Well, I joined here sometime ago, and now I'm back!

I'm 53 and developed some cardiac problems in 2007. I have dilated cardiomyopathy and my heart is functioning at about half of what it should be.

I need to lose about 40 lbs. I am on a beta blocker which is notorious for slowing down metabolism so this is even harder for me.

Also, I can't do weight lifting at all. But I can walk and this is what I do every day. I've been trying to lose weight since last November with no luck.

I eat very low sodium, very few snacks and a healthy breakfast daily. I am also fluid restricted so I can't drink lots of water.

I'm not sure what more I can do! I guess I'm here for the support and hope that I can somehow start losing weight.

I carry a lot of weight around my middle - I think a lot of it is water though. I do retain fluid; I'm on a diuretic, but it only helps minimally.

If I lose some weight, I'll be able to live longer!

Kris

Hey grayhenry!

I'm glad you're following your doctor's recommendations. Have you asked your doctor about losing weight? Did he or she have any information? You could get a referral to a dietitian, I would think.

You don't mention anything about food or having a food plan, like counting your calories, so it's hard to make any suggestions. Of course, we're not doctors here, so we can't give medical advice. You'd want to check with your doc about any changes to your eating. I'd say that getting enough protein is very important.

Walking is a good thing--but because of the beta blocker, you'd need to be careful that you don't try to go too fast or walk when it's too hot.

Some studies have shown that a supplement called Coenzyme Q10 can be helpful for your condition. You might want to check it out.

Glad to see you here! Please keep coming around and posting.

Jay

Kris, I've been "on" the south beach diet for almost 16 months and got back down to my "normal" size. You may want to talk to your doctor about it, or get the book, or both. The diet was "invented" by a cardiologist for his patients and the added bonus was that they lost weight. A very healthy sensible way to eat. The weight loss is NOT quick, but slow and steady and a healthy way to take off weight as opposed to fad type diets where you quickly lose the weight and then gain it all back when you are "finished" the diet. You basically cut out anything that has sugar or is processed...only fresh whole foods, but you'd be amazed at some of the recipes and that you can "convert" your own favorites to be more healthy. It is easy to eat this way for life without feeling deprived.

You said you don't eat snacks. By that do you mean you don't eat "junk" or that you don't have any kind of snack? If you eat healthy snacks inbetween meals, it really helps a lot. I usually have 3 meals and also 2-3 snacks a day.

Hi thanks for your replies!

I do take a lot of supplements for my heart, coq10 is among them.

And I did the SBD about 3 years ago. I managed to lose 17 lbs. Then I got tired of the way of eating and gained it back. It did work well for me, but I couldn't stick with it.

Now I am on a very low sodium diet. Because of that, I cannot have things like pizza, chips, lunchmeats, sausage, bacon, etc. I can't even have the turkey sausage I loved so much when on SB.

I have to admit I already feel deprived because of the low sodium. Its really hard to turn down pizza! And its still hard to lose weight even with all the things I have cut out.

I do have snacks. But nothing like I used to. I will once in awhile go out for ice cream or have a 100 calorie snack (my favorites are the 'grasshopper' cookies).

But other than breakfast, lunch & dinner, there is little in between. I probably take in about 2000 calories a day. For awhile I was tracking calories so I have a fairly good idea by estimating.

And I do walk every day, if not outside then on the treadmill.

I will ask my doctor about the dietician at my next visit. That might help me out a lot.

Thanks for the suggestions!

One more question - I cannot figure out how to find the ticker location. I want to change mine!

Thanks,
Kris

Kris, click User CP in the upper left corner of the purple banner. Then click Edit Signature in the left column. You should be able to see the numbers for your ticker in the window at the bottom. Be sure to click Save Signature at the very bottom when you're done.

Jay