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The effects of medication on a person trying to loose weight.....

Linda-CT
0 Recommendations

In the past, when I wanted to loose weight, I would count my calories and exercise more. I would see results each weight on my Jenny Craig, weight tracking scale. Now I do the same thing, and the loss is so slow as compared to a couple years ago. Also, I am not allowed to lift any weights since my heart event.

I believe I am retaining water as a side effect of taking Coreg. I am supposed to loose weight to try to avoid any further heart problems, yet it is so hard. It is difficult to also make exercise a top priority. I do feel motivated, though.

I'd like to know how others are dealing with possible water retention and slow metabolisms, as well as if anyone has any interesting, easy, and quick healthy meals to make.
Linda

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Heart failure Surgery Paxil Beta blockers Pneumonia Menopause Crestor Coreg Ambien Effexor Stress Heart disease Vasotec Lisinopril Sweating Physical therapy Cardiomyopathy Diovan Furosemide Pain Cozaar Pacemaker Heart attack Congestive heart failure Depression Dieting

36 replies

laurali

Hi Linda -- I hear you! I have a terrible time trying to lose weight now. I've gained about 15 lbs since May 06 when I had complete heart block and was put on Coreg. I eat much smaller portions, really watch my sodium (no more than 1500 mg/day) and walk up to 2 miles/7days a week. And, still don't lose anything :( I did lose about 8 pounds this winter when I had pneumonia and was sick for nearly 8 weeks. But...as soon as I began feeling ok, the weight came right back. I mention it at every doc appt. and my cardio and GP both say I'm fine just as I am. I don't agree that 178 is fine when for nearly all of my adult life I weighed 155. (I'm 5'7") I try not to stress about it, but it's frustrating when none of my clothes fit anymore and nothing I try on in the stores looks good at all on me!! We're getting ready to have our kitchen torn up during which I'm going to try Healthy Choice frozen dinners for the most part. It will be interesting to see if I lose anything that way since they are really low cal. I'm not retaining water, so I can't even blame it on that :(. I think it's really from lowered metabolism from the meds. I also take Lisinopril and very small amt. of Paxil (which also affects weight I've heard.) Sorry I don't have any great ideas/answers. All I can do is commiserate. Hugs, laurali

jay73

Hi Linda,
Me too! I made steady progress and lost weight with relative ease before being on my meds, but now it's creeping up again. Even though I watch what I eat and am generally more active it just won't shift. I contacted my cardio rehab officer this week to ask about the exercise physiologist designing a programme for me which will burn max calories. I'm also going back to the cardio gym so I can 'up' my exercise levels. I don't think that trying to lose weight on my own is working and hopefully being back at the cardio gym will be extra incentive and more productive. I know it's difficult fitting gym sessions in especially if you're working but it might be what is needed to give your metabolism a kick start. I'll keep you posted on whether it helps. Do you have anyone you can speak to about doing a specific exercise programme to burn max calories whilst monitoring your heart activity ?

As far as food is concerned...I have been working on some food anaylsis in work and testing various foods for calorie, fat and salt content. The results are staggering. (One Chinese meal contained 19g of salt! that's 3x the daily max recommended intake for salt in the UK) So be careful of any 'hidden' baddies in takeaway and ready prepared food. Sometimes when foods say they are 'low fat' they may be relatively high in sugar which leads to excess calories which stay on our bodies as fat. I'm sure you know that already but I do find that it helps to remind myself of that on a regular basis. I tend to steer away from 'high fat' foods but I'm not as strict as I should be when it comes to my sweet tooth!

You may find a strict diet may not help. If your body doesn't get enough food it goes into 'panic mode' and when you do start eating it retains as much as it can as fat stores to prepare itself for another famine. This is why people on crash diets gain the weight they have lost (and more) when they stop dieting.

I have some really good cook books by BILL GRANGER, (Bill's Open Kitchen, Sydney Food and Bill's Food) he doesn't market his food as low calorie (and some recipes definately aren't!) but there's lots of fish, veggies and 'lighter' meals that are really tasty, you may need to make obvious changes like removing chicken skin and using as little oil as poss but I find them really cleansing and the portion sizes are really good.

