Hello everyone. Can I have your views please? I was prescribed Lixiana (3 months ago) by my consultant having been diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. I had successfully lost over 3 stone in weight over 2 years (slowly but surely) prior to taking Lixiana which made me feel much better health wise. I would like to lose another stone but following the same healthy eating plan I was using prior to starting with Lixiana, I cannot shed another pound in fact, I have put on 3lb in just under the 3 months I have been on Lixiana. I desperately want to control this spiralling weight on, weight off issue and have Googled the side effects of anti-coagulants. It claims there is no evidence of weight gain from Lixiana. Has anyone else had any problems with weight gain from taking anti-coagulants?
Weighty problem!: Hello everyone. Can... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Weighty problem!
No, I've been taking anticoagulants for many years and haven't put on any weight.
Could more exercise help you with weight loss? A lady who lives at the end of my road is 90 and she goes out every day, always has. Now it's round the block with her Zimmer frame.
Jean
IThanks Jeanjeannie50 for your reply. I walk 4 - 5 miles daily and have done for the last 3 years. My granddaughter gave me her old FitBit which I still wear and I walk 10,000 steps plus daily. I recommend it to anyone who is able to move without pain. It was this that began my losing weight journey. I have osteoarthritis in my lower back and this is what prompted me to walk daily. My osteoarthritis is slowly worsening but I do feel more loose after my walk although I soon stiffen up again. Because I’m on an anticoagulant and have hypertension, I can no longer take anti-inflammatory medication which leaves me with not alternative painkiller other that Paracetamol or an opiate which I am reluctant to take. A lot going on but I do want to continue with an active life for as long as I can and I think keeping my weight down is a necessary part of the process. 🐝
As you lose weight your body adjusts and you will need to either increase your calories out ( ie excercise / steps) or reduce your calories in ( ie food/ drink) . Have you tried swapping say pasta with courgette noodles / pizza base for cauliflower pizza base/ or just changing the ratios of what’s on your plate - or more vegetables less fat/ protein? This may help. Well done for losing 3 stone I myself did that about 6 years ago and I know how good it feels. You can crack this with a few tweaks x
Thanks for your reply and your encouragement Nodoubt2. Lots of things to consider from everyone who has sent feedback today. Hope you are enjoying your day. 🐝
Wow I'm impressed with all the walking you do. I walk down a very steep hill and steps to our town, but catch the bus back. One day I'll post some photos of the steps I often take to get home, the longest steps you've probably ever seen in the UK. Our town is full of long steps.
So it's back to the diet for you then! I've been good lately and haven't bought any of the sweets, crisps or biscuits I usually have. If anyone visits me now, all I can offer them with a cup of tea is a tea-cake or hot cross bun from the freezer. I sometimes eat them myself (without any butter or spread) if I get desperate.
Losing weight certainly gives us more energy. At the moment I'm just having nuts, fruit and a boiled egg for lunch. I'm trying to cut out wheat and my goodness I have so much more energy.
Jean
I’m with you there, Jean! Since cutting wheat and other cereal grains out of my diet three weeks ago, I can’t believe how much better I feel. I used to have an energy slump in the afternoons and could hardly keep awake - not anymore!
Yes, I had energy in the morning, but none at all after a lunch containing bread. Trouble is I don't really know what else to eat for lunch.
Well, I’ve recently started a keto diet and was noodling around YouTube looking for bread substitutes and came across these. I’m no cook but even I managed them and they are jolly good and go well with soup😊 Haven’t tried making a sandwich with them yet, though.
youtu.be/edRoaHItGEs?si=S_J...
They look really tasty, did you use all the ingredients exactly? I wonder if they would freeze? Only me here and I can imagine me eating all of them over a few days.
I did use the ingredients as stated - I’ve little imagination when it comes to recipes so tend to follow them slavishly😀 There’s only me here, too but fortunately they do freeze well. I just give them a quick blast in the air fryer to liven them up again when I want to use them.
Thanks, I think I'll freeze and revive them in the microwave. Got to get those flours first. Thank you for the tip.
You’re welcome😊 I hope you like them
Hi, I can probably find coconut flour somewhere but omelette flour is a new one to me, where do you get yours please?
Hi Rosemary, it’s a mix of coconut and almond flours for the recipe. Hope you enjoy the end results😊
All the best, TC
Thank you.
