How to stop belly fat/weight gain from ADT

What seemed to work for me was horizontal stripes and avoiding plaids, except for small accents.

Bob and Gunner,
I have the same problem from taking prednisone. And the more I exercise, the more I eat! I suggest cutting back on sugar, if you haven't already (advice I don't follow like I should), because the liver apparently sticks any excess sugar intake right onto your gut, especially as your metabolism decreases. I am also adding extra core work to my exercise routine, partly to reduce the tummy and also to keep my back from hurting.
@ PDA, you're off HT. What's your excuse? Go pester your wife and burn some calories.

Beth

I've struggled with this my whole 3 years on Lupron. I'm up 30 pounds from where this all began.

However, I have been this weight before, after I turned 40 and my metabolism down shifted somehow just by age. At one point, I decided enough was enough, and I lost 50 pounds over about 6 months. No magic. Eat less, exercise more. Here's the thing - you will feel hungry if you're losing weight. It's how our bodies work. If your body is pulling from fat stores, it will fire that sensation of hunger to make you stop doing that. Fat is safety. Losing fat is danger. That's your body's energy management feedback system. So, how to lose weight? Get comfortable with the sensation of hunger. That's the feeling of fat leaving your body! It doesn't have to be uncomfortable, but you should certainly be hungry before you eat anything. If you're not hungry, don't eat. There is also no real sensation associated with overeating. Your body is quite happy with that. More fat is safety.

Person after person asked me about it because it was pretty dramatic. In fact, a couple outright asked me if I had suddenly become sick! No, I had suddenly become healthy. But I did look pretty gaunt at that weight. Things normalized after that, and I stayed about 175 pounds for many years. Until hormone therapy. And another metabolism down shift.

This time, to get serious about it, I'm using the Lose It app my my iPhone. It's a calorie tracker with clever ways of identifying foods (scans barcodes, for example), and is very easy to use. It can show the ratios of fat/protein/carbos in your diet. (Reduce carbos whenever you can.) You can put your exercise session in it too, and it will adjust your daily allowance. I'm down 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks, so I am at last finally making some progress. Snuffy Myers recommends that app to his patients too, for what it's worth.

Good luck everyone. This is very very difficult. We are "calorie cactuses", with bodies designed to get and keep calories in a food-scarce environment. Unfortunately, today we are planted in calorie swamps!

I hate to look in the mirror w/o a shirt on. I was around 173 at dx 5 years ago, got down to 165 post surgery and now pushing 185. All the weight is around the middle and man boobs. I used to be a distance runner and had no gut when I had surgery. The surgeon asked how I kept my weight off. Now, I stay away from sugar and extra portions but do not exercise like I should. And I like good beer. I want to retire this year and pick up the aerobic exercise. Most of the last 5 years on Lupron has taken a toll.

Jnf
Why not just take each meal and flush it down the toilet...eliminate the digestive tract completely to preclude the need for liposuction!
Bob

Hello Break60,

Great topic --- plenty of us on ADT shots --- with that common concern about weight gain --- what to do, right? Ahh ... the dreaded weight gain ...

Ironically, the other night, I just saw a television commercial for a men's compression undershirt that would make all of us appear slimmer, if we want to believe the commercial --- maybe we could all get a group discount ?!!

Break60 --- In your post, you mentioned a lot of exercise ... any diet changes along with that, I wonder? Both aspects work together ... and being on ADT, it can be an uphill battle keeping the pounds off ... I'm over six feet tall and weigh about 200 pounds ... long limbs, fairly lanky ... used to run track and hurdles, way back in the day when I was a teenager --- I like to stay on the slimmer side of things --- but it's easy to pack on a few pounds, when I start slacking off ... or when I get to my hometown for Christmas and Mom has the kitchen filled with dozens of my favorite Scandinavian Christmas cookies ...

That being said, I'm digging into my third year on ADT shots ... continuous regimen of shots ...

A few things I've learned, just from my own experiences ... might be something here that will help others ... sometimes just one SMALL idea can make a significant difference or spark a new idea of your own that will work for you !

First thing I have done is drop ALL the soda pop from my life ... didn't drink much pop, anyway, so that was easy for me --- it's all ice water and cold tea for me now --- ZERO calories. Even things like juice and lemonade can add the calories ... nothing better for us than water, anyway ... right ?!!

