Illinois ladies facing bc

Roula you have the rest of your long life to work off those pounds. Get through treatment the best you can. OK Now I want to go to Uncle Julios for beef Fajitas (I tell myself I'm not doing too bad because I order corn tortillas and black beans. Ha, the salt alone could give anyone high blood pressure in that meal).

DebrahC the last 5-10lbs are brutal. I put on 10 in Jan-Feb. lost a few in April/May. Lost a few more last month… and right now I think it's finally moving down. 3-4 more to go. I go through this every year.

Is anyone post-menopausal?  If so, on an AI?  My MO says I will gain an average of 4 lbs.  Not looking forward to it considering I have lost 25 since October.  Has anyone NOT gained any weight with any of the post-menopausal estrogen blockers (eg., arimidex, femara, etc.).

Hey ladies- I went into chemopause as well but had hyst. because of my Braca I gene mutation. I was told I couldn't go on anything but have not had too many symptoms that bother me. I have noticed that no matter how much I exercise and no matter what I eat it is getting HARD to not gain weight. I have to be more careful than what I did in the past. I also want to eat more fattening foods and am working hard to keep that hunger in check.

Have a great day!! Its another scorcer here!!!

Kelly

camillegal, Hope you were unaffected by the storms that rolled through on Sunday.  We didn't have power at work until the am this morning and I've been cleaning up here all day because the freezers all thawed.

It is amazing that we find people so close that are going through or have gone through similar experiences to ours.  At first you feel so alone and then you sign on here.....and feel not so alone!

OMG 9999!

kjiberty - I started AI in April after rads.  I'd lost most of my chemo gain during rads, but continued to lose a bit more.  So far only weight loss on anastrozole, but I eat a very healthy diet, exercise, and seldom drink.  I think cutting out my glass of red wine in the evening has done more for weight loss than the rest since I'm not doing much that's different than before BC.  

Kjiberty just to confirm I've met Doxie. She has no weight issues. I think she's a size 0 or 2.

kellycbk Don't give up. I've been working at getting off this 7-10lbs since February. Finally seeing it come off as of 2 weeks ago. I do work out and I don't mean just aerobic. I do some light strength training and I do believe the added muscle really helps with the metabolism. I am up to using 5-7-10lb weights but much of the stuff I do doesn't even require those hand weights. I do it at home.

It takes a while to work up. Initially I was only doing 1 set (10 reps) of each exercise without weights. Some of the exercises I could barely do 5 reps. Eventually I got up to 3 sets and higher weights… I started with 2lbs then moved to 3lbs to now using a combo of the 5-7-10lb weights. I would say it took me 5-5.5 months to notice real weight loss.

Also remember portion size. Our portions were all supersized in the 90's then just got bigger and bigger. A portion size is equal to about your fist. Be sure you drink enough water. Many times we think we're hungry when in fact we are just thirsty. Also replace those unhealthy snacks with healthy ones. I find that anything that comes in a pretty bag is addictive.  I'll eat a handful of unsalted peanuts (Trader Joes sells salted, lightly salted and unsalted) instead of pretzels or a spoonful of peanutbutter. Junk food sticks to me. Flavor low fat yogurt with a little fruit. Jello comes low cal. I make popsicles by blending low/no fat yogurt and some fruit.

Most importantly get the junk food out of the house. If it's there you will eat it.

Angellunch thanks. I am sporting allergen natural style 20, 397cc. No high profile for this gal. Your PS is limited in choice because for you it's all about matching the natural breast. I have seen some amazing results with matching. I think because they have something to match the PSs know what to shoot for… and it isn't left to their own artistic devices [or if you have a male PS, love of bigger is better. Men love cracks (cleavage)].

★ ✩ ★ ✩ ★ Happy Fourth ★ ✩ ★ ✩ ★
Try to keep cool. If they cancel the fireworks in your area you can make your own. (Sorry this is set in my home-city) linky  

BTW this  post was my 4000th post. I wanted to make sure it was on the IL ladies thread. I know I need help.

 A Recipe For Life

HOPE EVERY ONE ENJOYS THEIR DAY TODAY!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day (if you can). And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends/family will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for_________. Today I accomplished______.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it. "Success isn't getting what you want, it's enjoying what you have."

kjiberty - lago is being generous about my size.  I have been a 0 and 2, but have also been a 14 and I'm a petite.  I've struggled with both pre and post meno weight gain, so I get where you are coming from.  A 25 # loss is hard work and it's great you've been able to keep it off through chemo.  I was really worried about weight gain with AIs, but am not having a problem, but I am putting in the work that is required to keep the pounds off as a post meno woman.  For me exercise is key.  If I exercise, I'm more careful about what I eat.  And lago is right to keep the bad stuff out of the house.  

Great recipe for life, IllinoisLady.  I just took a promotion and some of those I need to tattoo onto my wrist so I don't have to remember them. (chemo and ESD brain)

 Y'all have a great 4th! 

C-Squared and Doxie: You too are soo funny.  My schedule with my personal trainer is being resumed PERMANENTLY next Saturday, the 14th.  I should be about 15 days PFC.  Just trying to wrap my head (pardon the bald pun) around this heating and being the city with my family who haven't seen me (other than my kids) since my diagnosis.  I will want to shop, but don't know if I will have the energy.  

Jackie,

Thanks for the list.  I have saved it. 

Beata-I am so sorry you are experienceing so many complications.  I hope things quiet down soon and you are able to heal quickly and quietly-and get rid of that darn drain!.  I'll be thinking of you and praying for a low oncotype score. Never hesitate to come here to whine and vent-that's one of the reasons this site exists. Glad they caught that infection early.

It's going to be dangerously hot today-stay well and cool everyone.

Good morning as I once again chose quotes before reading.  I think they seem to fit your situation Beata.  I too am sorry you are hitting these rough patches.  I think you possibly figured out part of your answer.  I think there is always a lot of stress with most things connected to cancer.  It sounds counter but we try so hard not to STRESS and to get over whatever is going on-- to put on the brave face and sail through ---- but it is there.  At the best of times ( and this really is far from it ) it can be difficult to get your stress level down.  I hope you gain good control here and move away from this as soon as possible. 

Spunky gave you sage advice.....this is where we get to whine and let it all out and pound our fists on the table and have a tantrum if need be --- whatever it takes to get going again.  Wishing you so well, and quickly.

Whew!!!!!  Hot, hot, hot.  I think we are getting a break after the week-end.  Can't come too soon for me.  It will get down in the 90's and stay there for a while.  Of course, I'd rather we had a nice consistent two or three day slow rain.  You can do some things with the heat but the parched earth......it so needs a drink. 

Stay well everyone and as cool as you can. 

Hugs, Jackie

I haven't been on this board for years, you were all such a huge help to me when I was doing surgeries, chemo, recovery, etc..   I have been doing really well, just lots of post chemo problems, last chemo was in January 2008.

 My bone density number dropped quite a bit between two years ago and last week, so I am starting Zometa infusions in two weeks.  Does anyone have any tips or tricks for Zometa?  I react to everything I take, my onc says I have the most sensitive system from any of his patients.  I have no clue what to expect.

Thanks!

Nancy in Quincy

Nancy, I'll let you know what I experience.  I have my first Zometa infusion on Monday.  Been stressing over whether to do it or not, but my family has very bad osteoporosis history.  It also helps keep or subdue bc in the bones.  I've got a very sneaky luminal B bc with low PR and high Ki67.  Have to keep on ahead of it, which were the exact words of my MO.

Anyone else doing Zometa?