Hi
I was advised to lose weight as this would help with managing my AF which is intermittent. I’ve recently gone into AF again, I’m on blood thinners and beta blockers. Trying intermittent fasting but mid afternoon feel a bit dizzy and sick. Any advice or thoughts welcome especially around losing weight. Told I wasn’t a good candidate for an ablation but at that time was back in sinus rhythm.
Life style is the key. Diets don't work but changing the way you live most definitely does.
💯 agree Bob, I think exercise is the key, I know I feel better if I walk more and keep active
Really helpful and supportive, thanks Bob 👍🏻
Hi Housesparrow,
I think AF changes all of us when we are diagnosed. We all have to make changes, or should l say sacrifices, to help control and live with this diverse and complex condition. It can be difficult for some to find their own way, some may need extra help, but there is always some good advice from the friendly folk on here.
I wouldn’t advise a crash diet when taking drugs. It could make your blood sugar suddenly drop which can make you feel dizzy and sick, as can being dehydrated, so plenty of liquids (definitely not alcoholic!)
Cutting down the amount of food you eat is a must. Changing the type of food you eat, from processed foods to freshly made, is much better. Eating protein rich foods keep you fuller for longer. Fruits have a natural sugar content and give you energy. Large meals can be a trigger for AF especially before bed. Large meals are a strain on the heart and it has to work harder to digest the food.
The key for AF is everything in moderation. I am sure you will get there in the end and hope this helps. You are not alone. Take care.
Chris.
Have you thought of trying Slimming World and changing your lifestyle ? I lost 5 stone in quite a short length of time and it definitely helps with A/F, also on anticoagulants and heart meds, Slimming World is not a punishing diet plan, lots of veg, grilled or dry fried meats and snacks too.
I lost 3 stone and definitely improved my SVT
Just cut out bread, cakes etc and obviously alcohol !
Take the time to understand which foods contain gluten - I can assure you that if you cut gluten out of your diet you will lose will weight. That is a big IF as its quite difficult to do, but its the simplest effective weight loss advice.
And cut out out alcohol and sodas (even the sugar free type) and you will lose more.
My daughter lost loads of weight when she found she was coeliac - nothing to do with the gluten and everything to do with no more doughnuts, cakes, pizza etc because GF products generally taste awful and aren’t included in the office ‘treats’. The clinic told her she wasn’t eating enough carbs…..
There are plenty of tasty and nutritious sources of carbohydrates that don't contain gluten - oats, rice, nuts etc.
I don't eat gluten free versions of things that normally contain gluten (bread, pizza, cake etc) - I just try to limit my consumption of stuff that has gluten in it.
Be careful with fasting while on beta blockers. My meds warn against this.
Hi. I do intermittent fasting and have similar issues, I have read these are some of the side effects. I do 17 hours. To get used to it I do it once a week.
I haven't lost weight but haven't gained, so class it as a work in progress.
Just a general comment ............. but could you (and many others on here) state specifically what your blood thiners are ( rather than say you are on blood thinners) ......... to the best of my knowledge there are 5 in the UK marketplace that a GP can prescribe, and many have different side effects with different people ......... so the reader would be curious as to which one you are referring to.
Cheers.
You could try cutting out foods , but if you need a life change and support definitely try Slimming world, you will be surprised what you can eat and loose weight. It will get you into good eating /drinking habits. I lost 3 stone with them.
Best of luck
hi. Here is a link to a study which may (or may not) apply to you. heart.org/en/news/2019/10/2...
I lost weight using the 5+2 diet. But I do agree with the comments here that can be an issue. But I would suggest working with your and possibly a dietician on what would be a good and safe diet for you. It seems that the magic amount is Losing 10% or more of your current body weight. The study they did was only people who had a BMI over 30
I had an aortic valve replacement back on 1998 so I am on Warfarin for life. I had atrial flutter a couple of years ago and have heart "failure". I am.prescribed Bisoprolol and Rampiril plus a Statin. I gave up alcohol and switched to decaf coffees and tea and joined Slimming World and have lost almost 3 stone. I have not experienced AF since.I am never hungry and I eat really well focusing on proteins, veg and fruit and cards from pasta, rice potatoes cutting out fats and sugars mainly. Have a look at the programme as it does allow for 'treats' too.
Good luck I know how difficult it can be but the benefits are so worth it.
