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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

terodac

I lost 30pnds after my heart surgery, looked great felt awful! I know weigh more than I ever have, but good new I have lost 20pnds. It has taken me 4 months to do it, watching what I eat only eat two meals a day and eating red meat once a week. I my cholesterol had gotten to high so I went to a eating class at the heart clinic. I eat fish about 3 times a week, chicken the other days. I have gotten my cholesterol way down had to take crestor for a while, off of that now. I am on blood thinner so I can't have leafy greens. It has been really hard for me but I will get this weight off! I take topral xl and norvas, topral add's the belly fat that I have never ever had! If it is not one thing it is another! :)

kathybg

PS-Don't know if you're on them but beta blockers can pack on the weight and fast. The one screwball doctor in my area that I left in the dust put me on 4 different ones one day after I got my 1st pacemaker-I was having severe attacks w/out of control palpatations, sweating, nausea, SOB & b/p skyrocketed to 170/100 within seconds. She had no idea what the problem was but what the heck, let's see if these'll do the trick. Great trick-25 lbs in a month & needed bifocals in a month also-betas mess up your vision too. Attacks magically stopped when my new Dr. at the teaching hospital I switched to put in a different pacer w/defib-1st pacer was the wrong one for my needs so for 3 yrs it was destroying what good heart muscle I had left. So please one and all, be wary of beta blockers & if you must be on them be especially diligent with your diet.

kathybg

I too am in slo-mo with weight loss, I'm waiting for a heart so you can imagine how pooped I am but am determined. I just joined Jenny Craig which is identical to THE 3-HOUR DIET BY JORGE CRUISE which you can buy in any bookstore. I lost 25 lbs following that program w/moderate exercise. I went w/JC though for now because I am just too exhausted to prepare/cook so I know I'll do well w/it. I also know or suspect my progress will be slow due to inactivity from my condition-severe heart failure/SOB/exhaustion but that's ok, I'm still doing it & at least if nothing else, I'm eating healthy. Started doing my exercise tape w/4-5 different programs that I had done b4 I got worse. I'm easing into it, doing what I can-that's all any of us can do. I am on coreg but I also take a diaretic, furosemide, 2X a day. If I didn't I'd probably look like that girl in purple in Willy Wonka!! Maybe you need a diaretic, are you swelled or bloated? If so, let your doctor know. Take care/God bless-Kathy

Linda-CT

Hi MARYCORINNE,
It sounds like you do have a full plate. How much do you have to loose? Have you done any lap band research? I hope you get some replies. If not, you can start a discussion with that in your headline.

I never thought to take my Coreg at night. I have switched from Coreg to Bystolic, 5 mg. , besides other pills, and I seem to feel less tired and the scale has actually budged. Time will tell. My chest and back still have discomfort, though. The back may be from working muscles in exercise.
Linda

MARYCORINNE

Wow there are many great ideas in this discussion.
I started a new 4 day per week job Mon-Thurs from 9:00 to sometimes 7:00PM. I sleep until the last poss minute because I take my Coreg CR at night. I can't stand to take it during the day, because it made me feel like something heavy is standing on my chest. When Friday comes, I am exhaused and still have a house to maintain whith two kids. So it is extremely frustrating to find any extra energy or time. I feel like a slug most of the day and the BP medication diovan makes me feel like my brain won't work. I am sorry to whine, but like many have posted before...so tired of being overweight and tired. My physician has recommended a lap band and I await insurance approval. It will by NO MEANS be any quick fix, but it will help. Has anyone out there in the heart community have cardiomyopathy and had the lap band? And how did it go for you?
Best reguards, Madmary

Linda-CT

Hi everyone, my medication has just been changed from Coreg to Bystolic. It is still a Beta blocker, but is supposed to have less side effects. I don't know, yet, if metabolism and less weight gain is one of them. I gained under a lb. this morning. I had eaten mu supper when I got in around 8:30 p.m. Not good. I was hungry on the way home and reached for these Triscuits I just recently tried. They are good. They are Hint of Salt, only 50mg. I like them, maybe a little too much. I think maybe I should just have had a protein drink at that hr. instead of a meal and Triscuits. Next time I'll try that. I have to research this drug, to find out more. I was just given samples. Tomorrow I may ask the pharmacist for a print out. I am still trying to eat right and exercise, though. I'm trying to learn better choices and decisions. Not easy, though. Linda

joy2day

Girlw ---

Truly understand feeling so defeated ....

In August 2007, I was diagnosed with HF caused by untreated high blood pressure. They put me in the hospital to get fluids off and BP down. While in the hospital, I had a poor reaction to one BP med ... and a reaction to Ambien. The combo of diuretics, a contrast CAT scan (contrast dye is hard on kidneys) and my overzealous interpretation of "watch your fluid intake" combined to put me back in the hospital a few days later with kidney failure. Kidney failure/dehydration made me even weaker and affected my memory/concentration.

Bottom line -- I was physically weak, emotionally bankrupt, so very scared of what the future held, and feeling very alone. From that pit of despair, I used my fear to stay on my low-sodium diet, figure out ways to integrate exercise and healthier eating into my life -- even when it means being forceful about food prep in restaurants or with friends. Back then, I would never have dreamed that I would be as strong as I am today -- I've lost a lot of weight, exercise 45 minutes/day and I'm a lot spunkier (and happier) now.

