I am a breast, cancer, patient and as a result, I’ve been on an aromatase inhibitor for almost 5 years. During that time I have not necessarily gained a lot of weight, but I have absolutely struggled to lose any weight. I got all the platitudes, eat, less, exercise, more, track what you eat, try harder. Somewhere in the past year, I learned that the aromatase inhibitor I have been taking has the effect of causing fat cells that are typically burned for energy to instead deposit into adipose tissue hence making it very difficult to lose weight. I discussed it with my new chemo therapy doctor , explaining to him that, despite tracking what I eat, keeping it at an appropriate calorie level to lose pounds, and exercising vigorously, both strength and cardio each, and every week for four years, running, that I am unable to lose any weight. Yet all kinds of medical professionals continue to say to me, eat less, exercise, more, try harder. He looked at me and he said it’s your anastrozole that’s keeping you from losing weight. I asked him about weight loss medication’s, and he said, as long as they were not hormone-based, and that would be the major challenge, medication might be helpful. I went to my primary care doctor and explained the situation. I did a three month round of phentermine and was able to lose 12 pounds. 10 of them came off in the first month that months two and 3 Slowed Way down. He said that the average weight loss on phentermine over a three month window is around 10 to 15 pounds so even though most of it was in the first month it still did work. I’m on a two month break and in January will resume medication to see if I can lose another 10 to 15 pounds. The phentermine is not hormonal and he said there was another medication. So the comments that it’s just a simple matter of what you eat, how many calories in how much exercise sound good but they don’t apply to everyone. And not every person who is overweight is just a fat lazy slug.
I also believe that there are many medical reasons why people gain weight and struggle to lose weight. It is a much more complex problem, and we are led to believe.JMHO
I am a breast, cancer, patient and as a result, I’ve been on an aromatase inhibitor for almost 5 years. During that time I have not necessarily gained a lot of weight, but I have absolutely struggled to lose any weight. I got all the platitudes, eat, less, exercise, more, track what you eat, try harder. Somewhere in the past year, I learned that the aromatase inhibitor I have been taking has the effect of causing fat cells that are typically burned for energy to instead deposit into adipose tissue hence making it very difficult to lose weight. I discussed it with my new chemo therapy doctor , explaining to him that, despite tracking what I eat, keeping it at an appropriate calorie level to lose pounds, and exercising vigorously, both strength and cardio each, and every week for four years, running, that I am unable to lose any weight. Yet all kinds of medical professionals continue to say to me, eat less, exercise, more, try harder. He looked at me and he said it’s your anastrozole that’s keeping you from losing weight. I asked him about weight loss medication’s, and he said, as long as they were not hormone-based, and that would be the major challenge, medication might be helpful. I went to my primary care doctor and explained the situation. I did a three month round of phentermine and was able to lose 12 pounds. 10 of them came off in the first month that months two and 3 Slowed Way down. He said that the average weight loss on phentermine over a three month window is around 10 to 15 pounds so even though most of it was in the first month it still did work. I’m on a two month break and in January will resume medication to see if I can lose another 10 to 15 pounds. The phentermine is not hormonal and he said there was another medication. So the comments that it’s just a simple matter of what you eat, how many calories in how much exercise sound good but they don’t apply to everyone. And not every person who is overweight is just a fat lazy slug.
I also believe that there are many medical reasons why people gain weight and struggle to lose weight. It is a much more complex problem, and we are led to believe.JMHO
tullynut, I agree with you. In same situation. I am 76 but I exercise 2-3 hours a day. Do 7 water aerobics classes a week, swim twice a week, bike 20 miles twice a week, and walk twice a week. I add to this some weight training twice a week.
It is not exercising or being lazy for me. I was able to control weight just a little over recommended weight and then boom weight gain. Something happened to my metabolism and where I was able to lose weight by eating less and doing more exercise did not work. My PCP thinks my body has adapted to the level and intensity of my exercising and not burning the calories I used to.
Suggested adding more weight training for more muscles weight (burns more calories) than all the aerobic exercise I do. It takes very little snacking (my actual meals are not large) to gain weight and a huge and long battle getting it off.
I have a different type fat now versus years ago. It seems very loose and around mid section and chest area. I used to get additional weight all over body frame. I did go through nutrition consulting and was told that my goal of 175 (I am 5 -10) and not realistic for my large body frame. She wanted me to change to a maintenance a goal of 190. If I lost more than that I would lose muscle weight also.
I have tried all types of weight loss, nutrisystem, low carb, etc. but weight will come off but the least little eating of carbohydrates seems to store the fat abnormally. I am going to discuss with my PCP some of the new weight lost medications but have to be careful as I have heart failure (no exercise restrictions though) and just go over prostrate cancer treatments.
Good luck and it seems you are doing every thing you can to do to lose weight. I agree with you there are medical reason for weight reduction problems and a much more complex problem that just eating less and doing more.