Hi my gp suggested mounjaro injections its not available on nhs here where i live so i fund it myself it works im 2 stone down now and feel great do some research and discuss with your g i use iq doctor online to purchase it
I did low carb and continue to do so. Lost 4 stone and still going.My AF is permanent but I do feel better for the loss
I lost 2 stone in 12 months with Slimming World and have kept it off, and it fitted in very well with the rest of the family. I tried Weight Watchers some time ago, but did not like their app or website. Nutracheck is the No.1 for calorie counting, but can leave you feeling hungry. Crash diets rarely work. I found a slow but steady approach worked best for me. Hope you find something that suits you.
I went from 92 kg to 78 kg three years ago when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and put on to an NHS free programme called Xyla. It was about food types but also about one’s psychological and social attitude to foods - really thorough. There was a fortnightly online meeting with a group of 15 or so and a trainer. Motivated me brilliantly. Three years on, I am at 80 kg and not going any higher thank you!! Best advice was to look at your plate and go for a quarter of it being protein (fills you up), a quarter ‘good’ carbs (brown rice, brown pasta, jacket potato) and a half vegetables.
However none of that stopped me being diagnosed with AF last year.
Hi, I would highly recommend Bodyslims. You will find a lot on line if you look it up. I had never heard of it before until I posted on here about weight loss. I had tried every diet/slimming club without success . The only thing that worked was a keto/very low carb diet but that would trigger AF. Someone here recommended Bodyslims, she had been told about it by a cardiologist whose wife had great success following it. I’ve just completed the ten week course and have lost two stone. Loved the course, really enjoyed it… it’s normal food. I thought I was a lost cause but I can’t recommend it highly enough. All the best….
I have put weight on recently but do feel the difference in my energy levels and walking seems to take more effort. Think exercise is the best for general weigh loss and health. I can't diet, I love my food ☺️
low carbs and low fat. Plenty of protein, fresh fruit and vegetables
I have never been overweight in my life but still got the paroxysmal AF following a virus along with the chronic fatigue so can sympathise with you. If you still have energy walking is lovely if you have a park or countryside near you- I live on the country and used to take regular long walks with a group of friends which was very therapeutic in all sorts of ways.
We haven’t eaten meat of dairy for many years, which might have helped and have plenty of fruit and veg. No alcohol any more since my diagnosis though we never drank that much anyway. Good luck!
hey there
Don’t like the sound of your dizziness or the idea of fasting- I’m on a weight loss journey but am going to eat and drink healthily - also exercise more- am going to approach it as a positive rather than a negative because with me mindfulness is everything- just a viewpoint if you want to consider ..
Try intermittent fasting... push brekky back to 10.30.... give your system a break
It's a popular myth that exercise is the key to weight loss.
Example: A slice of chocolate cake can have around 400–500 calories. To burn that off, you’d need to walk about 4 to 5 miles, which takes roughly 90 minutes. Skipping the cake takes 3 seconds!
While exercise can be a good adjunct, diet is the key. In short, you have to burn more calories than you eat. Therefore a simple diet app that counts calories like Myfitnesspal can help.
But let's be real. Some people no matter how hard they try to diet, just cannot lose enough weight. They struggle to reach their weight goals despite strict dieting because of underlying factors like genetics, hormonal imbalances, medications, or metabolic adaptations that make it harder to lose weight. Oprah is a well known celebrity example and that's why she left Weight Watchers as spokeswoman and turned to a new class of weight loss medications.
So you fall into that category, ask your doctor about a new class of weight loss drugs such as Wegovy (Semaglutide). They can literally be life changers for many people.
Jim
I would suggest look at a couple books by Dr. William Davis and cut out all processed foods watch carb intake. Dr. Davis has said over and over that cutting calories and exercising more just doesn't work in fact you loose muscle doing that. He also says all heart issues including AF is SIBO. small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. I do believe it, because years ago when I was first diagnosed with prolapsed heart valve, everytime I had my teeth cleaned I had to take massive amounts of an anti biotic. which was done away with recently. so I know my gut bacteria suffered and all kinds of issues crept in. I am sure the over use of anti biotic allowed the bacterial overgrowth. I have been following his ideas with resupplying good bacteria and so far so good. You will loose weight following his ideas. Here again, do what is right for yourself. That is a path we all have to find.
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