weight gain aftercare recovery

[Burtybella4]

hi all I have gained a lot of weight since my opp 13 months ago, it is only on my stomach I was wondering if anyone else has the same problem, I am not eating any more than normal I walk my dogs every day but not really doing a lot more although I don’t sit about, I have tryed to get advice from doctors but to no avail, I have given up smoking since opp wondered if this could be reason sorry for jumbled post just frustrating

[Happyrosie]

in a way, recovery from cardiovascular conditions are very much down to the individual. Well done for giving up smoking and for walking.

A “normal” person in their sixties is encouraged to do exercise (that is, breathing more deeply but able to talk but not sing) for at least 150 minutes a week - that’s what the NHS says. I personally feel that’s not nearly enough for someone who has hearty probs but can exercise.

And you know that exercise will help with a weight issue.

As far as your diet goes, I expect you were given advice in your rehab? Might be a good idea to revisit this? On the NHS website they refer to at EatWell Plate which is a starter, and the BHF has lots of food suggestions.

[Traveldreams]

I’ve gained weight post op too, about half a stone. I eat healthily counting calories and fat except for Friday night. I’m exercising for 45 minutes per day 7 days a week and am back to work full time (18 weeks post ohs).

My cardio nurse and consultant say it’s normal. A combination of the medication and the body repairing slows down my metabolism. It’s irritating as there is nothing else I can do (backed up by medical advice for those who will post arguing otherwise). I imagine it may also partially be muscle mass as for 18 months before my op I couldn’t exercise.

Good luck - if being overweight is all I have to worry about now I’m a very lucky person or so I keep telling myself x

[devonian186]

Our metabolism naturally slows as we age and putting on several pounds a decade appears perfectly normal, which seems to accelerate after 60.

This weight gain is compounded by less exercise, eating more food etc so the natural "several pounds" can easily become more than that. I was told that the various medications might cause you to initially put on a couple of pounds but thereafter would have no effect. I saw this confirmed in a science paper.

So, medication to some extent, exercise, food and age. We can overcome the effects of the first, can't do anything about the last factor but can do something about the middle two!

[cotonh]

Perhaps reduce the portion size at every meal and try to go for nothing in between for a while. I notice that people who walk dogs often stop as the dog sniffs around... if this is your main exercise of the day you could try to walk with intention and do some of it a bit faster than you have been. You could also ask about a cardiac rehabilitation programme if you haven't been offered one. My husband got offered one this week months after his op and he is on the waiting list for a by-pass! The cardiac nurse thought he could do a bit before the op and do the rest after but that both would help his confidence.

[devonian186 in reply to cotonh]

Good point. It would be my observation that walking a dog is a gentle stroll punctuated by frequent stops for the dog or a chat! That all has a benefit in itself but unless the dog is a strong one, pulling on the lead and needing fast walking then i would look elsewhere for the exercise you need.

[DWizza]

Hi , I have actually lost weight since my quadruple CABG following Nstemi in July 2023. I had a pretty good diet to start with but really took on board the advice about little lifestyle changes in nutrition that would help keep my new pipes clear. I am food police 🤦🏼🤣, I have cut out as much ultra processed foods as possible , no bacon, ham, chorizo , sausages etc (May have a Chipolata at Xmas ), make my own breads ( bread maker machine , way less salt , no sugar) and cut down booze a lot , well under the weekly unit guidelines (I feel rubbish the next day after 2 pints anyway , think it’s the meds ). I’m 62 and won’t give in , keep on moving , keep on learning about my new self . I consider it a rebirth and it’s my responsibility to keep my pipes clear and make the most. I learned before my heart attack about calories eaten versus the energy we spend . It’s so easy to eat calorie dense food and not use it up. It’s not all about going to the gym to lose weight , even if we are on a cocktail if medication. It’s about finding what what the individual needs to consume to create a small enough calorie deficit over a week -month that will cause fat to be used up and generally weight loss. The easiest ways to help that deficit are by knowing roughly the calories that I consume and the amount of energy I spend . I move around a lot during the day, work on my farm , walk 4k with my Lurcher , mow lawns , carry feed bags , muck out horses , heavy wheel barrow work etc., I use up much more enetgyb(calories ) doing that than any gym work. Keep yourself moving , even house work , walking etc , reduce your portion sizes , check food labels for calories and start making better choices. Think about what you’re eating and why. Don’t lose the pleasure of food and always have a monthly treat 👍🏻.

Photos of me pre heart attack top like and Laine left. Me post heart attack bottom line and right. Now 10 months post surgery and lost a lot of muscle… 84kg to 76.5kg

Pre and post heart attack

[Suzz7 in reply to DWizza]

May I ask what meds you are taking? Were you prescribed bisoprolol and statins?

[Burtybella4 in reply to Suzz7]

yes statin bisopriol aspirin ramp and something for water retention can’t remember name

[DWizza in reply to Suzz7]

Are you asking me Suzz?

Was on 80mg artovastatin for months , then a7 week break , started 40mg Pravastatin, dudbt get on with it now starting 10mg Rosuvastatin which seems agreeable.

Also on pantaprazole, clopidogrel, aspirin , 1.25 mg bisoprolol and hss as of a 1.25mg Ramipril.

[Suzz7 in reply to DWizza]

Yes, I was asking you🙂Glad you have recovered well, you have a great positive attitude.

I was curious to find out if you have lost weight whilst taking bisoprolol. I am blaming this med for my weight gain!