After I got diagnosed, I decided to stay away from the candy and the junk food ... I stay away from the vending machines at work and the doughnuts in the staff workroom --- once you get started, it gets easier ...

At work, I now keep some better snacks sitting around now at my workplace, rather than visiting the vending machine and burning up all my quarters ... so, I've got bananas, raisins, raw almonds, apples, granola bars ... choose whatever suits your fancy ... it's better for me than a SNICKERS candy bar, anyway ...

I don't deprive myself when it comes to food, and I like to go out socially --- and you bet I still order dessert when I go out to a restaurant --- haven't met a dessert yet that I didn't like --- I'm human --- but, I will say I have focused a LOT more on fruits and vegetables and grains in my diet, day to day --- that seems to help --- and once I got started, I think I felt better for it, anyway ---

The other thing is consistency ... I go for a long walk almost every night and I think that helps me keep myself in better shape. I live in the Midwest ... cold winters, plenty of ice and snow --- and with ADT shots, we have to watch out so that we don't fall and break a limb --- I'm on PROLIA shots to strengthen my bones now, as ordered by my oncologist --- a good friend of mine on ADT fell and broke a bone a few months ago and it took MANY weeks for it to heal, due to the weakened state of his bones from ADT shots --- lesson learned !

So, my very first winter after being diagnosed, I let cold winter weather inhibit my exercise routine --- spring came and I needed to take off some pounds and got back to my nightly long walks. Now when winter comes, I bring a gym bag to work, change into track clothes after work, and do some walking --- indoor locations, if it is cold and icy outside. I've also got a pack of gym passes that I use for the local fitness gym, just as a break during the winter season. No more excuses when winter comes now for me, because I formed a plan !

So the past couple of winters, with a "winter exercise plan" --- I've stayed on track with my exercise routine and found a way to overcome the winter weather months. A friend of mine came forward and asked if she could join me each night on my walks --- having a friend join me has also made me more dedicated to walking each night --- so there's another idea to consider. There's no doubt that some form of consistent exercise also boosts energy for those of us on ADT shots --- whatever form that takes --- bicycle, exercise equipment, treadmill, work-out gym, hiking trail, and even a walk around the neighborhood.

Here's a TRUE testimonial from a fellow battle brother and good friend of mine here --- he is also on continuous ADT shots, just as I am --- he decided to finally get DEDICATED to a fitness regimen --- he has consistently walked three to five miles every day and has lost 15 pounds in the past few months --- he's VERY dedicated to his walking regimen --- he walks some of the distance early in the morning, and then walks again later in the day or evening. So --- there's some inspiration for me to share with everyone --- it's working for him and he also feels that it boosts his energy level and gives him a positive outlook, as well.

So, there we go --- adding a lot more fruits and vegetables and grains, but still enjoying plenty of my favorite foods along the way --- drinking water and cold tea, zero calorie intake there --- dropping the soda pop, candy, and junk food --- a consistent exercise plan that I enjoy, including during the holidays, weekends, and winter months --- a friend who joins me in my walks, who adds her motivation to mine --- all these things added together seem to keep me on track --- if all else fails, I guess I'll have to consider buying those compression undershirts for men that I saw advertised on the commmercial ?!!

I think this is a helpful thread that you have started, Break60 --- with so many of us readers on ADT shots !

Keeping in touch,
"Cyclone" From Iowa State

Donelson,
That's a tough one. Here's a couple thoughts...
Are you getting enough protein?
Are you getting calories from beverages? Fruit drinks, milk, soda, beer, etc all have calories and can contribute to your output.
Another idea is that your body is looking for energy if you are not getting enough calories. So it could be burning muscle for energy. And if you aren't getting "good" calories it can be converted and/or stored as fat.
So as counterintuitive as that sounds, I think we can actually gain fat and lose muscle if we don't have the right calories that we need.

Good Discussion. I was unfortunate to have a diagnosis of frozen shoulder and plantar fasciitis basically the same time I was diagnosed with PC. So I had issues top, bottom and middle. I started ADT2 in December and it has been a challenge. I cut way back on food to help slow any weight gain and I have been somewhat successful however I have noticed 2 more lbs sneak up this month. I use to be 45 lbs heavier 7 years ago. Got a divorce and had to get into dating weight mode. It worked, got married and I stay around 195 most of the time. Hopefully I can get into the walking and light weights this month. I do like the idea of the app. I will check it out. -JR