Take Care
Jay73

spasmjan

Linda,
Meds can make SUCH a difference on your metabolism, and age (close to or in Menopause) makes it even worse. It's so frustrating to try and do all the right things to lose the weight that is already having an effect on your cardiovascular problems, only to lose little or no weight. When my Mom passed and we went thru her house getting ready for an estate sale, I found a book that she had bought when my Dad was suffering from Congestive Heart Failure.
It's copyright date is 1987, but I went to Barnes & Nobles website, and although they don't have any "new" copies, there were 82 used, starting at $1.99!! I would definitely look into it, because I'm sure it was probably at least $30 originally. It's called "Choices for a Healthy Heart" and subtitled "Everything you and your family need to know to take control of your cardic health, change your behavior patterns, lose weight, and lower cholesterol, once and for all." It also has over 200 recipes taken from a book called "Don't Eat Your Heart Out Cookbook". I haven't had a chance to read it all (534 pages), but skimming thru it I noticed it looked like it has everything you could possible want to know about heart health, food and exercise. Lots of tables of food (including fast food chain foods) and amounts of calories, sat. fat, sodium, cholesterol effect, etc. I also noticed a wholde section on metabolism and a "Formula" to determine your individual needs to get it going, and also some limited information on Meds. Might be worth looking into. Good luck and know that a lot of us are in the same boat with you!!
Jan

heartmother

I was experiencing the same problem until I started a core fitness class. I still walk four days a week but then I do this core women's fitness class two days a week that works on strengthing muscles. The weight is falling off!!!!

kardia

Hi Linda,

Oh my ....I hear ya.

Ditto...everyone elses comment. I have cardiomyopathy, ICD implant and had an out of control arrhythmia...prior to my diagnosis and implant, I put on 30 pounds, and went to Jenny Craig, it took 6 months to take off 20 of the pounds. I took time off and then revisited the weight loss plan a second time and needed 6 months to take off 15 more. It is brutal. But, half pound by half pound it finally came off. Now, I don't weigh, regularly, on purpose, and use Jenny Craig when I feel the need for a week or so...and so on.

I also cannot have cardio exercise or heavy weights, though I do something in a small one-on-one fitness studio, called "Isometrics" or something like that...working out four days a week for 20 minutes, slow light weight physical therapy machines that athletes use. As long as I don't get my heart rate too high, I am good, and it fights the fat...one month off last month, while in the hospital however, and the flab was back from muscle...

Hang in there...

kardia

martzj

Ladies,

If you can get to an indoor heated pool....you won't believe how much body fat drops away and contours change over time. You have to get in and stay in for at least 45 minutes.....keep arms and legs moving the whole time. Even if all you can do is float on a noodle and gently flip and flutter leg and feet.....that also works the core, loosens spine and stretches abdominal muscles. Every body part gets worked even if you choose not to get your head wet.....doing aqua yoga or just walking and floating around in the shallower depths.

Water is the great equalizer for women who may need walkers on land....in water everything moves freely and at least 30 years are removed while you're splashing around. (smile)

Mermaid

heart39

I've had the same weight gain problems. The belly fat's the worst! I've always been a "big girl" but used to carry it better, I'm 5'10".

I've started walking again with spring here. We've also just upgraded our cable which has some great workouts (biggest loser workout, yoga & belly dancing).

Thanks for the cookbook suggestions!

- Peg

teesa

Hi, I am having the same problem. I have have been on Effexor for about a year and gained 15 pounds.I tried to go off it but it really gives me a large amount of energy to keep up with the schedules of my three children. I am trying some Healthy Choice meals for dinner with some added veggies to see if that will help along with additional exercise. We just bought an exercise bike and I just rode 12 miles. I also take Coreg and Cozaar for my dilated cardiomyopathy . I am trying to add in weights- will let you know the results.

Patybluetx

Hi girls!
I agree it's tough to loose weight while on meds, but like Mermaid said a pool can make such a difference, it's like your working your entire body the whole time your in there. When I first started doing it I would get terribly soar all over b/c I would work myself pretty hard (and I go with kids so there's always the occassional 15 mins of tossing the kid around the pool...most of them are not light LOL) I haven't gone in a couple of weeks b/c it got cold and windy here and I did not want to chance catching something but now it seems like it's going to stay warm again so I'm going back ASAP! B/c it really was working for me. Oooo spinning and yoga are great whole body exercises too!

Good luck!
Martha

Winglover

My 16 year old son has also gained weight since starting his heart failure drug regime. He also takes Coreg, Vasotec, etc. He has spent the last 11 months a virtual couch potato since he can no longer be the roller- blading fool he once was. Thanks for the pool suggestion. It's hard to find outdoor activites here in Michigan during the hot summer months that don't make him tire easily and feel ill. Lisa

GirlW

I never had a weight problem in my life until I became a heart patient. Within 6 months of starting COREG I put on 35 pounds and kept it on for the past 18 months. It is so frustrating. My doctor keeps telling me to take the COREG. I just don't understand how gaining all this weight is good for my heart.
Beta blockers are known to cause your metabolism to slow down. In addition, the COREG makes me so tired that I have no energy or motivation to exercise.
I am so frustrated!! I was fairly healthy before I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. After 2 years of 'treatment' I am in the worst health in my life and feel myself continuing to decline.