[DWizza in reply to Suzz7]

Are you eating the same foods as before taking Bisoprolol? If so , then the bisoprolol may have affected our basal metabolic rate which means we don’t burn the energy you used to. Simply means adjusting the amount of food/calories/energy that our body currently needs to either maintain a good weight or to lose weight/fat.

[Mags2156]

I have gained weight too and I exercise 5 times a week, eat healthy, avoid sugar/processed food etc. I was also diagnosed as pre-diabetic which shocked the life out of me, my weight gain is round my belly too...for me it's definitely the medication which has even been backed up by my medical professionals I've spoken to, I'm learning to live with it, I'm still here, I get to wake up every day and enjoy my family and my life, I don't stress about it now as much as I did at the start, I've maintained my weight and stayed the same for over 6 months now so that'll do for me 👍😊

[45sue]

I agree with Mags2156 - it definitely the medication- probably bisoprolol

[Shabana1974]

I am on a NHS weightless program lead by the UKs leading weight loss centre.

My Mind was totally blown we have been lied to our whole life. Counting calories is pointless, all you do is send your body into starvation mode.

The Insulin in your body is the "Fat Controller" so your body needs 1 spoon of sugar but 150gs of Boiled potatoes is 9.1 spoons of Sugar. Fat Controller then uses the 1 spoon it needs then brushes the 8 spoons it doesn't need to Fat storage. And yet Cabbage is less than 1 spoon of sugar.

The Drs Name is Dr Saira Hameed she as written a book call the full diet.

She talks about reduce artificial sugar, sugar and high sugar foods like potatoes, rice etc. Stop buying low fat products as they are not safe. Go back to eating how our grandparents use to eat. Make everything stop buying processed.

This picture totally blew my mind. The colour chart is good foods and grey bad.

If you buy the book pay attention to the notes for clinicians first as you may need to reduce your medication as a positive side effects of the diet. And it would be best to show this to your Dr.

I am at the beginning of my journey. But the first session blew my mind.

Best regards

Shabana

Food guide

[Di1967 in reply to Shabana1974]

To burtybella4 and anyone else interested,

Since my heart issue diagnosis (waiting on triple bypass) I suddenly realised how lazy I’d became with food and convenience. I did a lot of research on how we are being fooled by the food industry who also have a big say in pharmaceuticals industry. Basically hundred of hours of research , I too have totally overhauled my food choices and no longer eat highly processed food, no bread, cakes, biscuits, crisps, sugars or unnecessary carbs. Changed to coconut oil and butter , olive oil , increased eggs, and other real foods. Stopped using any other oils as these cause the inflammation in our arteries, it’s a bit more complex but when you really research cholesterol, inflammation, sugar/carbs i suddenly realised I’d been killing myself slowly…basically all the drs wanted to do was put me on medication not talk seriously about how to change this road I was travelling, it’s hard to change years of eating addictive foods ( they add hidden highly addictive sugars to foods to make them addictive) 80 different names for hidden sugars in our food , no wonder so many of us have heart/pre-diabetes problems. In 2 months (feb-April) I reduced my glucose pre-diabetes numbers from 46 to 42 finger prick bloods from 8-11 readings to about 5-6 , in 4 months lost 2 st by basically doing what is in the picture from shabana1974 shows……

I’m also hoping in about 4 weeks another hcb1ca glucose test will show a further reduction, reversing my pre-diabetes with a 2 st loss whilst on medication that slows everything down. In a better place for my operation and recovery….I’ve had my blinkers taken off about food… back to basics ….I just need to learn how to cook more varied foods now

Just hoping my journey would encourage others to look closer at what we are eating…. If I don’t recognise the ingredients why would I want that in my body… it’s not been easy (bloody hard in fact) but worth the results so far. I now don’t crave junk food like I used too, just about let go of the anger I had towards myself and the food industry…. I feel more empowered now and in control and fitter! Friends and family have also commented on how different I look

Supermarket bread has more than 15 ingredients listed on the label , does that seem right? I picked up some fresh chilled beef burgers for my son from sains***ys the other day, 48% beef and loads of other stuff not needed! I put them back and made my own …… when I go into a supermarket now I look at all the isles and see heart disease on 80% of the food ….The choice is yours

[Shabana1974 in reply to Di1967]

It's totally mind blowing, I am at the very start on my weight loss journey but Dr Saira Hameed PHD in hormones and weight loss said stop buying anything with ingredients you don't recognise. And low fat products are doing more harm. I thought to myself that is actually so true why are we eating ingredients that are not identifiable. Basically in her words cheap rubbish and chemicals to bulk food out. My next online session is 25th June. But we get daily emails. The whole cutting bread thing is going to be a struggle but I am finding alternative recipes like making it with red Lentils.

So glad to read your successful outcome so far. I have bought Keytone as advises by Dr Saira

[Shabana1974 in reply to Shabana1974]

And yes type 2 Diabetics have returned to none Diabetic state by following her plan

[DWizza]

“Counting calories is pointless, all you do is send your body into starvation mode.”

This phrase always alludes to not eating enough causing weight /fat gain. Try telling that to any prisoners of war. Starvation mode doesn’t exist , metabolic adaptations do exist . If we lose weight and still eat as if we’re a previous heavier weight then we will either plateau or fluctuate up and then back to plateau.. in losing weight our metabolic rate decreases , there is less mass to keep fuelled , therefore our energy needs are less ..

Eat as our grandparents did , rationing and physical labor ensured a general calorie deficit for most of them . They didn’t need to count daily steps because of sedentary jobs 🤣 or worry about how many calories they ate , never fretted over their sugar spikes after a piece of cake 👍🏻