Any advice welcome.

[Fudgster]

Hi, is there anyone like me that when diagnosed with heart failure had to lose over 100lbs in weight? Would love to hear tips for how to get safely started with exercise. I'm worried as I am so inactive that any form of exercise is going to make me worse as my anxiety is also bad at present.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

When I first started here, I was obese and extremely unfit. I started by walking around the house, then dug out an ancient exercise bike and pedalled for one minute every hour. I increased very gradually, until I lost over 100lbs and ran a marathon.

Just start slowly and increase when you can. Walking is excellent exercise and all exercise makes you feel better in the long run (excuse the pun)

[EveryoneKnows 2 stone]

Like moreless says, walking is fantastic exercise! Just start with a baseline of whatever you are doing now, and slowly overtime add a bit more. Have you been referred for any sort of cardiac rehab? Hopefully the heart failure nurses/ doctors can give you an idea of what exercises you can safely do.

As for the 100lbs, most weight loss consists of what you eat. Break your goal up into more manageable chunks so you don't feel too overwhelmed, like the first half stone or first 10lbs.

I calorie count but lots of people do different things like low-carb/ high-fat etc. I used the NHS weight loss plan at first, but also read this 'weight loss quick start guide' which I found invaluable. Basically talks you through calorie counting and how to start off. At the beginning I just got into the habit of writing down my food each day, then I started making changes.

Here's the link: reddit.com/r/loseit/wiki/qu...

Massive good luck for your journey Fudgster.

[N-o-r-d-i Maintainer 64kg]

I haven’t had any heart related diagnoses but I’m sure I was running a high risk as my parents both have issues with their hearts even though they haven’t been overweight at any stage in their lives, meanwhile I’m the one in the family who had been fluctuating from overweight through all the levels of obesity, and had loads to lose. I would also say to start with walking. It doesn’t have to be a lot, it just has to be a little bit more movement than you usually have during the day. Even standing up more often would help to start with. And then you can build up. It has to be something that brings you pleasure, otherwise it’s really difficult to sustain. Good luck finding what suits you!