I was diagnoses with heart failure few years ago. I never had trouble losing weight if I exercised and my BMI was never too high. However, since February this year I started to work out regulary ( cycling 5-10 km a day and lifting weights few times a week). I also started to pay more attention to what I'm eating (I've always cooked my own food, my diet is full of vegetables, poultry and fish) and I am trying to lose around 10 -15 kg. My problem is that the number on the scale just hasn't moved for months. This is really frustrating and it is getting harder to motivate. I am starting to think it may have something to do with the meds I am taking( bisoprolol, amlodipime, ramipril, furosemide and spironolactone). I have been taking these meds since 2016 and never had similar weight loss problems before.
Any advice on what could I do, or anyone that had a similar problem?
Thank you all and happy holidays
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kajfi
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Sorry I am trying to get my head around what exactly you are trying to achieve? In one sentence you say your BMI was never too high and in another you want to lose 10 - 15kg. For instance if you are 1.7m tall with a BMI of 25 losing 15kg would bring your BMI down to 20.. My cardiologist doesn't like patients to be near the bottom end of the normal range as there "is nothing in the tank* to help fight serious illness/infection.
Good general advice but I take issue with your statement regarding Poultry and in particular fish. They are not high in saturated fats and oily fish is highly recommended for people with heart disease. I do agree the OP is somewhat confusing, 10 - 15kg is a lot to lose if you seemingly don't need to.
Forget all diets.There is only one way to lose weight.Eat less and move about more.Great that you are exercising but you still got to keep moving about.I know a few people who workout in the morning then slump in front of the tv all day.Good luck for the new year.x
Exercise is good, but does not have much effect on weight. The issue is eating the right foods, cut refined carbohydrates, particularly anything sugary and increase the veg.
"That's a lot of meds" is not a useful comment as three, four or five medications are not uncommon for us hearties. There days dual or even triple therapies are not unusual for BP control. Lower doses of multiple medications with different actions often achieve better control and may have additional benefits.
Perhaps next time you see your Doc mention it. You've been on the same meds since 2016 and he/she may be able to make some suggestions.
Can I ask, although you say the scales are not showing a loss in weight have you noticed your body toning up? i.e. losing inches rather than pounds. I ask because I have the opposite problem, since my valve condition worsened and I have had to give up my strength training, walking etc., (hopefully only until after operation scheduled for next month) my weight has stayed relatively the same but I have put inches on where I have lost muscle and gained fat. Pound for pound fat takes up twice the room as muscle and I have gone up two dress sizes. So it could be that you are gaining muscle but losing fat.
In my husband’s experience, Bisoprolol and Spironolactone helped weight gain and hampered weight loss. When his doses were adjusted down he lost his moobs without any dietary changes! But it’s all about balancing the positives of the meds with the downsides and everyone is different.
Hi I had severe heart failure and I was on ramipril, it was changed to entresto, ferusomide, bisoperol and spironolactone, they never made any difference to my weight, I never got above 8 stone, I ate anything, except veg I hate them 😅the great Scottish diet of sausages 😋 steak pie etc, to be honest my consultant wasn't really too bothered about what I ate he just wanted me to put weight on, even when admitted they said eat anything even rubbish as they won't operate under 8st, as Michael said you have no reserves, I understand that heart failure is different from a lot of other conditions as I had low cholesterol and low blood pressure, I do feel bad about lack of exercise but I don't have any motivation at the moment, mabe tomorrow! I hope you and your family have a lovely festive season, take care char
Hi Kajfi. I have heart failure and on the same 5 a day drugs I started on 7 years ago after an MI and stents. My weight loss was significant but gradual then bottomed out after 2 years and stayed the same since. Advice already given is to eat less (smaller portions) as well as the right stuff and exercise very regularly. I found a few exercise routines I could do every day and not get bored with them. Exercise first thing before breakfast is good to get the metabolism going and is an easy discipline to maintain. Walking briskly for an hour if you can is probably better than cycling. I also do weights to maintain upper body muscle strength not to lose weight. Group exercise, when we could, has also helped. Worth joining a class doing something you enjoy to keep up the routines. As already mentioned cutting out sugar, including sugary alcohol and all fizzy drinks, and going low- salt should help with weight control. Keep at it and look forward to having to buy a complete new set of clothes at least one size down.
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