Interesting article...

[Willow7733]

I was looking up the effect that weight has on asthma, and came across an interesting article from the American Lung Association. They say that people with a BMI index higher than 30, have more trouble breathing (due to their weight) and have more “asthma” symptoms. It was interesting because I was wondering about that not too long ago...if I lost some weight, would my asthma get better? Would I see an improvement? Then, would I be able to exercise more?

My BMI isn’t at 30, it is 26, but it raises another question for me: what comes first? The asthma and then the weight, or the other way around? I used to exercise a lot. Go to the gym. I completed a few rounds of P90x and other Beachbody programs. My favourite was kickboxing. But then, I fainted at the gym. I had asthma and it was controlled just fine, but then suddenly it changed. Found out I fainted from a sudden asthma attack that came up so quickly. I was on steroids and antibiotics for weeks after to try to get things under control.

So what to do? Now I am terrified to exercise - but they say you should keep your weight down. I have even tried making a gym in my basement, and tried starting another beachbody program called Insanity Max 30. But I star, and I get asthma symptoms for days after (so I know it is not that I am out of shape, it is asthma that is bothering me.). What is a person to do?? I am frustrated. My family is no help. When I go home it is always a thing with my relatives - they live to pint out of I have gained since they last saw me. Christmas time I dread. And it is coming fast. Here we go again! My aunt last year was on me about not losing more weight. My mother pointed out I had a scare at the gym, and my aunt goes “Oh! Asthma! That is a good excuse you can use to not go back to the gym!” It is so frustrating....

[AirIsUnderrated]

Yes, carrying too much weight around puts more strain on everything: joints, heart, lungs. It's a catch 22 isn't it? You exercise to lose weight but exercising makes asthma worse then you need steroids which make you gain weight so you need to exercise but... etc.

Personally I keep my weight down with gentle exercise and by following the Blood Type Diet. There are those who scoff at it, but it works for me and for my family on both sides and scores of my friends. Even if you don't believe the science, it's a healthy way of living and you don't feel deprived.

Is there any kind of exercise you can do? How do you get on with walking, cycling, gardening, dancing around the kitchen to the radio while you're getting the dinner? Every little helps!

ETA: I'm trying too. I just came in from the garden to take my blue inhaler and have a quick break after winning a war with some brambles. 💪😊

[Anniecath in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Hi there, I am intrigued by the blood type diet as I am struggling with weight gain too at the moment, and how do you find out your blood type ?

[Willow7733 in reply to Anniecath]

Have you ever donated blood? They can tell you. Or you can have a blood test done to know.

[Anniecath in reply to Willow7733]

No I haven't. Too old apparently ! But I have just found a blood testing kit online. Should be in my medical records but asking for anything that isn't urgent seems like a big ask. Thanks for getting back to me tho. Good luck !!

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Anniecath]

Yes, cheap tests are available online. Feel free to private message me if I can help you with anything. I'm not affiliated with it or on commission! haha!

[Troilus]

Hi Willow, I read an interesting article a while ago. I save the summary to encourage me to lose the weight I have put on over the last couple of years:

Weight loss was significantly associated with improvement in FEV1 and FVC (p< 0.001) whereas weight gain had the opposite effect. On average, FEV1 increased by 1.5 %pred due to weight loss of 1 unit of BMI. The improvement in FEV1 was independent of the initial level of obesity (p= 0.18).

Of course, I haven’t managed yet. I was doing ok, and then along came lockdown, cakes and biscuits in abundance.

On a side note, you do not need to exercise in order to lose weight. It helps, and can speed things up as well as toning your body, but not compulsory.

[Glty]

Hi Willow, it sounds to me like your asthma isn't quite under control, the aim of treatment would normally be for you to be able to exercise without provoking symptoms. It's probably worth talking to your team and seeing if you can change your meds to help.

[Willow7733 in reply to Glty]

I have been having trouble getting it u see control, but my pulmonologist and I are working on it. I am surprised that more things keep popping up that never triggered my asthma symptoms before. It is just ridiculous. And frustrating. So I am thinking maybe if I was more active and more fit it would help. I need to lose around 20 pounds. It will be interesting to see if losing those extra pounds will have a major change in my asthma control.

