I need help with a serious exercise question.

[RNRita]

Hi all.  I've been MIA for a bit, feeling lousy (not my heart), and about 2 weeks ago I picked up the Wii Active. I decided that since I hadn't had PVCs for a few months I was going to try to build some muscle.  I'll admit to being very sedentary for a long time.

I started working out and felt awful at first, but when I would finish a workout, I felt good.  I have built muscle noticeably and am very pleased with that.  I have all settings on easy and beginner (not crazy, heheheh)

My problem/question is:  My heart rate goes up very quickly and I'm thinking my heart rate recovery time is really bad.  I didn't test it exactly, but am pretty sure that I sweat and my heart beats rather fast for a while afterward.  I read that this makes me a high risk of cardiac death (cuz I really needed that)  Also, after two weeks, I don't feel like it's getting much easier.  I've also been tired the last few days.  Today I felt awful and my HR was around 50 this AM.  I couldn't get it over 62 all day.  When I exercised, it went up VERY quickly and felt weird at first.  

So, if my heart is unhealthy and I am at high risk, how do I get my heart in better shape, since exercise is supposed to be the answer for that?  I am really loving the after feeling.  I want to be in better shape.  How can I prevent dropping over at an inopportune moment with these awful exercise clothes on??  lol  ( a little humor helps)

It seems like such a catch-22.  I know I'm a nurse and cardiac is my niche, however, exercise IS NOT and I need advice. I don't want to go back to couch potato.  

[RNRita]

I wrote this posting before i actually tested my HR.  Yesterday I was exercising and at the end, my HR was 144.  In one minute, it was 98 and one minute later was 78.  Now that sounds more like it.  I think I am just so used to a slower HR that when I started exercising and was finally able to get my HR up past 120 (I'm on a beta blocker so this took a while), I think I sort of freaked out.  It sure feels good when I'm done the workout, though.

[allaflutter1213]

my heart rate jumps up really high fast also.
when I had my nuclear stress test I had to stop on the treadmill and go the adenosine route.
this am when I was taking a shower it spiked up pretty good too.
my resting HR is usually really low.

[RNRita]

I have considered myself sedentary since starting this desk job last November.  Although, my hubby and I walk about 1/2 hour every night at a brisk pace.  I figured that was my warm up to the Wii Active.  But even though I've been doing this for 2 weeks, my walks have not gotten any easier.  I'm puzzled.  However, I attribute a lot of this to the fact that I am on atenolol 25 mg.  I have been for 22 years.  I have NEVER had stamina, not even as a child.  

I had a stress test about a year ago.  They did say my heart rate went up too fast so they wanted me to stay on the beta blocker.  Otherwise, my cardiologist never told me there was anything wrong with my heart.

[LindaTX]

Hey, have you had a physical before starting all this? How old are you, anyway? You need to at least get a treadmill stress test.  How long have you been out of exercise?

[RNRita]

Not a problem.  Just trying to figure out how to not die doing it.....Will the recovery time get better or is this the way it is?

[Wisconsin2007]

I guess all I'm saying is - two weeks is not enough to transform your body or your heart.  Even the people on the Biggest Loser, who left their jobs, have nothing to do all day but to try to get healthy and have a trainer 24/7 to guide their workouts, aren't really changing their bodies much until they're a month or so into the show.

Give yourself some time.

[RNRita]

I am not talking about the Wii Fit, which, you're right, doesn't give you that good of a workout....However, the Wii Active gives you a really good one.  I used to go to the gym years ago and this thing is kicking my butt daily!  It also has resistance bands and a leg strap so you cannot cheat.  Believe me when I tell you this thing is no joke.  Also, the amount of muscle I've accumulated in two weeks is unreal, compared to what I had.  

[Wisconsin2007]

All I've seen of the Wii fit is what's on YouTube, so I don't know if it really can give a good workout or not.  But I'm thinking not.  Not as good as the real thing, anyway.  I have a physically demanding job with winters off, and every year it takes me a little bit longer to get into shape.

[RNRita]

Thanks. Like I said, I don't expect to be in great shape yet, but when I walk up a flight of stairs my heart is still pulling the racing thing.  I would have thought after two weeks ( 5 times a week) I would have a little better time of it.  I know it doesn't help that I sit at a desk every day.  That is irritating me.....but I like your humor.  I'll get new clothes.

[Wisconsin2007]

I think the most important thing is to get some nice workout clothes.  Then that primary concern will have been eliminated.  

What exactly is your drop in heart rate?  I know there are a few studies out there, one looked at the rate one minute after peak exercise, one looked at 1 and two minutes after 6 minutes of non-peak exercise, and there were a couple others, too.  And what they deemed a "good" recovery rate was all over the map - CCF says anything better than 12bpm drop in first minute and you're good.  Another said it needed to be in the 20's to 50's to be good.

I think it's safe to say that there isn't a clear-cut answer.  But I think it's also safe to say that if you feel good during and after exercise, then you should keep doing it.  I have yet to see a study that says that if you sit on the couch and do nothing that you are at reduced risk of dropping dead.

And remember - as you get older it gets harder and harder to get into to shape and easier and easier to fall out of it.  So two weeks in it's not a big surprise that you don't feel ready to run a marathon.  Give yourself a few months at least.