Winglover

GirlW,
Hang in there. My son feels the same way. He was the leanest teenager I knew. He has put on about 17 pounds the past year. He just had a perfect stress test and was told he can now increase his activity. He just has no motivation. I've gained weight right along with him. Food is about the only thing he has control of. It's very frustrating.
Lisa

Linda-CT

Hi laurali, Thanks for the reply and I'd love to hear more from you on how the Healthy Choice works out. I know it probably has ingredients that are probably bad for you long term, but for short term, I imagine it is probably ok if the sodium content is not too high.. Good luck and if you get a chance, let me know how it goes. Linda

Linda-CT

Hi laurali,

I forgot to say another thing. I needed to get new tops and after trying on many, I found NOTHING that looked right. If I went up to a bigger size, then the shoulders did not fit. I may try another store that has a dept. for the more mature person, which may take into account faced when post menopausal and on meds. that may add weight gain. Honestly, I feel like designing my own clothing line and getting real women models with issues to come up with something that everyone could feel good in.

Linda-CT

Hi Jay73,
Thanks for your reply. I do go to Cardio Rehab, about 2x week, but sometimes something comes up and also my ins. doesn't pay for it all, so that leaves me not doing the 3x wk. suggested. When I am there I began on the bike, and recently upgraded to the treadmill and did that for 50 min. Also, on my own, I joined a club and there I do the bike and the treadmill. I was trying to do over an hr., but I think that overstimulated my appetite, so I think I will try to stick to 1 hr.
I recently picked up a book that was discounted titled You on a Diet by Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz. I've followed Dr. Oz a lot and have another book of his. I need to really get into reading this, but he suggests building the muscle (says you don't need a gym for it) to burn the calories better. The person in cardio rehab. also said that when I can moved to weights that will help.
Dr. Oz suggests walking 10,000 steps accumulated throughout the day with 30 min. of continuous walking, 30 min. of resistance exercise a week, and cardio stamina (80% of maximum heart rate, 3x week (calculated by 220 minutes minus your age) for 20 min. 3x week.
I'd like to know how people who work have time for all this, work, and all their other responsibilities.
Linda

Linda-CT

Hi spasmjan,
Thanks for your reply. I hope I got the name right. I appreciated your telling me all about the book and I will go to Barnes and Noble and probably order it through them. Thanks, much. I don't have blocked arteries, so this is not what caused my attack, but I do have an extremely narrow vessel that can't be stented and I do know that the extra weight is making my heart work all the harder and I'd like to make it easier on my poor heart.

Linda-CT

Hi heartmother, Thanks for your reply. The core fitness isn't through curves is it? Does it consist of weight machines? How much time do you spend on your walking? Linda

Linda-CT

Hi kardia,
When you use Jenny Craig, do all your meals come from there? Right now I am using a book, purchased at the bookstore, counting my daily calories, and notating what exercise I did and an estimate of calories burned. I do think it helps me to stay on track more and be more aware, yet some days I fail and I think, it is because I need to see some weight come off to feel more incentive. I had whole-wheat pasta tonight, which I love and I even measured out 1/2 c.
So do you have someone who is actually taking your heart rate as you exercise or do you do it? I like the idea of shorter sessions, as who has time for all this? Is that the only exercise you do? That sounds very appealing.
Linda

heartmother

the core fitness I attend is through an instructor that uses a karate studio in the mornings. We use free weights, bands, buso balls ect. She does some circuit training and changes things often. That is one of the things I like. The other is that it is small. About 10 women every class. She knows my circumstance and teaches to several levels at once:) She also makes sure your doing the exercise correctly:) It has been the pivotel change in my loosing weight!!! I found the cardio rehab was great for the first month and then I needed to move on:) I wear a heart monitor when ever I work out. That helps me to know what my heart rate is and at what point I have pain so I can inform my doctor. I just pull back when the pain appears. I walk for an hour everyday except for the days I do core fitness.

Linda-CT

Hi martzi,
Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have access to a pool currently, but I'll keep it in mind for one of the health clubs. I was told their rates go down if I want to wait until summer to sign up. I DO LOVE THE WATER. I like to swim, but I do think my swimming capacity has probably diminished more than it even had before my heart event. Still, I love to swim on my back, side, and the standard, even do the frog swim. I guess I'm a mermaid too, albeit an overweight one. I never heard of agua yoga. That sounds interesting.

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