must lose weight for health - Weight Loss Message Board

arvc · 08-08-2006, 02:38 PM

Hello! I am a 35yo who is 236lbs and 5'8". I have major heart problems. Nothing caused by my weight. I have been within a normal weight range up until about a year and a half ago.I have gained about 75 pounds in that time.I have whats called arvc/arvd it is fatty tissue that takes over the heart muscle. You are born with it and there is no cure! I have an advanced form and have a pacemaker/defibrillator and my heart races even with meds sometimes. This leads me up to now, I can't do alot of exercise. My heart can race just by mild walking. I am going to have to do this on my own and lose the bad eating habits. Problem is that I have always been able to eat what I want and be active. Now I still have the need and the want to eat. I like to eat and won't lie. I do try very hard to lose weight but always seem to fail at it. You would think with my health on the line it would be easy, but it's not. I recently went to my reg. dr. and repeated cholesterol testing which was good in Dec. 05 and now is terrible for a heart patient. My total chol=295, my good chol=40 which is to low. In addition to being on several beta blockers I am now on Crestor. How does someones cholesterol jump that much? Yes I did fast before the test. How do I get the courage and the will to stop eating to much? I hate being big! I have been about 145 most of my adult life, and 115-120 in high school. What do I eat to get a good amount of weight loss without over doing it. I don't want to lose 50lbs. in a month but I do need to lose about 20-25 in a month. I do not want to suck broth or drink slim fast. I'm not a big veggie eater. I guess if I had to stand accountable often to someone it would help. I am not rich and can not afford to spend $50-$100 just on food for me a week. I really must lose atleast 70 pounds within about 4 months to take the stress off my heart. Please help a mom of 3 children to lose the weight or atleast give some good advice. I feel that it has been by the grace of God that I have made it through all I have. I am an easy going person, I love life, laugh even when I don't feel like it, smile, and etc. I realize to some my problems of sudden weight do not compare to a lifetime of struggling. Thanks for your advice.

chevyman · 08-08-2006, 03:42 PM

hi,
I understand what your saying and I feel empathy for you, for someone in your condition, you really need to see a cardioligist about loseing weight/and exercise, (we are not Doctors in these health boards)

Do the Dr's think that the reason your cholosterol is up because of your heart condition? (ARVE/ARVD)?
Do you have CAD? (Caronary Artery Disease.) Do you have angina?
Have you had a cardiac catheterization test? MRI's?

I recommend Cardiac Rehabilitation/even if you never had bypass surgery/see your cardiolgist, those type of programs are safe for someone in your condition. how you exercise and what you eat is very important obviously.
some one in your condition should consult Medical Doctors.

It's hard to lose weight very hard but sheer determantation and wil power is what it takes and encouragment from family /friends.but most of all it's going to be your decision to do that..only you know what you put in your mouth.
as we get older it gets harder to lose weight and we all will probably never be what we weigh in high school, metabolisium slows down as we age.

Remember none of us likes being big and were big because we over eat, its our own fault no body els, so its going to be our fault to lose it.
eating is a luxury to just about everyone, and most of us know its not healthy to over eat.
even for a person thats not over weight that person still needs to eat healthy and exercise..simply to stay healthy.
if you were born with your condition you should be taking better care of yourself during all your 35 years.....you should know that!!!
but as far as telling you what to eat and how much and things like that...thats up to you...your going to have to change your way of living altogather.
but in my opinion you need to ask your Doctors about that.
I wish you the best.

zetoula · 08-09-2006, 03:31 AM

Hi arvc!

The necessary condition to loose weight is to have a strong motivation. From what you said I picture you as a person that is very calming to others, fun to be with and with always a smile upon the face.

You say you are a mom of three, so I'm sure that you want to see your children grow up, become adults and give you grandchildren. I'm also pretty sure that your children are not ready and will not be for the next 15years minimum to loose you. But will you be able to live all these if you don't loose the weight you need to? I'm afraid that the possibilities are against you! I know that a mother will do everything and anything for her children, why not keeping herself healthy so she can be around for them, be one of those things?

20-25lbs per month is something doable!Lots of people have done it in the past and so can you!

And if you are strong enough to laugh even when you don't really want to then I bet you are strong enough to lose the weight! You don't have to suck broth or drink slim fast if you don't want to! Just visit a health professional specialized on dieting for people with a condition (any clinical dietitian will do) and explain what you can and can't afford (moneywise and timewise). Dieting doesn't have to be expensive. Also keep in mind that the expenses to treat the consequences of obesity (heart problems, renal, respiratory etc) are much more than the cost of a diet. All you will have to do is stick to it!

