Life after cancer treatment. Motivate me!

This topic contains 13 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by penguin 8 years, 3 months ago.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

emjayvee

8:19 am
27 Jun 16
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hi all I finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago and chemotherapy before that, having been diagnosed with breast cancer last year at 40. It was a high grade but hadn’t spread so I’ve spent the year counting my blessings and dealing with treatment.

I have also been training up to 3 time a week, setting myself a couple of goals – to run 5km before the end of chemo (did it) and 10km by Sept (a work in progress).

I’m now on hormone treatment, which officially doesn’t have an impact on weight but unofficially there’s plenty who say it does. I put on about 8kg over this period, taking me to an unhealthy bmi. Being overweight is a factor in recurrence so I really want to reduce it. Plus I want to look nice again (lost all my hair too, it’s not fun).

Anyway I hate diets and have young children – 3 girls – who I want to shield from weight obsessions as long as I can. So the fast diet was my compromise and I don’t find the fast days unbearable.

But 2 weeks in and I’m heavier than when I started. I’m aware that my non fast days are probably too much. I’m also aware that my body has other stuff to deal with right now.

So I’m not really posting for tips.

Just a little ‘chin up’ because I’m feeling a bit glum.

Thanks for reading this x

Cinque

9:14 am
27 Jun 16
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Hi MJV!
What a lot to have gone through!
Glad to send you some good wishes and encouragement. I hate diets too and so never call 5:2 a diet! It is a sustainable way of life and it suits me so well that in less than a year I have lost 10kg and am nearly at the weight I want to stay. It is a long term thing, not only to do the fast days well, but to do the normal days well also. I just keep practicing and in the meantime the weight does go. I have a chronic illness that means my activity is very limited, but it still works.

Have a read of Simco’s piece about his trousers to help you have patience: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/really-no-weight-loss/

I see in your profile that you have three young children, as if your life isn’t crisis ridden and chaotic enough already! All power to you! Just keep at it as best you can. Come here and whinge, or for some fellow travelling. We’ll cheer you on.

NothingToLoseButMyFat

9:21 am
27 Jun 16
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Morning Emjayvee

It’s inspirational to hear from someone in your position who has already done so much to take control of their health and fitness.
No tips here, just lots of encouragement to keep going. A lot of people lose lots in the first weeks but others have to wait for it to kick in. Keep positive, this way of eating does work and will do for you if you stick to it.
Let us know how you get on. You are totally right to protect your girls from any negative body image issues.

emjayvee

12:36 pm
27 Jun 16
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hi morning both thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I love that Simco post, total recognition. I’mean so worried about falling into another diet fad that I’ve almost concluded this won’t work before giving it a go.

I just went out and ran for 6km and it was soooooooo hard (and very very slow!). Got to use this new found grit with my diet now.

Bloody hell life’s a slog! Thanks for giving me space to vent, I really appreciate it. It means I can carry on with the brave face in real life.

thank you both

Nama

1:48 pm
27 Jun 16
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Hi emjayvee,

Vent away, we wont judge you, just support you. It really sucks that you have had such serious health issues whilst so young, but the silver lining is that you will now really appreciate being well! (not suggesting you didn’t before) And fasting can only help. Apart from weight loss.

In my opinion you should just keep going, reread the book or info on this forum and just get into the swing of fasting. You will find that the self discipline that you practise with fasting will flow over to the non fast days eventually. Most of us long term fasters agree that the fast days are the easy ones, its learning to eat moderately on the other days that takes time. But if you only gained 8kgs after all that treatment, you obviously don’t have too many bad habits.

You are obviously a very strong woman to be taking on new challenges at a time when many would probably be falling in a heap and wallowing in self pity. After chemo and radiation, fasting will be a walk in the park for you! Good luck and keep in touch.

emjayvee

3:17 pm
27 Jun 16
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thank you. I couldn’t really spend time wallowing because the girls still need their tea the other normal things in life. plus I want them to learn about strength and persistance from this.

but you are absolutely right – if I can do that I can do 5:2 and I do feel remotivated this afternoon. I’ve spent a year fighting and I’m getting really tired at times but you do become an expert at sucking the bad stuff back inside and soldiering on.

posting this has really helped. I kept busy today and am looking forward to enjoying most of my calories for tea.

I hope you all have something nice happen today for taking the time to cheer me up and on. xx

Cinque

11:49 pm
27 Jun 16
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Good morning MJV,
I’m in Eastern Australia so Good Morning from cold, sunny Melbourne!

That’s how I have worked out fast days too! I have milk in cuppas through the day and then chicken miso soup in the evening. It is interesting how everyone gradually works out what suits them best.

I hope you have that lovely feeling waking up after a fast day. Don’t even worry about the scales! Enjoy the feeling!

emjayvee

7:07 am
28 Jun 16
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Morning from warm (by our standards) sunny UK!

You mean that feeling where you feel smug for getting through the fast, not overly hungry but thinking about what you can have for breakfast?

In that case yes.

Sweet dreams cinque x

Cinque

11:54 am
28 Jun 16
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That’s the one!

Best wishes for today!

coldpizza

4:38 pm
28 Jun 16
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emjayvee,

Sending you a hug from Texas. 😀

penguin

5:47 pm
28 Jun 16
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Hi emjayvee. Two days before last Christmas they told me I had Colon Cancer. In January they took 12 inches out of my interior. After surgery they placed restrictions on my physical activity. The foods my body would initially tolerate were not the ones anyone wishing to lose weight would eat. I have been on 5:2 since it started, but that interlude put weight back on. I am 5:2 ing again and it is going.

Four years ago my daughter, who was then 40, went through what you have had – nasty breast cancer, chemo etc. She also has girls – they wanted red and green wigs when her hair went! She also did the hormone thing. Her experience was the same as yours. She put on weight. She is fine now and on one of those restricted time diets, confining her eating to the late afternoon and evening. It is working.

Life can be bloody awful and occasionally you are entitled to have to have a damned good grumble, but stick with it and you’ll be fine.

emjayvee

9:02 pm
28 Jun 16
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coldpizza – what my children had for tea. Thanks for the hug ☺

penguin so sorry to hear your family have suffered so much. My girls are hoping my hair grows back a different colour. Thanks for sharing your story with me. It’s good to hear you are both fighting back.

penguin

10:23 pm
28 Jun 16
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emjayvee, they could be disappointed. My daughter’s hair came back the same, although possibly thicker. She is absolutely fine and the girls are now so relaxed about it that when told that I had cancer their response was that it was a nuisance, but I’d get better. It is five months since the surgery so I can start to get my fitness levels back, which is a matter of hitting the gym and getting more exercise. Still not fit enough to lift my 15ft canoe onto the car, but I will be!

The girls are right – it is a nuisance but we will get better. Stay with us and let us know how it is going.

penguin

9:31 am
22 Aug 16
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How is it going emjayvee?