Save me from the muffins ....

[booboo73]

Good morning and hope everyone is keeping well!

Things going good for me...having some wierd sensations but on the whole no major AF I'm so,so im a happy about that.

So I have been referred for a procedure to remove my oedema on my stomach (lost 13st but left with 4st of fluid) They want me to have this surgery before the ablation and gave asked me to lose a stone before. Im really struggling. . I have been on a healthy balanced diet of 1200 Cals for 2 weeks and lost a pound. .yes a whole bloody pound lol!! Never has this happened before in all my many years of diets ..

I am on flec 200mg daily. Nebivolol 2.5mg daily and my resting hr is in average 45.

Can anyone advise how to shift some weight, I have very little energy and scared to start leaping about too much exercising in case AF returns or I drop dead of the shock!!! Those who know me will know what a drama queen I am...I have been convincing myself I have heart failure therefore fluid retention although this is ridiculous as my legs and ankles are like twigs...my body is like a egg on legs!

Any help what I can do would be much appreciated. ..I am very close to eating lots of lard plus my other half is on a low iodine diet before his treatment and today I promised I would make him some low iodine blueberry muffins for valentines ..I just know the muffins wont reach him .....

X x x

[CDreamer]

Firstly well done for losing all that weight! I am not sure what you are asking us?

It sounds like - how do I have the will power to continue with my diet and I would have the thought that some incentives to stick with it might help - visual aids strategically placed in your kitchen?

You also have a query about exercise - I don't know what your Dr's have said about you exercising and what sort of exercise would be suitable for you but rather than thinking about vigorous exercise - think movement - keep moving as much as you can - what about walking? Start with small goals and gradually increase them?

If you just want support and encouragement - you got it- but I hope you have some expert advice from your support team re exercising, if not, seek it out. I know our community leisure centre/gym/pool has special classes for people with health problems - with a referral from your GP you can get a free pass. Why not enquire in your area - if you haven't already.

Best wishes CD

[booboo73 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks x Yes I thought afterwards I didn't make myself very clear ...what im asking is are the medication and low heartbeat responsible for my lack of weight loss...i have tried researching and get more confused and there are too many horror stories on the Internet. ..not good for someone like me! Plus my docs are fabulous and really don't want to bother them again... want to give them a weeks break from me at least!!

Im trying to keep busy but no energy at all im in bed at 7 every night ...rock n roll eh!!! Im not complaining and im so grateful the meds are working just wondered if they were causing the lack of weight loss. All lies on this as to have the belly op I have to lose a stone and I have to have the belly op before the ablation! And all I want now is some lurpak on toast lol x x x

[CDreamer in reply to booboo73]

And it sounds like you need help and support so go bother your Doctors and tell them you are struggling because they are the only ones who can answer your questions. Could it be more fluid retention?

If you are not used to exercise and have been sedentary then any exercise will make you breathless and you will tire easily but sometimes you need to push through it but my first question would be - is it safe for you to push through it and how far to push and for that I would want to be supervised when I started exercising until I gained some confidence,

[booboo73 in reply to CDreamer]

Yes you are right, I am going to speak to doc and have just informed my othet half we are going for a long walk at weekend. If I don't do something I know my diet will go down the pan! Im on frusomide for my oedema but they halved the dose when AF started do maybe that's another reason c thank you for your help CD x x x

[CDreamer in reply to booboo73]

And don't eat the Lurpak! remove from fridge entirely and throw away - and immediately - if it is not there, you cannot eat it eat it.

Eat a green apple instead,

[booboo73 in reply to CDreamer]

Haha yes I am gonna behave and have some melon .... x x x

[Rellim296]

Why not get a fitness monitor? Ignore the fitness bit - just see what your activity levels are. It will tell you not only how many steps you take in a day but also how many active minutes you have. You can have goals then - they don't have to be huge - and aim to do a little more each day. You get a weekly report. It's a great goad - I've often walked round the house at 11pm just to clock up the odd few steps and once found my other half doing the same! We don't have the same activity levels at all and have been surprised at how different our levels actually are.

I try to walk every day for 25 minutes uninterrupted at a fair pace - enough to get my heart going nicely, just short of puffing - you don't need to go mad and push it. I read somewhere, years ago, that a good, steady twenty minutes was of benefit and better than a long walk once a week.

[booboo73 in reply to Rellim296]

Oh what a good idea Rellim - I used to have a fitbug years ago but I dropped it in the sink. But...its Valentines Day and I can't have chocolate so maybe a HUGE hint to my other half - Can you recommend one that counts the calories and steps please! x x x

[Rellim296 in reply to booboo73]

I think mine (a fitbit) counts calories but I have never used that facility.

It's very good on steps. We've been impressed - so much so that we have one each.

[Gertsen in reply to booboo73]

I use a fit bit Charge it counts steps, floors, calories and sleep. You can add food intake etc. The aim is to walk 10.000 steps a day according the the heart association, but you can start lower. I enjoy mine and yes, I also walk are also walk around now and again to get the steps up. I walk just over 3 miles after lunch most days.But have been doing it for 10 years, so you do t have to start like that take it slowly.

Best of luck

[Buffafly]

First of all congratulations on your willpower so far, I tried to lose a little weight because my meds made me put too much on and I quickly gave up.

It sounds to me as though you are gaining fluid while (maybe) losing weight? A HR of 45 will do that and stop you losing weight as well.

Maybe the book recommended by SRM Grandma would be ideal for you?

I agree with the others, you've done your best, go bother the doctors! They should be pleased to treat someone with real illness.....

[booboo73]

Wasn't so much willpower I had a gastric bypass, it was that or not be here in 6 months ( I am so lucky with the NHS and have great support) I didn't know I could be gaining fluid, my belly is very swollen at moment, yes I need to speak to my doc and possibly increase the Frusomide - I am just scared that it will affect my AF. I will look at the book, I really do want to be as fit as a flea for the ablation, I am desperate to have a normal life.

Thanks x x

[PeterWh]

Definitely bother you doctor - you don't want to slip backwards now!!! Do you have a phone with health app on it? The iPhone does as standard. Must be similar one for android. Put it on your home screen. That records steps and distance per day. Gradually increase distance. Probably not a good idea to suddenly do a very long walk unless transport available to take you back if you run into problems.

[Polski]

I read that an ounce a day of almonds can enable you to lose weight without really trying ie that is quite a lot of almonds so you will naturally eat less of other things. Try using them as snacks with fruit instead of biscuits, chocolate, muffins etc. They provide fibre (which helps you feel full), protein and the right sort of fat - which will be good for you (your heart and brain - and every cell in your body will thank you). I also read that one needs to use fat to move fat around the body and get rid of it, so eating almonds and other nuts (unsalted) will help you to lose weight. (Avoid peanuts, and don't eat nuts at the end of the day)

If you eat sugar, you will want more sugar, but nuts will not have that effect, so it is easier to feel full and not want to eat so much. Hope this helps!

[stargazer61]

Hiya - did the almonds work? I just really wanted to send some empathy and tell you that you pop into my thoughts sometimes - your photo was the first i saw when i joined the site, i thought how pretty you were, but the thing i remember you for was the wonderful egg on legs comment - i have to admit to using it shamelessly! In three months i put 5 inches on bust, 5 on waist, and 5 on hips and look like i'm about to give birth anyday, so lines like 'only humpty dumpty will fancy me now' have prompted some lovely statements from my man, and the egg on legs comment has made everyone i've said it to laugh - so thanks for the line, it's a cracker! Hope you are feeling okay within yourself, it's an emotional rollercoaster i wish i could stop and get off of!! breathe, breathe. . .happy heartbeats to you!