Weight loss: Also spoke to my heart... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Weight loss

Yodayodz profile image
26 Replies

Also spoke to my heart doctor about my weight I'm 5ft 1 12 stone 10 so he said I'm on the border of obese 🙈😑 so he is putting it in a letter to my doctor to give ne something to help with weight loss 🤞👍🏻

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Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz
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26 Replies
Lowerfield_no_more profile image
Lowerfield_no_more

At 5'1" and 12st 10lb you have a BMI of 33.6 which is classified as obese, not 'border obese', and if you put more weight on you will become morbidly obese. I suggest you cut down or preferably cut out sugary foods and drinks, eat smaller portions, and don't snack especially crisps and nuts. In short reduce your calorie intake. And start exercising like they are advising you to do at your cardio rehab group. I don't know what your GP is expected to do, surely you don't want to be taking more pills??!! So unless you have a medical condition which means you have a tendency to pile on weight irrespective of what you do (and if you do I apologise), the only way you will lose weight is to have the resolve to do it, do the right things, and stick with it.

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to Lowerfield_no_more

Like I did say don't eat sugary things or crisps or biscuits eat as healthy as possible may be my menopause it's just kicked in plus I picked on weight after chemo and couldn't lose it

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to Yodayodz

Breakfast this morning banana strawberries in porridge

baly_2023 profile image
baly_2023

I would ask your GP to carry out a body fat test.

BMI..... , my BMI was always near the high end of good but my actual body fat content was well within the normal. I used to ask my PT which one counts and he said body fat content.

BMI doesn't account for muscle, bone density whilst it's OK for a rough check it's not great. It's been highly contested by athletes and medical people for quiet a while but it's the easiest method to use for most.

Even my cardio nurse said it was "meh" and whilst she had to test me on it, she still said my body fat content is more important.

So get your GP to get a measure of your body fat and work on that.

Ask them about the effect chemo had on your weight and work together on it.

You will lose it with some excericse, you read a lot of weight loss success stories here so keep positive, get some excericse into your daily routine and in a few months time you will start shedding any extra weight.

It requires effort, perseverance but is is doable.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to baly_2023

The BMI calculator is really too simple and is kind to short people and unkind to tall people. I am slightly overweight on the height adjusted calculation but rather more than that on the simple NHS calculation! I will try and find the link as I have not used it in a while.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to MichaelJH

This is not the original reference I had but comes up with a similar answer. It makes my BBMI 26.1 so a bit to lose (but very hard in a wheelchair)!

tall.life/better-bmi-for-sh...

Sorry, short people may not like the result! 😐

Heythrop51 profile image
Heythrop51 in reply to MichaelJH

I like this as although not overweight now it dropped my BMI by 1 point!

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz

Thanks

RufusScamp profile image
RufusScamp

My surgery offered me a 9 month WeightWatchers course. It did help lose a few kilos, and did not involve any more medication.

Bingofox007 profile image
Bingofox007

I need to lose a lot of weight for health and knee surgery. I cut out carbs, as much as I can in October last year and now have lost just under 2 stones. I am unable to exercise due to OA and also RA which cause a lot of pain, AF means no nsaid’s. Protein rich meals, salads, veg, pile them high, dress with nuts/seeds/pomegranate. I don’t eat meat or fish but eggs, cheese,myco proteins. Breakfast is now handful of almonds, fruit snack shortly after, walnuts late morning, stacked omelette at lunch, veg for tea often with grated cheese melted over, not everyday but for example. I fry in butter or olive oil. It’s exciting to see what eye catching meals you can create at the beginning and then you realise you’ve kicked the carb habit. Good luck. Take care 🦊x

mathematics profile image
mathematics

I have been losing weight which I put on due to the medications I was on that changed my metabolism. I also have had chemo and then hormone tablets as adjuvant therapy and yes I piled on the pounds and could not budge them. However I am now off the hormone tablets and the weight has come down slowly. Certain medication can make a difference especially if that clashes with the menopause. All the best and hope you with the help of your GP can get back on top of your weight. I found swimming at least once a week helped.

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to mathematics

Thank u

A246 profile image
A246

Dear YodayodzI too was over weight until diagnosed with heart condition last summer. I thought that I was eating healthy too. This diagnosis shocked and frightened me. I made minor changes and cut back on my carbs at first just to see if that makes a difference. Six months later I have lost nearly three stones in weight. I am now feeling much better and am grateful for every extra day I have with my kids.

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to A246

I feel like I'm trying everything just realised this morning I'm still getting sore boibs bloating and hunger pangs even though my periods stopped 4montgs ago think my weight is a lot to do with menopause thank you thiugh

devonian186 profile image
devonian186

Its not just the weight but where it is distributed. I smugly get into 36 inch waist trousers but on taking a REAL waist measurement (guidelines online) I was very much larger and this fat is in entirely the wrong place. So i need to target the weight loss which is no easy trick.