Well my cheesy biscuits were a complete flop. First when I'd added all the ingredients it wasn't moist enough, so I added more Greek yogurt and another egg. Then when cooked I tried to scoop them off the baking papered tray and the bottoms remained behind. I think I may have cooked them in too hot an oven. I ate some of the bottoms left behind and wasn't impressed. Whether I'll feel differently about them tomorrow remains to be seen. Because I was cooking these and it took a lot longer longer than I thought it would, I have no dinner for tonight. Just put a bit of cod in the oven. I can't face eating those biscuits with it. It's cost me an absolute fortune to make them and I have loads of almond and also coconut flour left. It was odd because I haven't tried a new recipe for years and strange getting the scales and mixing bowl out. I think the lesson I've learnt is to stick with making food I know. As I said I may feel differently tomorrow.
I had to look at what an American cup was in ounces and saw was 4oz. still can't understand where I went wrong. In the calm of tomorrow I may find out.
Moaning Minnie
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear they were such a disaster for you! I do wonder if the extra egg threw things out a bit but I’m no cook, so perhaps it was a lucky first attempt for me! I’ll pm you about the flour.
Hope you managed to get your dinner eventually! TC
I didn't feel hungry after eating all the bits of the biscuits that stuck to the greaseproof paper. They are certainly very filling, will still have a go at eating them.
Jean
Hi EB,
I’m in admiration of your walking programme, that sounds brilliant! I have struggled with my weight over the years and used to do a lot of cardio but after a while my weight loss plateaued and wouldn’t shift further, no matter how much I did. In frustration, I eventually asked one of the trainers at the gym I used about the problem and she said that our bodies adapt to the stresses we put on them over time, so I needed to mix things up more and include some resistance training in place of some of the aerobic exercise and also ensure I include some rest days where I just did stretches etc and light walking. That did the trick for me, so I wonder if it’s something that might be worth looking into, perhaps?
I hope that might be of some help, as I know how frustrating it is when the needle on the scales goes the wrong way no matter what!
All the best, TC
Hi TC. Thank you for your reply and it does make sense that the body gets used to routine. I’ll have to think of other ways to lose this weight. 🐝
I would ask for advice from a professional and maybe see if your local gym has a weight loss and exercise group you could join too? You may find they also have classes for people with your particular problem. Either way if you ask for help and advice there they will be able to help with a beneficial exercise programme that takes into account any physical problems you have. It may also be worth your while asking for advice from a dietician. A friend of mine always had problems with her weight even though she didn't really over eat and was very active - She would have been in her forties at this time. ~The dietician found that just some of the food she was eating - even though it was low in calories and her calorie intake was controlled was making her put on weight. It was like it was an allergy. She cut out all yeast products and artificial sweetners as I remember and maybe a few other things and still continued with a calorie controlled diet she had already been on and lost the weight. If you can find a dietician and get referred - I don't know how easy this is these days but worth a try.
Desanthony thank you. I definitely will speak to my GP regarding local exercise classes for my back more than my weight but hopefully it will help my weight too. Thank you for your reply 🐝
As a person who has always struggled to loose weight I loose weight very slowly or maintain.I have been on Lixiana for 6 years and have successfully lost weight within that time .Several things could be causing the weight gain.Do you hold more fluid or do you walk at a slower pace since your AFib diagnosis? If your pain levels are worse then you are probably walking slower. If your Fitbit allows recording your walks it may give you speed or pace.Are you unconsciously eating more or diffently.Try calorie control for a short time.I use Nutracheck . Available as an app or web based .It has a fantastic database & you can set favourites so you don't need to search every time .Not free but you can get a free trial.
I empathise with the pain but moving helps.I take cocodamol.I take different strengths depending on pain levels.Mix & match from 1x 8/500 + 1 x 500 paracetamol
to 2 x 30/500 .
I hope some of my long ramble helps .Your post might have just made me resolve to loose some weight this week.
And really 3lb in 3 months is nothing.
Good luck & best wishes.
Kathy
Hi Katy. Thank you for your reply it’s very helpful. I lost my weight by using Nutracheck but stopped using it at the beginning of this year simply because I thought I had my weight under control. Obviously not! I really am grateful to you because that light bulb moment makde me realise that although I still eat healthily, as you say, I could be eating more of it. I will have to get my back pain sorted too as it is limiting my movements and this morning, I can hardly move without pain and we know that if we don’t move the weight piles on. Paracetamol is absolutely no good to me as a pain reliever so it looks like I will have to succumb to one of the opiate medicines as I have been told I cannot take anti-inflammatories any more. Katy thank you once more, your post has been really helpful. Have a lovely day 🐝
I know this may sound horrific but I have just been climbing the walls.My back hurts this morning so I face the wall or door & move my arms up to stretch the back.And it clears my chest as well.