My pcp said the Phentermine might help kickstart my sluggish metabolism. Indeed that is what happened it seems. I have been off the led for 1 month and have continued to loose another couple of pounds. PCP thinks periodic times of med will help obtain and maintain. I hope so. My cancer was hormone positive so all most all of the new wonder drugs are hormonal an NOT for me. Phentermine is not hormonal nor is Contrave. Good luck to you! I weigh less now than I did in my 50s.
IMO this BMI thing means nothing. Yes, we should all eat properly to maintain our weight, but trying to live up to a useless standard makes no sense to me. Possibly a little more research may be in order on BMI.
My doctor says "Forget BMI" means nothing...you need to lose 7 #'s, watch your diet".
Here is a blurb on BMI ;
"The person who dreamed up the BMI said explicitly that it could not and should not be used to indicate the level of fatness in an individual.
The BMI was introduced in the early 19th century by a Belgian named Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet. He was a mathematician, not a physician. He produced the formula to give a quick and easy way to measure the degree of obesity of the general population to assist the government in allocating resources. In other words, it is a 200-year-old hack."
There are different ways of measuring the equivalence of body mass index. The most common way used now looks at your height, gender, and weight. There are other ways to measure it, such as a caliper test, where actual measurement of fat and various areas of the the body.
I know that, just by looking at my weight on the scale that I need to lose weight, how much I need to lose, is a totally different question. The anastrozole that I have been taking for over four years has made it really difficult for me to lose weight, I weigh almost 50 pounds less than my highest weight ever, but that is still probably too much and getting it to budge more has been a real challenge. My PCP prescribed an appetite suppressant that was not hormonal as my type of breast cancer would rule that out. That has helped me lose some weight while on the Astrostrozole. My plan going forward is to resume the medication starting in January for 1 to 3 months, hopefully lose a few more pounds, take a break, lather, rinse, and repeat. But I totally agree with you that going strictly by body mass index is not a good idea for anybody.
My Mayo PCP recommended I purchase the Renpho Scale that gives you and accurate body fat ratio. It is much more tuned to body fat that a BMI or weight chart. I also was recommended to use the fitness app that you put in what you are eating to get calories plus exercise information.
Boston Scientific (maker of my ICD/Pacemaker) recommended I do not use the Renpho Scale as it sends an electrical signal through body and thus the don't recommend using it. My Pace Clinic though says their research does not show this conclusion. On the safe side did not purchase.
My PCP mentioned using the caliber method to determine fat ratio. I like many people have a large bone structure and nutrition counseling suggested I NOT try to go to my BMI recommend weight because I would lose muscle weight if I did. Very confusing isn't it. I have decided to try to go to a weight I feel strong but clothes are a comfortable fit with no fat hanging over or wiggly around. I thought older people (I am will soon be 77) are suppose to lose weight when getting old.
I am skeptical now about the new weight loss drugs with MCC posters listed issues because of the hormone issues with breast cancer and the weight loss drug is hormonal. I had prostrate cancer and testosterone is a hormone that feeds the prostrate cancer. I will check more with my PCP but I just read about increases in thyroid cancers using these hormonal drugs.
Seems like you just run into roadblocks every where you turn.
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TAKING VERY LOW CALORIE DIET UNTIL bMI COMES TO NORMAL
spenugo53 @spenugo53
I am sure many people will suggest various diets, but comes downs to calories in vs calories out. Eat less and healthier food and move more.
Even if look at surgical options or medications, you still need to change eating habits.
Laurie
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7 ReactionsI am a breast, cancer, patient and as a result, I’ve been on an aromatase inhibitor for almost 5 years. During that time I have not necessarily gained a lot of weight, but I have absolutely struggled to lose any weight. I got all the platitudes, eat, less, exercise, more, track what you eat, try harder. Somewhere in the past year, I learned that the aromatase inhibitor I have been taking has the effect of causing fat cells that are typically burned for energy to instead deposit into adipose tissue hence making it very difficult to lose weight. I discussed it with my new chemo therapy doctor , explaining to him that, despite tracking what I eat, keeping it at an appropriate calorie level to lose pounds, and exercising vigorously, both strength and cardio each, and every week for four years, running, that I am unable to lose any weight. Yet all kinds of medical professionals continue to say to me, eat less, exercise, more, try harder. He looked at me and he said it’s your anastrozole that’s keeping you from losing weight. I asked him about weight loss medication’s, and he said, as long as they were not hormone-based, and that would be the major challenge, medication might be helpful. I went to my primary care doctor and explained the situation. I did a three month round of phentermine and was able to lose 12 pounds. 10 of them came off in the first month that months two and 3 Slowed Way down. He said that the average weight loss on phentermine over a three month window is around 10 to 15 pounds so even though most of it was in the first month it still did work. I’m on a two month break and in January will resume medication to see if I can lose another 10 to 15 pounds. The phentermine is not hormonal and he said there was another medication. So the comments that it’s just a simple matter of what you eat, how many calories in how much exercise sound good but they don’t apply to everyone. And not every person who is overweight is just a fat lazy slug.