DWizza profile image
DWizza

I hope you find your way with your weight loss. Having the knowledge and then applying it is not always easy . Having a reason , strong enough reason to make changes and decisions is also a huge driver in sticking to a goal plan until becomes part of a normal routine. Consistency is key to getting results for any goal. Goals don’t just appear. What do you think will help with your weight loss ? Are you looking for a pill?

What’s your knowledge really like about Basal Metabolic Rate , Non exercise activity thermogenesis, calories contained in fat , protein , carbohydrate. What is a calorie deficit for your height weight age and activity levels ? These are the areas that could contribute to you taking control of the energy that you consume against the energy you use. Getting a basic understanding of what’s going in vs out. Took me a few months to get some knowledge.

Sacking off ultra processed foods will help , but eating “healthy” foods in the right portions/volume is key. There’s no magic , every method to lose weight involves creating a calorie deficit one way or another .

The Mac Donald diet 🤦🏼 …

Then there’s the nutritional value of the foods we eat, pizza and tinned soup .. not the most nutritious on a regular basis 🤣👍🏻

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to DWizza

It's actually Campbell super good soup very healthy

jenny876 profile image
jenny876

Just a thought but have you had your thyroid levels checked?

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to jenny876

Yeah tgere fine x

Paula233 profile image
Paula233

Maybe ask your doctor about the Surmount study. I think the study is still accepting new people and want people over a certain bmi with heart issues.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

I'm 5 ft 8 and weigh 11 stone so you are far too heavy. I have never dieted but after my Heart Attack I took heed of the advice given on having a heart healthy diet. I completely cut out cakes, biscuits, crisps; stopped frying anything except maybe once a week, stopped all pies pizzas etc and cut right down on red meat. We have never eaten takeaways or ready meals anyway and I don't drink. I couldn't believe that within 6 months I'd lost 2 stone. I hadn't even noticed. I had just increased the amount of veg in everything, bought mainly chicken and turkey and fish and snacked on fruit. If we did have red meat I made sure it was low fat. I was shocked when I got my summer skirts out and they all fell off.

Avagra profile image
Avagra

without being rude and trying to be honest and helpful you are definitely obese .I am 5’8” and weigh 13st 5lbs and slightly obese and I’m now trying to exercise more and eating less junk etc. I bet 50% of the population are obese

Heythrop51 profile image
Heythrop51

A few years ago I was overweight and prediabetic with raised BP, and cholesterol. I lost the weight and am no longer predictive after following the Mediterranean diet I was recommended here. I still do.

WeCanDoIt1 profile image
WeCanDoIt1

Hi yodayodz, appololagies if this upsets anyone and follow exercise advice from drs this is just my personal experience that i thought might help. Being female and the age where weight just seem to go the wrong way regardless of what you do, along with a health scare, my family set up my road bike which hadn't seen the road for decades on an indoor smart trainer, where i could sit and peddle with initially using the weight of my legs to spin for a few min, the option of a cycling route with other people (avatars) around so I sort of wasn't by myself which I personally found made it easier ( I like zwift, but there are others programs, down fall is they cost money after trial period and trainers aren't cheap either). I didnt lose weight initially, but also I wasn't putting it on, I gradually regain my fitness levels then after about 6months the weight just started to fall off when I stopped trying, approx 13k. My weight has stabilise in the so-called overweight category but im happy with that. I'm now addicted to indoor cycling with others from all over the world where I can peddle at my own pace.

I also have a dog that has gone from a walk round the block to 3-4k normal walking trip.

Although I'm a lot fitter now, a few years later and able to peddle for hours, if i go upstairs too quick I still feel the need to collapse on the bed as my legs are complete jelly, but I'm happy and if i have somehow managed this I know you and others can, just slow and steady and listen to your body.

Yodayodz profile image
Yodayodz in reply to WeCanDoIt1

U r doing brilliantly then x

Veggiebiker profile image
Veggiebiker

Last year, I was approaching 70 (Feb just gone) and was overweight. I have a lung fibrosis condition, and atrial flutter, meaning I get breathless when walking. So I wasn't doing much exercise. Had joint probs, joined a free joint pain programme with Nuffield gym, which came with 6 months free membership. After 6 months, not much improvement, no weight lost, but continued membership as I enjoyed the studio classes. Then joined a community weight loss programme, with no willpower, no hope. Started using the NHS weight loss app. Steadily lost weight, felt amazing, strong and back to 'me' again. I'm now 3 stones lighter and go to gym 6 days a week. Maintaining weight. Hope this helps, if not, look for other inspiration to help you lose weight. It comes down to putting into your body less energy contained in food/drink than you expend. If you do this, you cannot fail to lose weight. I am still just as breathless but happy to look and feel good and strong. Good luck. 😊

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