I have extremely severe asthma. It is very difficult for me to exercise and I am on many steriods so my weight is very hard to lower. Any suggestions>?

Hi Sarah

Here's what I did..........first I did lots of research into what some of the causes of asthma are.....including food I eat!!

1. I went to a homepathic doctor, had alergy testing done, and cut out all the foods I was allergic to. (I didnt know I was allergic to tomatoes and corn)

2. Went on a diet that specifically targeted my yeast overgrowth. Alot of this was caused by the steroids I was on.

3. Slowly with my doctors help, I got off the steriods. (I had to insist on it, he didnt want to take me off them)

4. Started walking.....with asthma, I was able to walk at my own pace and as I got stronger, I walked faster. I didnt realize how much stronger I was until I started timing myself, and was able to do my walk in shorter and shorter time spans.

5. Started a low carb diet after 4 weeks on the yeast free diet. Lost the weight I needed to loose.....I still have about 40lbs to go, but I go thru one ventilon inhaler about every 3 months.

I hope this helps
Robin

Hi Sarah, I also have severe asthma and I know all about the weight gain from steroids! I have had asthma for over 25 years. When my asthma is not to bad I exercise as often as I can at my own pace. I also joined a place called Curves for women. There I do a 30 minute workout indoors where it is better for my breathing. It is hard to workout with asthma but when you do it you feel better and the breathing becomes easier.

Not sure why anyone hasn't said this yet, but my asthma doctor tells me that water exercise and swimming are the absolute BEST things you can do for yourself. The water cools you off, so you may not burn every last possible calorie, but exercise-induced asthma isn't an issue, and the humidity in the air helps keep your lungs relaxed.
One thing I also do that helped get me off steroids, and has kept me out of the hospital for 10 years now is regular meditation.
I do Yoga based, with controlled breathing, and positive visualization.
Nobody gets out of this life without pain. The only thing we can do is to accept the opportunities we are offered, and learn from them.
You have asthma, no one else's asthma is like yours, and you can help yourself better than anyone else can. Work on taking charge of fixing that disease, and the weight will start to go. If you smoke, work on quitting. If you can only walk for 5 minutes without an attack, walk for 5 minutes, sit down and rest, make a gratitude list of all the things you like in the world (my first one only had my cat on it), read a chapter of a book you like, do a meditation or clean the bathroom. Then walk for 5 more minutes, take your medication, and take a nap.
Try not to get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. This is really true for us. Good luck.

Great advice KristasMom! Agree on the swimming...my allergist has been advocating that for years! And if you read up on water aerobics, due to the water resistance, a half hour of aqua jogging is like an hour on the road.

Hi

I have asthma, I am on a rescue inhaler 4 times a day, I also have high blood pressure. I have lost 115 pds, I weighed 365 now down to 250. My Doctor said I have to lose weight, No choice. I have been on the South beach diet, It has worked well for me and I have lost a lot of weight and still losing. My exercise is limited to short walks as my asthma allows, but at least now I can do that and more since my weight lose. Some of you gave me some Great ideas on exercise, that I wasn't aware of before.


Susan