beta blocked weight loss

[Cos56]

just finished 50 days of Weight Watchers. Lost a half pound. I followed it strictly, exercised, lifted weights for upper body, did the elliptical and that’s all I got from it. Well, with a heart rate of 54 what can I expect, right? I really want to lose 20 pounds but my body just won’t do it. Any suggestions out there in A Fib land? Of course my heart is happy but….

[mjames1]

First, find out from your doctor if you really need to be on beta blocker. A lot of people are on them arguably unnecessarily while they are in normal rhythm. We just had a recent thread on this, maybe someone can link you. If it turns out you do need a rate control drug, you may be better with Diltiazem. It serves a similar function, but might not impede your weight loss as much. Weight gain with beta blockers is a common complaint.

Jim

[Buffafly]

When I was on Diltiazem with a heart rate of 55 not only did I put on weight but carried a lot of fluid, however with diltiazem which allows my HR to be in the 60s I have no problem. So diltiazem is worth a try as long as you are not over medicated.

[Silky57]

Totally sympathetic Cos. I’ve been on Bisoprolol for 12 months and my weight is climbing up pound by pound. I’m convinced it slows down your whole metabolism. Am beginning to wonder if the positives of keeping my heart rate down in order to avoid triggering AFib isn’t going to be offset by general poor cardio health due to an increase in weight.

[BeeBee79]

Following with interest. I’m on Nebivolol and ice out about 2 stone on in two years. I can’t not take them as I need them to control my heart rate but after strictly dieting and exercising, I was in the same boat as you 😭

[DevonHubby1]

Wife had similar issues when on Bisoprolol. No matter how hard she dieted the weight would not come off. She went into persistent AF in March and was switched to Nebivolol. Since then when she follows a diet the weight comes off.

[Jajarunner]

70 percent of weight loss is nutrition and some diets (not sure about WW but Slimmers World, I'm told) allow you to eat unlimited quantities of various healthy foods. Unfortunately, big portion sizes of anything will lead to weight gain so that might be something to consider.Weight training is excellent for your health and also increases your metabolism allowing you to burn more calories. You may have gained muscle but lost fat hence scales showing little change but body composition changing.

Another good tactic is to be active in your every day life not just in the gym.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Good Luck. Jaja (Personal trainer and cardiac rehab instructor)

[Silky57 in reply to Jajarunner]

Aha cardiac rehab instructor! Could I ask a question please? How close to maximum heart rate can one exercise when on a beta blocker? 10% below? 20% below? Assuming heart is otherwise healthy & not in AFib at the time. I’m thinking I’m maybe too gentle on myself to burn the fat? Thanks in advance.

[Cos56 in reply to Silky57]

Just a quick addendum, when I do high intensity on the ellyptical, my HR goes up to 70-72 whoohooo! Lol

[Jajarunner in reply to Silky57]

Sorry for late reply, the website was down.

I found a couple of interesting articles, but the gist of them were that you cannot really use HR when on beta blockers. Also they affect different people very differently. You are best to use RPE (Borg scale) to gauge your effort. This is what cardiac rehab does.

Here the links to the articles

health.harvard.edu/exercise...

[Jajarunner in reply to Silky57]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Silky57 in reply to Jajarunner]

Thanks for the articles jajarunner. Exercise til a bit puffed out & stop peering at the iwatch is the answer then.

[Jajarunner in reply to Silky57]

Pretty good summing up and applies to everyone with or without AF, I think 🤣🤣🤣

[Cos56 in reply to Silky57]

He was so great to send that. You summed it up right. 😉

[Morzine]

Hi I’m n weight watchers , well I was I’ve taken a break . I lost 4 kg but it’s hard and I seemed to plateau….took a break as my afib came back after four years and I wondered if my chaintre regime caused it. But maybe coincidence eh….

I think the metabolism is slowed by these drugs….I really don’t eat much

Sue

[Cos56 in reply to Morzine]

I don’t eat much either and the Weight Watchers plan had me eating the same. My next step in lowering my portions even more. The weight is mostly my abdomen. I try so hard. I want to lose, but my heart has been stable Nd I don’t want to risk that. I talked metoprolol, Flecainide and Eliquis and it’s the perfect cocktail for me 🤷‍♀️

[Morzine in reply to Cos56]

yes my WPlan is 23 points and I gained points for walking amd not using all my points….so I had lots of points….never used thrm all as I was t hungry…I cut out bread and potatoes and pasta so I really did well , main meals I stuck to chicken Turkey or trout….with roasted veg….and 4 kgs lost but it is very hard to go further….and now I wonder if it started my afib….I take bisoprolol flecainade elequis losarten…… will start again, give it another go……are you still on WW

[Cos56 in reply to Morzine]

Yes, but thinking of quitting. I don’t finish my 23 points all the time and never use my weeklies. My problem may be the carbs I use my points on. I think I’ll try using them on almost 0 points, not that that makes much sense since fish, veggies are 0 points. When i try to use the points, it’s carbs! Soooo, I will try again.