Hope I helped!

arvc · 08-09-2006, 03:06 PM

Chevyman and Zetoula,
I have several doctors who see me! I have an electrophysiologist cardiologist & a reg. cardio dr. both. I see a PCP dr. for other things. I just saw her today. She gave me some defined options for food do's and dont's.My drs have never done that before or suggested a diet dr. I think the rehab idea is a great one. No one has put a link on the chol. & the heart yet. I do have angina, no to the CAD,yes to cath, yes to MRI but can't get another one due to ICD.I accept full blame for my weight regardless of heart. When I said I was born with my disease I guess I should have explained better. I didn't get diagnosed until I was 30 it went undetected and at that time it was misdianosed which caused further problems, it's been about a year and 4 months since I've known I was actually born with it. I took good care of myself and was pretty healthy before I became tired and prone to fainting. I appreciate both of you being candid with me. I guess your both right about it being my determination. Zetuola, I found your words about moms being able to do anything for their kids inspiring. You are so right. I believe that is what prevented me from death many times and God. My children are my everything. All my children stand a 50/50 chance of having this. They will be tested in Sept. I've done the impossible just for them already. Your words hit me hard, but in a good way. You described me very well. I am the calmer and the person who picks everybody up who's down. I love to do it. My thought is why be sad life is to short. Crying won't solve anything happiness spreads. People often say I'm always smiling no matter what. Not that I can't get upset because I do, but I usually overcome it. I am going to do what my dr. suggested today about store packaged or any packaged foods for that matter and avoid them. She said cook from home and eat little to no foods that have
a long shelf life or need preserved. AKA=chips, cookies,dinners(not all but most),frozen pizzas, snack crackers, gronalos,just really anything prepared that I can do at home with fresh things. She said eat almonds 2-3 times a day about 8-10 each time, she said they were high in fat but good fat. Thanks you both for your responses.

chevyman · 08-09-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arvc

Hello! I am a 35yo who is 236lbs and 5'8". I have major heart problems. Nothing caused by my weight. I have been within a normal weight range up until about a year and a half ago.I have gained about 75 pounds in that time.I have whats called arvc/arvd it is fatty tissue that takes over the heart muscle. You are born with it and there is no cure! I have an advanced form and have a pacemaker/defibrillator and my heart races even with meds sometimes. This leads me up to now, I can't do alot of exercise. My heart can race just by mild walking. I am going to have to do this on my own and lose the bad eating habits. Problem is that I have always been able to eat what I want and be active. Now I still have the need and the want to eat. I like to eat and won't lie. I do try very hard to lose weight but always seem to fail at it. You would think with my health on the line it would be easy, but it's not. I recently went to my reg. dr. and repeated cholesterol testing which was good in Dec. 05 and now is terrible for a heart patient. My total chol=295, my good chol=40 which is to low. In addition to being on several beta blockers I am now on Crestor. How does someones cholesterol jump that much? Yes I did fast before the test. How do I get the courage and the will to stop eating to much? I hate being big! I have been about 145 most of my adult life, and 115-120 in high school. What do I eat to get a good amount of weight loss without over doing it. I don't want to lose 50lbs. in a month but I do need to lose about 20-25 in a month. I do not want to suck broth or drink slim fast. I'm not a big veggie eater. I guess if I had to stand accountable often to someone it would help. I am not rich and can not afford to spend $50-$100 just on food for me a week. I really must lose atleast 70 pounds within about 4 months to take the stress off my heart. Please help a mom of 3 children to lose the weight or atleast give some good advice. I feel that it has been by the grace of God that I have made it through all I have. I am an easy going person, I love life, laugh even when I don't feel like it, smile, and etc. I realize to some my problems of sudden weight do not compare to a lifetime of struggling. Thanks for your advice.

oh ok,
I didn't know you didn't know! sorry''

I apologize for being so blunt and straight with you, its a reality and not a fantasy , what I'm about to write.
and by all means do I mean this for you/and please don't be offended or more scared than you probably already are, you keep up your courage girl and you will get through this sad time in your life and never ever give up faith and hope.

you know they do open heart bypass tripple bypass now days like its regular routine, 3 or 4 hour surgery now days.

if they can do open heart bypass and take the heart all the way out of your body with another heart-pump keeping you alive, ...my point would be why can't they take the fat sack around your heart off? or the problem your having? I understand the heart does fit into a protictive coating tho?

I know thats a complicated problem you have but it just seems if they can take an artery out of your leg and use it to bypass a stopped up arerty's, they should be able to take that fat off around your heart?

they do take the heart out and place it on your chest while they make the bypass.
maybe your problem is different? and other complications prevnted it? I am not sure on this?? but just from what other people and Dr's have told me through the grapevine.

maybe theres some type nucular medcine you can take to disolve it?, or certain kinds of meds to do away with that ''arvc/arvd???
thats why I suggested rehab, the foods they put you on and the certain types of exercise, getting your heart to do what its suppose to be doing...pumping....and they probably want your RHR ''resting heart rate'' to be like 45 -60? But your condition maybe different from some one that has clodded artries??
I guess your problem is more complicated than some one with cad or artery desease?
My neihbor had to have his heart cut out for a heart valve? pig ear? thats what he told me...I never heard of that one before?
anyone don't be affraid if they have to do surgery on you, that heart surgery now days is getting to be a rountine thing.

as for as dieting try lower calories, that way you can still have the foods you love just not has much as your use to eating. try to cut everything in half that your eating now and try drinking lots of water. at least try to cut your calories to at least 1200/1400 a day.
ask your Dr's what type of apitite suppressant would be safe for you to at least try?

if you don't have the finances to pay insurance ect,,ect,, just get on the fix me now pay later plan...(but seriously I hope you do have some type of insurance to help you out...you do need to stay around for those kids of yours and to see your grand kids.
I wish you all well...God Bless.