Does fear still come? Yes, but I'm learning to deal with it.
Do I still have moments when I need a personal pity party? Sometimes ......
Do I have to accept that I have some limitations? Yes ---

But WATCH OUT WORLD ---- I have learned how strong and determined I truly am.

GirlW

Those are pretty good ideas! I guess another part of the weight gain for me is due to the depression of being diagnosed with heart failure. I am having a hard time being motivated enough to make a huge effort to lose the weight
One day at a time :)

joy2day

One note about heart rate for those of us on beta blockers (like Coreg) ....

Beta blockers reduce our heart rates, therefore the age-based target heart rate formulas aren't accurate for us. In cardiac rehab, the exercise physiologist established a target range for me. Other ways to assess my workout include -- Borg rate of perceived exertion scale and the "talk test".

nanamo

i have started walking everyday with my daughter we do 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile depends on me and weather ok 1st off to see us walk is funny she is me 20 years ago 97 pounds soaking wet so when we walk i always tell her yeah everyda says man the lil one dont need to walk but that big one does when i had my heart attack 10 years ago i weighed 110 pounds i am at 180 so working on getting some off i take coreg to no matter what i eat or do its so hard to take off only way it comes off is being sick so we are walking and doing 50 squats a day and start end of may work in the pool every day so we will see have a vacation to go on in june thats my goal numbe rone for my health and two for my duaghter and i's trip to atantic city nj for her 21st birthday



god bless
surviving heart disease one day at a time
with trigger 04/08
for 10 years now
nana mo

Linda-CT

Hi heartmother,
Thanks for your reply. Is there any particular heart monitor you can recommend and where do I pick one up? Do you walk outdoors, the mall, or use a treadmill? The treadmill at the gym gives me my heart rate, most seem accurate, but then once in awhile I get a wild rate that I know has to be wrong. My Dr. has given the OK for me to now use light weights.

I don't know your history. How long ago did you have a heart event? Maybe I'll look you up on here, if you've filled in a profile.
Linda

Linda-CT

Hi Girl W. Maybe we can continue to support each other through this group and see what helps us. I had been doing good and today I really overate. I feel so bad about it. Tomorrow is a new day though and I need to just keep trying for however long it takes. I am going to keep trying though. I didn't know that Coreg slows your metabolism or that a side effect is being tired. Maybe that explains the tiredness. I know excess weight in itself makes me more tired. In the past when I've lost 10 lbs. or more I felt so much better. I was tired before my heart attack and I attributed it to the weight gain. When I force myself to exercise, even if I don't feel like it, I find I do feel better and sometimes after using a treadmill, my motivation just kicks in after a bit. It helps to be at the gym and seeing everyone else trying to take care of themselves.

I went shopping at the mall and did find some tops that I am not wild over (although 1 would be nice if I lose just 10 lbs. and 1 is just plain cheerful, the others look very loose, buy hide the spare tire I've picked up around my middle since starting Coreg. That is what I find so depressing.

While shopping, the salesgirl said she'd lost 40 lbs. since Oct. She is younger than me and I think her trainer boyfriend is a big motivator. She did have helpful suggestions, though. She said she eats 6 times a day. She tends to eat fruit that has sugar or anything else with sugar earlier in the day and stick to the vegetables at night. It sounds like she makes sure she gets enough protein. She recommended Nectar protein powder and said she uses strawberry fruity. She said they also sell blender cups. She also eats Chubani yogurt or Fage Greek Yogurt, fat-free. For a jam she uses Polaner. She also said she eats Thomas 100 cal grain muffins. She also said to make sure I give it a month or more before I start to see results. It sounds like we have to be vigilant in what we eat. She said diet is 80% of it. I hope to hear from you again and how you are making out.
Linda

Winglover

Jaynie,
Yes, he definitely notices those bikinis! Not sure he will like hanging out with his good old mom at the pool though. He has sort of been my shadow this past year. He does not like being left alone. Makes it hard to meet girls one would think. I bought him a new bathing suit already in hopes to spark some interest. Also some nice comfy walking shoes. As flat converse skater shoes are not practical for those walks we are going to take. We expect a nice weekend here so I plan to get him out for some sunshine! He is pretty pale and sure could use some vitamin D.
Thanks again for the suggestions!
Lisa

martzj

Hi winglover,
"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. "

Just remind him bikini season is almost here!!! That should cheer him up a bit (smile) and motivate him to spend time in the water. I swim fatigued, w shortness of breath, through varying chest pains and nausea. Always feel better for it. I am not a 15 year old boy......but I've found that no matter what shape my heart is in water work-play helps tremendously. Even if he mostly just wall hangs in the beginning..or floats around, it is very important for his still developing body to be in motion daily.

Also a major water immersion benefit: When immersed up to the neck and shoulders, the water acts as a full-body compression stocking that forces all the inner organs to function better and blood flow is channeled in a much more even distribution....as in, there is now less pooling of fluids in the lower extremities due to cardiomyopathy...

take good care,
Jaynie

Linda-CT

Hi heart39-Yes, I can't stand the middle area of bulge. I don't remember having this big tire around my middle, before my heart event. That is why I really believe that part of this is related to the Coreg I take. I did have the excess weight in the middle, but it's like a tire around me now. Very distressing! Lin

Linda-CT

Hi heart39-Yes, I can't stand the middle area of bulge. I don't remember having this big tire around my middle, before my heart event. That is why I really believe that part of this is related to the Coreg I take. I did have the excess weight in the middle, but it's like a tire around me now. Very distressing! Lin

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.

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 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

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

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