I have been on tamoxifen for one year now and I have noticed that my weight is slowly creeping up. I am now almost 3kg heavier than my ideal weight of 58kg. I eat healthy and i am reasonably active working full time with children. Has anyone else experienced this? And will it continue while being on this medication?. I really don't want to put on anymore weight as I am quite short. I would love to hear from anyone with advice or suggestions, please. .

I have been on Tamoxifen since January this year.My weight is exactly as it was when I was first diagnosed,but I have to work hard to keep it steady.I walk about 2 and a half kilometres each day( fast walking) and some days further.I watch my diet carefully,as I just don't want to put on weight.But as for whether Tamoxifen can cause weight gain,I wouldn't like to say.Our bodies are all so different too,so what causes weight gain in you may not cause it in me.I am interested to read other responses to your post.Cheers xox Robyn

I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months and have lost the 3kg I put on during chemo plus 3 more. I eat a lot less than before though (not much in between meals) and exercise every day (walk at least 3km, 6km some days, swim, Pilates). I think if I did not exercise so much and ate what I used to I would have found it hard to loose the weight. I am at my ideal weight now. Deanne xxx

I have been on tamoxifen for about 17 months and I have not gained any weight. There's no magic to it. Avoiding weight gain on tamoxifen involves the same old boring edicts - watch what you eat and exercise regularly. I aim to run or do a gym class at least 4 times a week. Having said that I do find I have to constanly monitor my weight and work hard to keep it stable - maybe a little harder than before BC, but not much. I know some experts advise against weighing yourself everyday but I find a daily weigh-in helps keep me on track. If I don't weigh myself for a few days I seem to relax my eating habits and my weight inevitably creeps up. The other thing that has helped me avoid weight gain is an app called My Fitness Pal. I use it to record everything I eat and the exercise I do to help ensure I don't accidentally consume way too many calories. I think it is incredibly easy to kid yourself that you are eating a healthy, moderate diet when in fact you are taking in way more calories than you need. This app has been a big reality check for me. I think the other thing to keep in mind is that many people - both women and men - gain weight in middle age for a variety of reaons, not just us BC survivors on tamoxifen. Personally I doubt that the weight gain many woman complain about is due to the medication. It's just that our metabolisms are slowing with age, hormone levels are dropping, we are perhaps not as active as we used to be, we live in fast food culture etc etc etc. Unfortunately there's no super easy way to stay slim. Just gotta stay focussed and disciplined. Good luck, Janet.

Thank you ladies, what i got from your replies is that maybe I should be trying a little harder with diet and exercise. I know I need to be more active now after bc but after working 9 hours, exercise is the last thing on my mind. But there's no easy solution. thanks for the advice :-) Cheers

Weight gain | BCNA Online Network

18 Replies

Deanne
Member
12 years ago
I had seen this group but thought it was more to do with recipes for while you were on chemo and have no taste buds, rather than maintaining a healthy lifestyle after treatment. Will try it out now you have brought it to my attention again. Thank-you :) Deanne xxx
Anonymous
12 years ago

HelenJill and Deanne - you must join the 'Recipes you can taste' online group and add your recipes :-) http://www.bcna.org.au/group/48064
Anonymous
12 years ago
Ladies Ladies! We have a group already :-)))))

It is called 'Recipes you can taste' - http://www.bcna.org.au/group/48064

Please join and share your recipes :-)
HelenJill
Member
12 years ago
Here is the Avocado Chocolate Pie Recipe It is delicious!

Avocado Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:-

3 avocados

3 dessertspoons of raw cacao

45 grams of honey

1/3 cup coconut oil

½ cup medjool dates

½ cup almonds

50 grams of dessicated coconut

Method

Base :- In a food processor add almonds and pitted dates and blend into a dough. Roll flat and place in a desert tray or suitable cake tin.

Topping:- Add coconut, cacao, avocados, coconut oil and honey to a food processor and mix until all ingredients are well blended.

Pour this mixture onto the base and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
HelenJill
Member
12 years ago
What a great idea Deanne. Let's do just that. I have made 2 different Avocado Chocolate Mousse recipes but haven't been really happy with them. I will try yours. I have a great recipe for a Chocolate Avocado Pie.

Tumeric Icecream Recipe

You need

¼ cup maple syrup or Coconut Nectar

2 x 400ml cans coconut cream

1 tsp Mesquite Powder

1tsp Maca Powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

pulp of 1 Vanilla Bean

Method

Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until slightly airated and well combined (dry ingredients should no longer be visable with an even colour of gold throughout)

Pour the velvet cream into glass jars with the lids on or a freezer proof container covered with cling film

Place in the freezer for one hour before removing to stir and return to the freezer for a further hour. Continue doing this until you achieve the desired texture (2-3 hours works best)

Helen
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
That sounds delicious. Have you got a recipe for it? Have you tried the Avocado Chocolate Mousse? 1 ripe avocado (straight from fridge) 1 frozen banana (peeled and cut into chunks before freezing) 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder 2 tablespoons raw honey Just blend and serve straight away. Lovely with a few strawberries or raspberries. Maybe we should start a recipe sharing group? :) Deanne xxx
HelenJill
Member
12 years ago
Since we have been talking about foodie things I thought I would share my new experiment - 'turmeric icecream' which I made last night. Ingredients were coconut cream, maple syrup, mesquite powder, maca powder, turmeric powder and vanilla extract.

Not too bad at all, could become a new addiction.

Helen.
HelenJill
Member
12 years ago
Since we have been talking about foodie things I thought I would share my new experiment - 'turmeric icecream' which I made last night. Ingredients were coconut cream, maple syrup, mesquite powder, maca powder, turmeric powder and vanilla extract.

Not too bad at all, could become a new addiction.

Helen.
Kez_Za
Member
12 years ago
I have to agree on cutting out sugar and alcohol. I have changed my diet - it was vegetarian and healthy anyway until I pulled it a part. Cutting sugar is the easy bit.. it is the alcohol I find hard. My naturopath said that I should not drink alcholol for the rest of my life! If i look at it like Deanne does then it makes it easier. There is research to link alcohol and cancers... and this is a time when I certainly could do with a few drinks!

I am enjoying this discussion...
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
My daughter is converting me to cacao and alternatives to sugar. I will tell her about this and see if we can get some! :) Deanne x