[peege in reply to Willow7733]

It'll be so much easier to exercise with less weight. I've lost half a stone in a month by following a fairly strict diabetic regime ie very low carbs and 800 to 1000 calories max per day, plus walking as many miles a day as I can manage (sometimes none). My weekly zoom pilates class is so much more enjoyable with less fat on my front! And asthma has certainly improved. P

[Glty in reply to Willow7733]

Yes, I know those feelings very well! I'm in a very similar situation right now, all sort of new triggers keep popping up unexpectedly and aerobic exercise is totally unachievable. I used to do a lot of weight lifting and lost a lot of size/weight whilst training, as good nutrition supports building strength and muscle, so I wanted to eat well to fuel my training. I say size rather than weight cause, over about 2 years I went from a size 18 to a size 10 but only lost a stone in weight, muscle weighing more than fat and all that. One of the best things about it was that it very rarely affected my asthma and I was in control of the pace and rests so I could do what suited my body rather than follow a high energy aerobic program.

At the moment I'm uncontrolled and I'm only able to do a bit of yoga - I find the breath control helps and it's good for my mental health. That being said, I've just had my first appointment with the resp team, so I'm really hoping that they'll be able to help me get back to the gym soon.

Good luck!

[Poobah]

I know that my asthma improves when I lose weight. Years of steroids and an underactive thyroid has affected my ability to keep the weight off. Right now I have to to really get serious about my weight again. Your post is very timely!

I've always struggled with aerobic exercise so have found ways around that. Regular exercise that involves fast walking plus resistance training with weights is excellent for those whose asthma is triggered by aerobic exercise.

Building up body strength is important for muscoskeletal health but it also means that you're using calories - muscles need calories. It's not always about training like you're an Olympian.

My consultant kindly told me that no matter how much I exercised, I would never be an athlete - I'd already worked that one out. So at school I would concentrate on sport that didn't require lots of running (volleyball, netball, tennis doubles).

Regular and moderate exercise is better than intense and periodic, and definitely better than nothing.

As for what others think & say, why feel bad because of their ignorance and lack of kindness - that's their personal challenge that they need to address, not yours.

All the best.

[ninelives in reply to Poobah]

Great reply

[Willow7733 in reply to Poobah]

I am also hypothyroid, so I find it very hard to lose even a little bit of weight. My family does have a problem - and it is theirs, not mine. The best thing I can think of is to avoid them all together. I am tired of being studied under a microscope and then humiliated in front of the whole family every time we have a gathering. But yes, trying to balance aerobic exercise and weights into my life at the moment. I also read that healthy weight is 80-85% nutrition. So, today I am on vacation( I can’t believe I am off!!) and am working out a nutrition plan for myself. I just want to be at a healthy weight (very close to it now), and do what I can to control the asthma (which is new to me). My birth mother (I am adopted), died of complications of type 2 diabetes and I really don’t want to get that on top of everything I have right now.

[Poobah in reply to Willow7733]

Sounds like you know what you're doing to achieve a great outcome. I know how difficult it is to keep going with exercise and a healthy diet - we're surrounded by temptation and distractions (& unhelpful family members). You can do it.

I must admit that I don't share goals with the family as I like to avoid a raft of questions about my progress and everyone's an expert.

All the best with your goals.

[Willow7733]

Right now, if I am getting dressed (like putting on a T-shirt or my jeans) I have to sit down to catch my breath. I try not to, but I do have to use Ventolin to get it out of control. It is like I have just run a marathon and pushed myself to the limit. Very strange. I go for tests tomorrow. It gets better, and I hardly have any symptoms, and then starts up again. My GP thinks it is because of all the humidity and heat waves we have had. Something is causing it. Just have to figure out what is going on....

[Clairebear35]

Hi, I put on weight after not being able to exercise due to my asthma being mostly uncontrolled. I’m still unable to exercise so walk when breathing allows and I joined slimming world, for me it worked and I’ve since lost 2 stone. I agree it’s all very frustrating

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Clairebear35]

That's wonderful! Well done!

[Willow7733 in reply to Clairebear35]

Wow!! I wish I could do that!