HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - weight, weight gain after diagnosis adversely affect survival in breast cancer

Becky · 12-09-2007, 11:57 AM

The menopause thing is something to contend with. I too needed to lose about 45 lbs or so to be in a healthy BMI (despite that I ran before bc). I did lose 35 lbs during and after treatment. However, once I had those ovaries removed I can't get rid of the last 10-12 lbs (which would put me smacki n the middle of the weight range for my height (and that would be about right as I am a medium frame even though I'd love to say I am a large frame)!

Even though I went back to running from walking in April, my weight still hasn't budged even though in the same hour or so, I can go about 1/3 of the distance more than just walking. And its a better workout. However, not all that many extra calories are burned and the body gets more efficient when doing the same exercise. So, I am going to start doing exercise tapes on my 2 down days and on my short run day I am going to do a short tape. I think if you start to mix it up, it keeps the body guessing and burning more calories. Just like your diet, the body gets used to it and gets efficient - even if you are a marathoner - at first you might burn X amount of calories but after awhile it will become X-2.

Also, I have found that I carry more of my fat in the middle. The rest of me is good but that part is not so good. Oh well. I am sure I would have had these problems anyway and at least now I am young enough to try to work hard at exercising them away.

12-09-2007, 11:57 AM	#10
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	The menopause thing is something to contend with. I too needed to lose about 45 lbs or so to be in a healthy BMI (despite that I ran before bc). I did lose 35 lbs during and after treatment. However, once I had those ovaries removed I can't get rid of the last 10-12 lbs (which would put me smacki n the middle of the weight range for my height (and that would be about right as I am a medium frame even though I'd love to say I am a large frame)! Even though I went back to running from walking in April, my weight still hasn't budged even though in the same hour or so, I can go about 1/3 of the distance more than just walking. And its a better workout. However, not all that many extra calories are burned and the body gets more efficient when doing the same exercise. So, I am going to start doing exercise tapes on my 2 down days and on my short run day I am going to do a short tape. I think if you start to mix it up, it keeps the body guessing and burning more calories. Just like your diet, the body gets used to it and gets efficient - even if you are a marathoner - at first you might burn X amount of calories but after awhile it will become X-2. Also, I have found that I carry more of my fat in the middle. The rest of me is good but that part is not so good. Oh well. I am sure I would have had these problems anyway and at least now I am young enough to try to work hard at exercising them away. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"