Weight loss

[Amylou15]

After having a heart attack 4 years ago now ,im 42 years old,I've piled on the weight as much as I've tried I just can't stick to a diet and when i do try my hardness nothing really comes off and find exercise so hard now as where before my heart attack it wasn't as bad, my question is, is there anyone that has been approved for the new weight loss injection as I've read it cuts heart attacks down by 20% but can also cancel out asprin and beaterblockers. Any information on this is much appreciated as I'm just so depressed and don't know where to turn next. Thankyou

[Safeangel]

Hi Amy I have also piled on the weight and struggling to lose it . I have just ordered wegovy injection for weight loss and approved by on line doctor with Boots.

I have also informed my cardiologist and they have no issues with me using it.

I have a thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm and bicuspid valve.

I am waiting for it to be delivered so happy to keep you updated.

[Amylou15 in reply to Safeangel]

That's brilliant,yes please keep me updated on your journey and hope it all goes smoothly for you 😊 I'm going to also ask boots online doctor today as i read that it can not be taken if your on asprin or bisoprolol and I'm on both so I'm not holding my breath ☹️

[Safeangel in reply to Amylou15]

I am on Bisoprolol and been given the ok

[Janna24]

Hello ,I had 1week ago my first Wegovy injection. So far I feel ok . I was advised by my endocrinologist to do it . I have hypothyroidism also. Only meds Wegovy can interact is Flecainide, but I take it only pill in pocket, and not very often. I was approved by Lloyds pharmacy

[Amylou15 in reply to Janna24]

Thankyou for your reply. That's brilliant news,good luck on your new journey and hope it all goes smoothly. I am going to ask boots or Lloyd's today and see what they say

[Janna24 in reply to Amylou15]

Thank you very much! And best of luck to you too. Better was lloyds, it's £30 cheaper than boots .

[Qualipop]

I had the opposite problem after my HA. I lost 2 stone without realising until my GP noticed I looked thinner. I just changed our diet to a heart healthy one; cut out all cakes biscuits, pies, crisps,, fried food, cut right down on red meat; no fizzy drinks or alcohol ( I didn't drink anyway) . If you've done all that I wonder if one of your meds c ould be causing weight gain. Otherwise push to see a dietician. My son has weight problems but finally his GP sent him to a dietician who looked more at his lifestyle that what he ate and came up with a plan that really works. He'd tried all sort of diets none of which helped.

[Amylou15 in reply to Qualipop]

I also lost weight straight after my heart attack then after about 6 months it was just piling on,I was told it is one of the medications that could be doing it so I think I need to look more in to it because I really can't carry on like this it's depressing and I am unable to do alot of things due to being over weight

[Qualipop in reply to Amylou15]

Defeats the object doesn't it? We need to exercise yet can't because their medication causes problems

[Turnipgirl in reply to Qualipop]

A lot of diets are rubbish!

[Blearyeyed]

It's very hard because you often can't exercise as much and depending on the medications you take most people will still carry up to half a stone of extra weight even after being successful with a diet change because of water retention and medicine induced weight gain.If your aren't being as active you can also find yourself snacking from boredom , and some medications as well as triggering the increase in weight can begin to cause you lower insulin sensitivity and a higher glucose level which in turn changes your weight and fat distribution to areas around your tummy, chest, back, face and upper limbs which is more stubborn to lose.

What sort of diet changes have you tried ?

Reducing processed sugar foods and the white carbs to rare treats , avoiding artificial sweeteners, drinking more water , and reducing the portion size of fibrous or " good" carbs can make a big difference to your blood sugar levels , help reduce your appetite, and improve weight management on medications.

Increasing portions of lean proteins , fibre and green vegetables also helps you to feel more satisfied for longer and less prone to snacking. Eating at routine times of day also helps because missing meals makes you binge on more fatty and sugary foods when you get over hungry.

A Nutrient rich , high protein Mediterranean style diet is a good varied option for a lifestyle change because what you really need to do is find a Diet for Life that you can enjoy healthily rather than just an overly restricted eating plan just to try to lose weight which usually just causes you to fall off the wagon or Yo-yo diet.

After this , weight loss which stays off is really the same for everyone; it is a matter of the three P's.

Portion Control , Patience and Perseverance.

At the end of the day, the only way people get weight loss is by eating less calories than you use in energy each day. Then you keep it off by only eating the calories you need to stay the same weight while having the odd treat day to keep you happy to be mainly healthy long term.

It can take months or even years to get your weight under control and sometimes you can find your weight plateaus so you will need to adjust the calories you eat again as you begin to lose pounds.

Quick fix overly restricted diets equal quick regain; they are never permanent and often make you put on more weight after you stop them.

You can try the injections but there are actually risks and side effects with them which you need to consider. After an initial few weeks of weight loss , just as you get on a normal weight loss regime , rapid loss slows down too.

The injections aren't a miracle drug and it's still not a quick fix that lets you eat whatever you want, and, when you stop them, if you haven't got into the habit of eating smaller healthier options your appetite will come back as before straight away so you can put the weight back on very quickly.

It's also worth getting your diabetes HbA1c blood test and full blood count , ferritin/ iron , vitamin B12 and Folate checked before starting a diet just to make sure diabetes symptoms or nutrient deficiency aren't adding to the difficulty in you losing weight and blood glucose weight gain. Ask the GP to do these and give you a baseline of results ( get a copy) because you need to know if there are any food changes you might need to make to manage the effect of these on your weight too. You definitely need these done before starting the injections to make sure it's safe to go ahead even if your GP or Cardiologist says it's ok to use it with your medical history.

If you have type 2 diabetes , are Prediabetic or have a higher diabetes risk because of a cardiac problem, have a BMI over 27 , or BMI over 25 in the Black and Asian communities, and you live in England you can get extra help free on the NHS. Look it up online to see if you are eligible.

Get the GP to help you sign up to the " NHS Path to Remission" Diet.

This is the medically researched shake and soup plan with free ongoing advice, testing and support , apps and a support group online and eating plans to use after you reintroduce meals safely and healthily. You get your shakes delivered free from whichever companies that are used in your area you just put in an online order form. It's a better option to try first than the injections and the added bonus is you aren't having to pay out on shakes or pricey prescriptions so it's weight loss for free.

DiabetesUK also has a really good list of advice, meal plans and recipes for lower carb filling meals for all different tastes explaining how to make choices and giving portion sizes , good for all not just for diabetics.

Exercise can help , but it doesn't do as much as changing your food intake. It can help to do just a little activity for a few minutes each hour through the day even if you can't cope with exercises. A little stroll, even in the house, and a few stretches help your metabolism and circulation which helps your body to burn fat and remove retained water. Work within your comfort zone rather than pushing too much too soon and your ability to slowly increase what you do becomes easier as you begin to feel fitter and less tired.

You can ask your GP about signing you up to the Exercise Referral Scheme too which is ideal because you can go to classes specifically for people with health issues run by teachers whom are more experienced in helping clients with cardiac issues. Or you could request to go to Physiotherapy for help building up your knowledge strength and confidence in choosing the right exercise for your heart. When you get more confident and start being active little and often it can boost your energy and exercising also becomes easier too.

Good Luck and don't lose heart , you will get there in the end , Bee