I’ll try anything Katz. Thank you 🐝
When I gave up smoking I started snacking and put on weight at the time the F Plan diet was in vogue and I lost weight using that and used to go to work with a large lunch box stuffed full of carrots for snacking. 
It worked for me at the time I still have the book but am almost underweight now but my wife thinks she will use it sometime soon again as she put on weight during Covid and although has lost some over the past year and put it back on again after a summer of visits and having visitors she's almost back where she started so needs to do something before it sticks as does my youngest son. At certain ages - in your 50's 60's and 70's it is easy to put weight on and just sit with it and become less active and then accumulate more its best to be avoided if you can.
Good Luck
Thank you for taking the time to reply Desanthony. Have a good day 🐝
You too. Make the most of this lovely weather today.
I haven’t found it any different being on Warfarin and then Lixiana. I too am trying to loose weight. The it does get harder the more we have lost and sometimes diet needs a readjustment as what seemed to work isn’t enough. So easy to put on 3 or 4 pounds without seemingly eating too much. I found during the wet weather I wasn’t so active and that definitely made a difference.
It does make a difference if you can’t get out and about Sleepyzz. Seemingly from these replies, I can’t blame the Lixiana. I must try harder with my quantities of feed I think. Thanks for the reply 🐝
I’ve been on it for a year … but lost weight slowly and deliberately with good eating and exercise … if I increased my exercise to match yours I’d be a stick I’m sure - that’s an impressive regime you have!
Hi Portishead, it was sheer determination to lose weight and be healthier and I found walking helped my breathing too. I started with a short walk around the crescents where I live only about 1,000 steps (during lockdown) and increased slowly over a period of about 3 months. Fortunately I do have some parkland to walk round and it certainly helps if there is a nice walk to look forward to. 🐝
I ve been taking Edoxaban since new year and have lost a stone . Losing weight is difficult as we get older but I don’t think the drug has made any difference
Thanks for your reply Peony4575. Mines Edoxaban too. Have a good day 🐝
I’ve exercised over many years before my heart issues. I’d had numerous personal trainers and all said your body gets used to what you do so you should change how you exercise now and then to continue to loose weight. I’m in the same predicament as you with arthritis and unable to take anti inflammatory medication. Walking is a weight bearing exercise and can cause worsening of certain conditions. I walk but not as often but swimming is a good exercise for arthritis and if suitable for your heart issues may help you mix up your exercise routine. There’s also things like Pilates or well-being fitness classes. Changing what you’re doing might help start your weight loss again. Good luck.
Hi Ewloe. I’m thinking through all the great ideas from the replies. Swimming has been on top of my list when the children return to school and the swimming baths are almost empty. I think this is my next venture when I get this pain under control. Thank you for your reply 🐝
yes, since I've been on apixaban I have been unable to lose weight, different on warfarin. I have given up drinking and eat less but it makes no difference. I would like to exercise more but the apixaban makes my arthritis much worse so exercise becomes harder and painful.
Hi 2learn. I have had more arthritic pain too since I started on the Lixiana. I have just had to visit our local Walk In Centre because I can hardly move today. I need to have a discussion with my GP. Thank you for replying. 🐝
One thing that seems to be missed, is with any AFib, it does affect your intestinal track, as you heart regulates the contractions in your track, plus due to blood supply and oxygen being affected, your liver and kidneys do not absorbed or move the waste as effective, I myself have put 16 kilos on in 18 months, despite moving around and watching what I eat and drink.
The affects of AFib are many and not all doctors understand it, I have seen several Cardiologist at different hospitals and they are have a slightly different take, and we have to build the puzzle for ourselves.
Thanks BHFH967. That’s extremely interesting and something I was unaware of. 🐝
Elizabeth Bee, the sad thing about SFIB is the side affects that come with the medication prescribed to control it. Weight gain sadly comes with the meds but the positive side is that they protect you from having a stroke. I too have the same issue but realize I’d rather be alive and a few pounds over weight. With Ablation these meds can be reduced thus weight loss will again be possible.
Thank you for your reply 1Golf. 🐝
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