Chemo made me fat!

DebTheOne

Hello,
I am a 1 year cancer survivor - colon cancer - screening saved my life...so get your scope folks! I am healthy and happy and back to work! I am just chubby 30 pounds chubby! I've been fiddling around this site all morning inputting foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner AND what an eye opener it has been!

I am not a health club girl but I will walk. Ever since the weather broke here in Western New York, I walk with my students (special ed 6:1:1) around the track at school everyday for ten minutes - and on weigh-in with my Oncologist - I lost 6 lbs from my last visit! Just from walking!!! Now I am paying attention. I am 53 years old and the weight has been hard to lose. I hope this site makes it easier.

cathygaidos

Welcome, and congratulations on your 1 year anniversary..WOW is all I can say, I agree with you, writing down everything you eat, and looking at it, makes you stop and think about what we are putting into our lives. I too have lost 25lbs since 3/7/2013, besides the FTP I am doing Visalus, the shakes that taste like cake and they really do. I have started exercising, not every day, but on my good days..I am out there. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK and hope to become FTP pals.. Cathy:flowerforyou:

marciebrian

Hi there! 2 year (almost 3) breast cancer survivor. I was fortunate and didn't have chemo jut lumpectomy and radiation (and these nasty 5 year pills). I laughed at the time that I had to be the only person who gained weight with cancer. I'm pretty much at my goal weight now but continue to log so I am aware of what I eat and when. I do exercise because if you can believe it, I like it :-) Congratulations on your good health and welcome to MFP it really is a very helpful tool with lots of encouragement!:flowerforyou:

tndejong

my fiance just over came lymphoma. he had a long year of out patient chemo, in the hospital chemo, and had a stem cell transplant last october. i was with him every step of the way. i may not have been the one getting the chemo. but i can sure tell you from what i saw him go through and the many people i talked to along the way, i would not wish it upon anyone. im glad to hear your ok. my fiance was always a small guy. but he even gained weight when on the chemo. and of course you will gain weight. your immune system is compromised and your very restricted. you are limited on activities and cant go out much cause of the fear of being sick from others. or you just dont feel good enough to do so. i also remember trying to make meals for him. some foods that are healthy are off limits cause of the fear of bacteria. ugh! frustrating! but i want to congratulate you on taking your experience and trying to lose weight as a result. and ANY activity is better then nothing. walking can be relaxing too. my fiance now can run a 5k! i never will! lol

DebTheOne

Such kind replies from everyone! Thank you very much. I have Neuropathy as result of chemo - where as I can't feel my toes or fingers. I can't walk the kids up to luch - 4 flights! I can take them to music and art on 1 or 3 flights. I am uneasy on stairs. BUT I love walking with my MP3 player

toutmonpossible

Congratulations and good luck. I don't know anything about this, but as the cause of the metabolism change is gone and presumably you didn't pick up bad eating habits, maybe it won't take much to get back to your previous weight if you watch what you eat. You might want to walk for more than 10 minutes. Could you do 30 minutes most days?

BeachIron

Congratulations and keep it up! Yes, chemo seems to deplete muscle mass and add fat, and as you age you also tend to lose muscle mass. Don't be afraid to add some strength training of some form to your program to help you get back to where you were.

CubicCutie

Hi there,

you are in good company (breast cancer). Underwent 18 months of surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, adjutant therapy last Sept. Even training for a Triathlon, which I did as well as Escape from Alcatraz swim, did not shed any weight. It was only once I finished & got all the crap out of the system that I have lost a stone so take heart my friend.

The steroids are what do it. I am 61 & losing weight is hard I know. I walk - a lot! I also do open water swimming in the Irish sea each week just for the company of others.Good luck & just get cracking.

silvergurl518

congratulations on being cancer free!!! xoxoxoxox. that is a very wonderful thing.

i'm sure that with time and patience and HARD WORK you will whittle those 30 extra pounds down. just think of small, attainable goals--5# or 1 inch down increments. you've beaten the hardest thing already! the rest is gravy!

debraran1

Congrats to you for coming through it so well. I'm getting my scope soon (albeit a couple of years late) My sister and mom had breast cancer and my sister gained weight. Some of it was not being able to exercise during chemo and some of it metabolism changes. She lost 30 this year though and is looking great. Do the obvious things, watch calories and what they are...and do what you can with exercise. Muscle does help burn fat.
I know neuropathy is hard, a friends husband who had colon cancer has it. They do have drugs for it, but i don't know the side effects. Have you discussed those at all?

You are on the right path, try not to get discouraged.

DebTheOne

yes, I walk 40 minutes at home now. The 10 minutes was the time after lunch with the students before their next class. Once around the track = 10 minutes. A good brisk walk with weights in hand at home around my park = 40 minutes

DebTheOne

yes, I walk 40 minutes at home now. The 10 minutes was the time after lunch with the students before their next class. Once around the track = 10 minutes. A good brisk walk with weights in hand at home around my park = 40 minutes