has anyone else had trouble keeping weight off taking tamoxifen? I have been taking 9 months and putting on weight,sometimes I'm just starving probably hormones I suppose,I'm quite active bike ride,gym ,walking and try to eat well most time,I wondered if it's because I'm premenopausal in early 40s? Anyone lost weight on tamoxifen?

After 2 years on Tamoxifen (Sandoz) and now 2 more on Femara (Letrozole) I have found that it is not so much the exercise I do but how much I am active the rest of the time. I know that I sit down so much more than I used to. My work these days is much less active. I was an early childhood teacher - very active! Now I package orders for my daughter’s business. Mostly sitting, but good for gettting my brain working!The last couple of weeks, as well as my usual actual exercise, I have been making a conscious effort to be more active throughout my whole day. Little things, like parking further away from where I am going to get more walking in, can make a difference. The best present I have received was a Fitbit for Christmas 3 years ago. It prompts me to get up and move if I have been sitting for too long! It is so easy to just not realise that you have been sitting for too long. Time goes so quickly, especially when using the computer or iPad!Muscle can be important too. As we age it is common to lose muscle. This means we burn less calories. The more muscle you have the more calories you use just moving around. Exercise needs to be something that helps you build and maintain muscle.Lots of things can cause us to struggle with weight and going through treatment for bc, coping with fatigue and loss of muscle all compound the issues for us! For me it has been careful eating, regular cardio exercise, 2 sessions of muscle building exercise a week and just being more conscious of how active I am throughout each day. This has taken time to build into my life post bc but it was really important to me. Small changes, one step at a time and consistency. I had to find ways to make it workable for me.

I am on sandoz,maybe I should try the other one too,as not much I do has helped shift the weight.

Hi @Milly21 I was on Tamoxifen for 2 years before having my ovaries removed and swapping to an AI. I was 47 and in chemo induced menopause when I started. I did manage to lose 9kg and maintain that during that time. I was very careful with what I ate (changed a lot of things and ate smaller portions) and walked and swam a lot. I found keeping a diary of what I ate and also the exercise that I did each day helped. I have recently put on a couple of kilos due to increased snacking (even though they are healthy snacks it is just too much) and less exercise. The diary is in use again! I am determined to get back to the weight I feel best at. Lots of walking and I need to get back in the pool too! It can be done :)

Hi @Milly21, had lost a little bit but I started working out at the gym and sports physio told me to eat protein before and after weight sessions. So I worked out and my mouth worked out harder with protein, sweet biscuits, etc etc etc... :(Put on 3 kilos. So am back to being more sensible and have been working out a couple of times a week with a work colleague but need to hit the gym again. Like @Deanne I'm determined to lose again for when I have my reduction surgery on my remaining breast around June next year. I do recognise the fact that I have now been pushed into menopause but just need to work a bit smarter than I have been. Let us know how you get on with your weight loss. All the best. Xx Cath

Tamoxifen and weight gain | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

socoda
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Milly21, had lost a little bit but I started working out at the gym and sports physio told me to eat protein before and after weight sessions. So I worked out and my mouth worked out harder with protein, sweet biscuits, etc etc etc... :(
Put on 3 kilos. So am back to being more sensible and have been working out a couple of times a week with a work colleague but need to hit the gym again. Like @Deanne I'm determined to lose again for when I have my reduction surgery on my remaining breast around June next year. I do recognise the fact that I have now been pushed into menopause but just need to work a bit smarter than I have been. Let us know how you get on with your weight loss. All the best. Xx Cath
Deanne
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Milly21
I was on Tamoxifen for 2 years before having my ovaries removed and swapping to an AI. I was 47 and in chemo induced menopause when I started. I did manage to lose 9kg and maintain that during that time. I was very careful with what I ate (changed a lot of things and ate smaller portions) and walked and swam a lot. I found keeping a diary of what I ate and also the exercise that I did each day helped.
I have recently put on a couple of kilos due to increased snacking (even though they are healthy snacks it is just too much) and less exercise. The diary is in use again! I am determined to get back to the weight I feel best at. Lots of walking and I need to get back in the pool too! It can be done :)

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Tamoxifen and weight gain

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