Aromasin and Weight Loss???

I've never taken Aromasin, but I took another aromatase inhibitor (Anastrozole/Arimidex) for 5 years, after taking Tamoxifen for 2.5 years. I was not trying to lose weight at the time (despite being obese), but didn't notice that I needed to eat less during taking it, or that I automagically lost weight while eating the same amount, when I finally went off it.

It may be worth noting that in the overwhelming majority of cases, a drug that interferes with weight loss does so through one of these three mechanisms:

1. Water retention. This is usually limited in extent, and there isn't a lot to be done (if it's not so extreme as to cause serious medical problems).

2. Fatigue. When we're fatigued, we tend to rest more and do less - at work, at home, and in other aspects of daily life - sometimes in quite subtle ways. Being sure to exercise, get good nutrition (for best energy level), get adequate but not excessive sleep, and paying attention to keeping daily activity high** can counter this to some extent. Moderate, regular exercise may also help, and very intense exercise (especially something like HIIT) has the potential to make things worse, though that's very individual.

3. Appetite. Some drugs make us hungrier. If you're calorie counting, this should be less of an issue for you to manage if it occurs, since you'll see it happening. If appetite causes problems complying with calorie goal, all the usual satiety strategies are worth trying (slower loss rate, varying nutrient mix or food choices, changing timing of meals/snacks, etc.).

** There's a thread here about strategies to keep movement levels higher in daily life:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss/

The idea that drugs "slow our metabolism" is really not typically the scientific explanation in these case . . . which is good, because water retention, fatigue, or appetite issues are more actionable for us than "metabolism" .

I think it can be worrisome that something like our drug regimen (or age, menopausal status, health condition, etc.) could be making it harder to lose weight. But, even if some of those factors are actually at play, the same strategies tend to pay off, including the things Kimny talked about: Tracking carefully, being patient, figuring out our personal satiety strategies, watching results, working toward improved nutrition and a consistent exercise routine, etc.

I'm a 18+ year survivor of stage III locally advanced breast cancer, and its treatment (bilateral mastectomies, chemo, radiation, Tamoxifen/Arimidex). I lost about 50 pounds here a few years ago at age 59-60, and have so far stayed at a healthy weight since (I'm now 63). I wasn't taking cancer-related drugs at the time, but was (still am) severely hypothyroid (but properly medicated). It really is just about the basics, eating and activity.

Best wishes, and congratulations on reaching your 5-year cancerversary! :flowerforyou: