Weight Gain even though I'm doing all the right things

[Cyndy C.]

When I was diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic 1 year ago with CHF, I was of course, put on a low sodium and fluid restricted diet. The first month I was on this, I lost 37# ! However, even though I am
still complying with the low sodium diet and now I even walk 3 miles a day, my weight has creeped
back up to my original weight prior to my diagnosis. I am very frustrated. Is this common? I don't
return to Cleveland until November, should I try and talk with my Cleveland Cardiologist or my pcp or
anyone else? I am starting to seriously think about lap band surgery or a tummy tuck or something
drastic! Do you have any insight for me? Thank you!

[viennaustria]

Good point Flycaster. I blame it on the Beta Blocker, at least some of it too. I used to eat at least double before DX. Exercised less, was just a little overweight and only for a couple of years, it was easier to burn calories.
The metabolism also changing because of ageing....so now we have to work twice as hard and eat half as we did before to stay in shape,and please our heart...

[Flycaster305]

Cyndy, I'm willing to bet that your doctor prescribed a Beta Blocker like Coreg.  Beta Blockers slow down the heart rate dramatically, at least they did in my case.  I was diagnosed with CHF, lost weight quickly, then experienced a 20 pound gain that I simply couldn't seem to control, even though I exercised as much as possible and concentrated on my diet.  When I talked to my doctor, he told me "Your weight gain is all about what I'm doing, not what you are doing.  It will go away".  It did when my body got used to the Beta Blocker.  It's like a smoker quitting, all of a sudden the heart is working 1/3 less, the metabolism slows.  I've lost every pound I gained simply by watching salts, watching fats and carbs but including both in the mix.  I weighed 228 pounds after the CHF diagnosis, today I weigh 206.  I don't know anything, but I'm guessing Beta Blockers are a reason for at least some of the weight gain.  

[often]

Brat...yeh....I am really aware of that...I never get low fat....it is either higher carbs or higher sodium or both...but in cyndy's case...she may be getting more of the starches and fats and not be aware of it if she is only focusing on the sodium.

[FLBrat]

Low fat often means higher carbs most of the time, they have to do something to improve the taste.  That is why if you go to the fruits and vegetables from nature, the manufacturers cannot fool ya!

[FLBrat]

don't be discouraged.  re-evaluate your sodium intake.  There is so much hidden sodium in today's food.  Try to go all fresh on your foods.  Dont open a can or a box.  A lot of products are marked Reduced Sodium, but that is kind of misleading.  If you reduce it from a massive amount to a large amount, you can still say, REDUCED.  Keep a daily list of anything you put in your mouth, drink of water on to chewable foodstuffs.  Even if it was just a taste while making dinner.  You may be surprised how much more we eat than we think.  My husband will say, I have not eaten all day, but I could argue that with  him.  He finished my chicken breast, he finished my orange.  He is a great diet aid because if I hesitate while eating, whoosh, its gone!

Walking is a key exercise, so keep it up.  Maybe you can get the doctor to put you in the cariac rehab gym at the clinic.  They can help you out a lot learning proper exercise withen your abilities.  The doctor can also arrange for you to meet with dieticians.  I know the Mayo website has a great recipe section where you can choose Low Sodium or Low Fat as a guide and it will pull recipes only for that type of diet.

You mentioned to low sodium and fluid restricted diet, were you given a diuretic?  I still weight myself daily after two years to make sure I do not have a large build up of fluids.  Good luck Ms Cyndy.

[often]

HI....a low sodium diet does not necessarily mean weight loss.  What are you eating?  Have you replaced the sodium with starches?  Fats?

Maybe a food diary for a month ... then discuss with your doc....find out if you are in fact doing something to add the weight.

[viennaustria]

When I was diagnosed with heart failure, I was around 70 kilos, it was hard to go upstairs, and for few months hard to build up more the 1-2 km walk…..

When I got better started to worry about my weight, first because of health, and second but not last, because of my look…..

With time and patience one can reach the right weight. Took me 2 years to be and stay at 65-64kilos….I will go down to 63-60…and KEEP IT…that’s my weigh where I can say I am GOOD and not overweight...but it takes lots of work…I am enjoying it, the point to find the program you can keep up with and you really enjoy doing it….walking is not enough…
I do sit ups every day among other aerobic, running, and yoga routine and since I play ping pong. I don’t walk anymore.. …always use my favorite music, change the songs after a week or so, has many play list. I never do exercise on the music from the radio…it must be personal…also for me it must be privet; I can’t exercise with others, except the ping pong of course….. The point is to find what works for you and stick with it.

And again the tummy thing is the hardest, we must do sit ups to get rid of those unwanted kilos from around there…
  
Good luck!