that I won’t burn calories with Pilates I do it for my back, but the spinning classes?.... I would have expected something.  Yes my legs feel amazing and I feel less bulky but that’s about it.  I’m eating organic food and drink as much as possible and this is because I kept thinking at Christmas that if a normal sprout is now the size of a small cabbage compared to an organic sprout which is the size of the sprouts I remember as a child, you know.. normal sprout size not the size of s golf ball what is going into them  to make them that big?  What is going into normal foods to make them last so long.  I don’t know about anyone else but I’m up for reducing the chemicals/pesticides I put on my body.   Don’t get me wrong I still eat normal food too because organic is expensive  and not everything is available in an organic option. I do have the odd glass of red wine but even that is organic.  So I don’t know what the answer is.  It’s frustrating cause I am shifting heaven and earth to burn the Calories off but even the High Intensity Interval Training that spinning is and it  is supposed to have the  most effective fat burning benefits of any excercise, it’s not really doing that much as yet.  Maybe I need to give it more time 6 weeks isn’t that long I know. I would love to know if anyone had any other suggestions?  It’s tough going this weight loss milarchy. 

Hi,, unfortunately it wont matter what you do,, whilst you are on the hormone reducing AI's weight gain is part and parcel. I am active, and do almost as much as you, but cant shift an ounce..

did slimming world, not a ounce came off, really depressing

its unfortunately not going to help except keep you fit

Ive put on 2 and a half stone and i hate myself, hate my body, and im really depressed about it

but whilst im on these darn things im going to have to do all i can but just accept it

cheers

Sal

Ive always struggled with maintaining a healthy weight , I’m 51 , 5 foot 7 and it’s varied between a low 9-10 and a high  13-4 over the years . At diagnosis last April  I weighed 11-9 and I’ve been on tamoxifen for a year and it crept up again to. 12-4 although I  don’t think tamoxifen caused me to put on weight if I’m honest I’ve just been greedy . 

I hope to have a breast reduction this year on my “good” breast to match my implant breast for size and perkiness and therefore  need to reduce it as much as possible naturally before the operation , so six weeks ago I embarked on 1000 calories a day diet . I have managed to lose 12 pounds so far , a pretty much constant 2 pounds a week. Ive made up my own diet , mostly consisting of shop bought soups , vegetables and fruit and whilst very boring and repetitive , it’s filling and more importantly it’s working . Ive had to stop any form of socialising though and no alcohol as these trigger me to overeat . I’ve used the my fitness pal app which keeps a track of the calories and it’s been really very helpful . 

I’ve not had chemo or radiotherapy , just a mastectomy , so don’t know to what extent these may affect your body’s ability to lose weight , but hope this experience may encourage people to know some people can lose weight whilst on tamoxifen . 

I do understand  how you feel about your body , having a scarred nipple - less 32D left breast and a 32H right one is bad enough , but an extra two stone does nothing for your confidence ! I do hope you find an eating plan which works for you to help you lose the weight and also  continued good health and happiness . 

If you can keep active and avoid comfort eating (definitely harder for me during the pandemic) you can definitely lose weight on tamoxifen.

The recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of more intense exercise) definitely helps. That's a couple of walks or online cardio / Zumba / HIIT classes a week.

Yoga helped me lose my weight a lot faster.

Yoga burns calories when done the right way.

If you are serious about losing weight and getting fit, you might want to implement a 60-minute power yoga and/or vinyasa flow practice at least five to six days per week.

If you want to follow my example, think about coupling your practice with a whole foods diet for optimal results.

Good luck!

Mandy

Hi, I'm 7 yes post treatment and I'm 3 stone heavier, fat, frumpy, hate myself and my body, cant lose an ounce, I'm on letrozole, and now on thyroid tablets which apparently is supposed to ,aje me lise some weight, nothing happening, I walk every day, walk hills which has become a struggle trying to get 3 stone of lard on my body extra up hill, if you get any tips other than me getting a carving knife and slicing slabs off my body, chuck them my way plse xx  Iif you read other stories it's a common theme, very very depressing xxxx