I had embarked on a health kick before I was diagnosed and had lost 5kg. Since then I have lost another 15kg. This was partly stress and partly appetite loss, especially during chemotherapy. But also willpower and motivation because the plastic surgeon said I needed to get by BMI down to avoid wound problems in my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.
I stopped drinking alcohol and coffee pretty much immediately I got the callback from BreastScreen (with my family history I knew it would be cancer), with the very occasional exception. As my coffees were milky and wine is liquid sugar, these two things removed a lot kjs from my diet immediately.
Before chemotherapy I ramped up my exercise, brisk walking in a hilly area, progressing from 4kms to 5kms to 6kms and then 8kms a day.
I saw a dietician in the first week of my first cycle of chemo. She said to eat more protein than usual, lots of vegetables and some complex carbohydrates. Plus nuts and your two serves of fruit a day. Low fat dairy and no after dinner snacks.
I have also made a big effort with portion control and to not eat between dinner and breakfast. This meant I fasted 13 - 14 hours most days.
My weight loss has stalled for now. This is probably because my exercise slowed down during my last two chemo cycles, and because I'm now menopausal. However I am ramping it up again and am determined not to regain.
Once I am able post-operatively I will be adding weight bearing exercise, and some yoga or tai chi. The latter two for stress reduction, and all three to assist with managing Anastrozole side effects.
Once I'm able to cook again after the op I'm going to move the family to the Mediterranean diet. It's the one the experts say is the healthiest. But it also forbids nothing, which is the key for sustainable eating in human psychology. Everything in moderation.
I'll see my dietician again soon about tweaking my intake to suit this awful new world I will be in. I would dearly like to lose at least 10kgs more. I will drink coffee and alcohol again but it will be once a week. High days and holidays only.
I'm also planning to be more disciplined about meditating every day. There is a lot of stress in my life quite apart from BC and it helps.
Moderation, discipline and determination. Wish me luck!