I also believe that there are many medical reasons why people gain weight and struggle to lose weight. It is a much more complex problem, and we are led to believe.JMHO
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15 Reactions@spenugo53, you might also be interested in this blog:
- Weith Management Blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/weight-management-1/tab/newsfeed/
Can you tell me a bit more about yourself? What do you find challenging about wieght loss?
tullynut, I agree with you. In same situation. I am 76 but I exercise 2-3 hours a day. Do 7 water aerobics classes a week, swim twice a week, bike 20 miles twice a week, and walk twice a week. I add to this some weight training twice a week.
It is not exercising or being lazy for me. I was able to control weight just a little over recommended weight and then boom weight gain. Something happened to my metabolism and where I was able to lose weight by eating less and doing more exercise did not work. My PCP thinks my body has adapted to the level and intensity of my exercising and not burning the calories I used to.
Suggested adding more weight training for more muscles weight (burns more calories) than all the aerobic exercise I do. It takes very little snacking (my actual meals are not large) to gain weight and a huge and long battle getting it off.
I have a different type fat now versus years ago. It seems very loose and around mid section and chest area. I used to get additional weight all over body frame. I did go through nutrition consulting and was told that my goal of 175 (I am 5 -10) and not realistic for my large body frame. She wanted me to change to a maintenance a goal of 190. If I lost more than that I would lose muscle weight also.
I have tried all types of weight loss, nutrisystem, low carb, etc. but weight will come off but the least little eating of carbohydrates seems to store the fat abnormally. I am going to discuss with my PCP some of the new weight lost medications but have to be careful as I have heart failure (no exercise restrictions though) and just go over prostrate cancer treatments.
Good luck and it seems you are doing every thing you can to do to lose weight. I agree with you there are medical reason for weight reduction problems and a much more complex problem that just eating less and doing more.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsMy pcp said the Phentermine might help kickstart my sluggish metabolism. Indeed that is what happened it seems. I have been off the led for 1 month and have continued to loose another couple of pounds. PCP thinks periodic times of med will help obtain and maintain. I hope so. My cancer was hormone positive so all most all of the new wonder drugs are hormonal an NOT for me. Phentermine is not hormonal nor is Contrave. Good luck to you! I weigh less now than I did in my 50s.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsIMO this BMI thing means nothing. Yes, we should all eat properly to maintain our weight, but trying to live up to a useless standard makes no sense to me. Possibly a little more research may be in order on BMI.
My doctor says "Forget BMI" means nothing...you need to lose 7 #'s, watch your diet".
Here is a blurb on BMI ;
"The person who dreamed up the BMI said explicitly that it could not and should not be used to indicate the level of fatness in an individual.
The BMI was introduced in the early 19th century by a Belgian named Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet. He was a mathematician, not a physician. He produced the formula to give a quick and easy way to measure the degree of obesity of the general population to assist the government in allocating resources. In other words, it is a 200-year-old hack."
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsThere are different ways of measuring the equivalence of body mass index. The most common way used now looks at your height, gender, and weight. There are other ways to measure it, such as a caliper test, where actual measurement of fat and various areas of the the body.
I know that, just by looking at my weight on the scale that I need to lose weight, how much I need to lose, is a totally different question. The anastrozole that I have been taking for over four years has made it really difficult for me to lose weight, I weigh almost 50 pounds less than my highest weight ever, but that is still probably too much and getting it to budge more has been a real challenge. My PCP prescribed an appetite suppressant that was not hormonal as my type of breast cancer would rule that out. That has helped me lose some weight while on the Astrostrozole. My plan going forward is to resume the medication starting in January for 1 to 3 months, hopefully lose a few more pounds, take a break, lather, rinse, and repeat. But I totally agree with you that going strictly by body mass index is not a good idea for anybody.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy Mayo PCP recommended I purchase the Renpho Scale that gives you and accurate body fat ratio. It is much more tuned to body fat that a BMI or weight chart. I also was recommended to use the fitness app that you put in what you are eating to get calories plus exercise information.
Boston Scientific (maker of my ICD/Pacemaker) recommended I do not use the Renpho Scale as it sends an electrical signal through body and thus the don't recommend using it. My Pace Clinic though says their research does not show this conclusion. On the safe side did not purchase.
My PCP mentioned using the caliber method to determine fat ratio. I like many people have a large bone structure and nutrition counseling suggested I NOT try to go to my BMI recommend weight because I would lose muscle weight if I did. Very confusing isn't it. I have decided to try to go to a weight I feel strong but clothes are a comfortable fit with no fat hanging over or wiggly around. I thought older people (I am will soon be 77) are suppose to lose weight when getting old.
I am skeptical now about the new weight loss drugs with MCC posters listed issues because of the hormone issues with breast cancer and the weight loss drug is hormonal. I had prostrate cancer and testosterone is a hormone that feeds the prostrate cancer. I will check more with my PCP but I just read about increases in thyroid cancers using these hormonal drugs.
Seems like you just run into roadblocks every where you turn.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactionsfor short period of time lot of water every 3 hrs and very low calorie diet like broccoli then all extrafat will be utilised for the body energy