Thank you fellow WW! I’ll keep in touch.

[Morzine in reply to Cos56]

Wish you luck….it’s harder now winters coming and the need for more comfort food. Salads things don’t feel the same when it’s snowing! I’m in the Alps!

I never use my extra points either.

Sue

[Cos56 in reply to Morzine]

I agree. Cold salad in the winter doesn’t work. But I’ll be mother of the groom in May so something has to! ☺️I’ll try with homemade soups for lunch at work. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I’m going to stay on WW for now, intermittent fasting, and see how it goes. Dress shopping mid November. 🤞🏻thank you ❤️

[Ablation7 in reply to Cos56]

I am on Weight Watchers and take 180mg Diltiazem daily. This program is working well for me. I’ve been strict. But if you don’t eat enough, you won’t lose either. It’s a certain science to keep our metabolisms going. Maybe contact the WW coach for help outlining a diet plan. That’s supposed to be included in the fee.

I am also guilty of being nervous about exercising too hard and stirring up my a-fib. Trying to work past that now. Good luck to all of us!

[ibuputih in reply to Cos56]

Just a thought … I was Mother of the Bride last year and wondered how to shed some lbs. I had really hurt my back and was seeing a physio weekly. She gave me what were simple Pilates exercises, to ease my back problem. The big plus was that although I doubt it greatly affected my weight, all my pudgy areas (waist, hips, midriff) really toned up. It made dress shopping much more pleasurable and was a big confidence booster!

[Cos56 in reply to ibuputih]

You’re so sweet to share. Will do!

[Morzine in reply to Cos56]

I did the intermittent fasting with WW and lost the 4 kg….but when my afib came back I wondered if it was too many changes for my body….

Banana is good at lunchtime as it’s filling or soup. Banana nil points…

[paolina]

Isn't it frustrating? I loose quite a lot sometimes over a couple of months (like 5kg) but then suddenly my weight starts climbing back up. It's almost as if there is something telling me that I have to stay at that weight.

[Buffafly in reply to paolina]

I think there is. I have noticed that when I have been at a certain weight for a time and lose a bit of weight through illness I get very hungry until I have got back to my ‘normal’ weight. So I think to lose you have to ‘sneak up’ on your body - or have tremendous willpower….

[Snowgirl65]

The only thing that works for me is cutting calories. When I need to lose a few, I document my food in a notebook and don't go over 1200 calories a day. It comes off faster if I down it to 1100, but I don't do that method more than four days at a time.

[Cos56 in reply to Snowgirl65]

1200 calories is tooo much for me on Weight Watchers or not! I must eat way less. I’m going to watch WHAT I use my points for. Maybe that will help. Like no carbs, more veggies.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Cos56]

I hope your new strategy works. I've also found that bananas and potatoes, even though worked into my calorie restriction, prevents me from losing. Good luck!

[Morzine]

bananas good at lunchtime as it’s filling..nil points

[Cos56 in reply to Morzine]

👍🏻

[whats]

I also wanted to lose weight for heart and kidneys. I gave up all sugar first and still found that carbs were the worst. Had to give most up, though I still have some potatoes in soup and a little oatmeal in the morning. Lots of berries and veggies and apples and beans and nuts. I’m on metoprolol and losartan also synthroid. I have always gained easily, was up to around 200 pounds 5 years ago, 125 ish for 2 years now, all my health problems better. I also do elliptical about 50 minutes a day too. Need less of all meds. Anyway, keep trying, experimenting find what works for you, be sure you really love and enjoy the foods you eat. Now I’m thinking of all the people on earth who don’t have enough and probably relish whatever they can scrounge. Ain’t it odd?

[Rainfern]

Hi Cos, you’ve had lots of good replies here, so just wanted to add a congratulations here for the weight you have lost despite all the odds!

Please remember that 85% of people who lose weight fast, through whatever diet, slam it all back on plus some after a couple of years. You are far better losing weight gradually and making the change to a healthy balance of foods your lifestyle, not focusing too much on weight loss. Eat mindfully, listen to your body. It took me 2 years to lose the pounds I needed to loose but now I’m here its simple to stay in shape. And I’m not an exercise person - just half hour walk a day. Good luck!

[Cos56 in reply to Rainfern]

Thank you. You’re right, slow and steady.❤️