blsvlo Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I can not seem to lose any weight. If it is as though we are doing aerobics in place then why do I have weight issues??? I don't eat alot and I try to be active. I tried riding my bike this morning and just 2 minutes and my heart rate got up to 183... It makes me so exhausted to try to excercise. My polar heart rate monitor helps me try to stay in the right range but it is hard... Anyone have any advice on how to take some weight off?? As if I need more problems from the weight... Thanks, and hugs to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I'm trying to lose weight, too. I honestly don't know if we can do much about our HR. I'm on a Beta Blocker so the doctor said I'd never get it up to targeted range, but I still have to eat better and exercise.So I'm trying, bit it's frustrating! I do NOT like being overweight. I am very tall and large boned and I accept that - but not this extra chubby.Good luck to you and please share if you find anything helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. If you took a look at the population that has high blood pressure, (but not POTS), there are a majority who are overweight, in general. I think a good idea is for you to talk to your doctor about the best way to start on a moderate exercise and eating plan. You may need to count your calories for a while, and it may surprise you how little it actually takes to sustain a healthy weight range. Also, most of us are not very active, so we need even fewer calories.There are some good web sites that will give you calculators and tools to figure out how many calories you need daily, your BMI, and other helpful tips (self.com). A visit to a nutritionist is also a good idea. You can get there - it just takes some time. Cheers,Jana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelika_23 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I am on a beta blocker and I can STILL exceed my target HR when I exercise. I do find, that after I exercise for a few weeks, my HR will be lower than previously while I am doing the same thing. For me, I can somewhat train my HR down for a time, until my next crash, then I have to start all over again. Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Jana,Bodies change, and a lot of the medications we take can cause weight gain. It's not very easy to maintain body weight. I was real thin ALWAYS, and when I went on wellbutrin I gained 30 pounds. Now I'm @ a size 12 which is difficult to get used to. I'm only 5ft. 4 1/2 in. tall. I had a Nurse Practitioner say I was obese once-----I'm NOT obese, and "obese" is an ugly word----they need to come up with a better one then that for people who have trouble with thier weight, I don't care how big they get. I refuse to let them weigh me now. I'm 50 years old, and never had weight issues---(if you can call it that) until I was around 43, and this is when the wellbutrin was prescribed.Another thing that can cause problems with weight gain is the hormones get really wacked out when someone has dysautonomia. Some Gain weight, some lose a lot. At first I lost a lot. Right now I'm being very careful with sugar, and working on trimming down, BUT it's really hard when limited physically. I CAN NOT do any type of aerobics at all, and can't have any kind of impact. Swimming, and a few other low impact exercises are tolerated if I'm not crashing. When I trim off 10-15 pounds I'll feel more comfortable about getting into the pool, then I can work on the rest. Too many people get discriminated agaist in the Doctors office on their weight, and EVERYTHING is blamed on that. How about their health problems actually CAUSING the weight gain OR loss. It seems weight LOSS is much more accepted as being part of an illness verses weight gain.Before all this hit me I exercised regularly, and my diet has not changed other then eating LESS now.By the Way---------------BETABLOCKERS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN ALSO........HmmmmmmmmmmmmDon't be too hard on yourself. Just eat healthy foods, and treat yourself to a small piece of chocolate once in a while. Don't deprive yourself from something sweet, or a little bag of chips in moderation on occasion if you can tolerate it. Haven't we had enough taken away from us as it is? Thanfully I can tolerate chocolate, and I enjoy a couple bites of it almost daily------about 70 calories worth. I try to drink a 12 ounce can of v-8 daily.Drinking a lot of water helps keep weight in check too. Maybe try one of those pedels like on a bike, only you can sit them on a floor and you can lay down and pedal away. I think I could do this too. I also do legs lifts----Very carefully.Good luck to you---------------Maxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikainorlando Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Boy - I am on beta blockers but I keep loosing weight...I am now down to 101 again...haven't been this thin since before bb's. I think I have had some stress lately...so all the weight I had gained...I was up to 109 and feeling positively fat is gone. I don't think it is any blessing to be so thin...I look like a scarecrow. Good luck.Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 By the Way---------------BETABLOCKERS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN ALSO........HmmmmmmmmmmmmGood luck to you---------------Maxine :0)Maxine -My current PCP doesn't believe Beta Blockers cause weight gain and that I 'can't blame weight gain on my medicine.' My weight gain happened within a couple months of going on beta Blockers and changing my Birth Control Pill.I asked a family member and he was pretty sure he'd gained 5-10 pounds on Beta Blockers (usually had a very stable weight).Do you, or anyone, know how true this is? Is it able to 'lose' that weight, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blsvlo Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 thanks for your replies..... well I did start beta blockers a few weeks ago and it does seem to be since then that I have gain a few more... This worrying about weight is just too exhausting and I agree with it may not be a blessing to be too skinny too... So I just want to be healthy...lol thanks again and more advice for anyone on here cause it seems alot of us are struggling one way or another... I do like the idea of the bike laying on the ground!!! hugs to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 When I first was dx with pots I was bedridden for 6 months and then in a wheel chair for a year. I happened to be in the hospital for being so sick and the woman next to me was talking about how I could ever get moving again when my heart rate kept going up. How does one start to exercise in that circumstance? She gave me an excelent idea. I started out walking one minute per hour if I could. Some days I couldn't and some days I could. When I was able to do that repeatedly I then went to two minutes per hour. I just kept adding minutes, which by the way probably took a month of trying to be able to move up just one minute. When I made it to ten minutes I was strong enough to start walking more. It was a very slow method but it worked out quite well without raising my heart rate.In regards to losing weight I eat very little. Being sick helped me loose 30 pounds but it's not a nice way to loose the weight. Once again it took six months to calm my stomach done in order to eat, but it has taught me how little I do need to eat to maintain the wieght I'm at now. Here's my menu. I eat 1/4 cup of oatmeal with an apple for breakfast with 20 ounces of water. Two hours later I eat half a protein bar with another 20 ounces of water. For lunch I eat one slice of whole grain bread with turkey, slice of cheese, lots of romain lettuce, carrots, and 20 ounces of water. About 4 in the afternoon I eat 3 ounces of yogert with as much fruit as I want with 1/4 great grain cereal and 20 ounces of water. For dinner I eat a little meat, lots of veggies, a small amount of potatoes and 20 ounces of water. Pretty boring diet but it works. My husband is twenty pounds over weight and has just started eating like this and has lost eight pounds with no exercise. I guess each person has to find what works for them and then stick with it.Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Cat Lady-----your PCP is one opinion , and opinions will vary on this subject. Unless you experience weight gain with no change in diet, or even eat less, and still gain weight after being prescribed new medications, you can't really understand this. Beta Blockers can cause weight gain, but when I first took them I only had a weight gain of about 10 pounds, and I only weighed about 119 at the time. I'm bigger boned, although I don't really look it, unless you look at my hands lol----anything between 116 and 132 I can wear a size 6-8. Obviously at a size 12 now, this is a distant memory--- . As I said, A lot of us are significantly less active also, and this obviously adds to weight gain. I'd like to trim a few pounds off, and hoping to tolerate some low impact exercise.I really think it's different for each individual. All one can really do is try to watch, excess carbs, surgar, and fats, and exercise as your body allows.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/beta-blockers/AN01409http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/ind...3531&sc=803http://blood-pressure.emedtv.com/inderal/i...eight-gain.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1662668/http://www.evitamins.com/healthnotes.asp?ContentID=1472000Wellbutrin can cause both weight gain or weight loss. It depends on what it's being used for. In my case it calmed whatever it was in my brain that made my body to be constantly overstimulated. It tricked something in my brain because it worked, and it also helps incrase my BP and helps constrict my blood vessels. Without it I'm in bed--------just non functional. I can't eat much without it. If I went off it I would lose weight. Dr. Grubb prescribed the Wellbutrin.How he figured out this drug would work for me I don't know. He's just good at figuring us out----- .With my digestive problems it's impossible for me to eat anything in excess, or eat big meals. A lot of people with POTS eat less, but end up GAINING weight. Like I said, at first I lost weight, then gained-------but not significantly.Maxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayjay Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 I feel your pain. I was always thin but when I go sick at first I sickly skinny. Now that I am on beta blockers, hormone pills, and Lexapro- I am quite a bit chubbier. Good thing I have to wear compression!!One thing that I am doing is thinking about not gaining weight rather then losing it. If I can keep my weight where it is on these meds and unable to exercise much... I will have to be happy with that.Another thing that is hard for me is that I have never been one to "drink" my calories. Easy for us to do with pots- Gatorade is so loaded with calories.I am trying pay attention to my calories b/c that is something I can control. I am trying to put salt on healthy foods- instead of eating salty food is you know what I mean.Don't be too hard on yourself- consider the big picture- maintaining you weight can count as a success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Maxine,I agree with you 100%. Certainly there are medications that can cause weight gain, and our inability to do much aerobically doesn't help with weight loss, either. What I wanted to point out was that each of us needs to address these situations individually, with their doctors, who know their medication regimens and physical limitations to come up with the best plan. My doctor believes that the more exercise, whatever that may be, that I can get in each day or week the better. Cheers and good luck to us all,Jana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 If you don't want to drink your calories (something I hate to do, too) there are other good electrolyte drinks out there other than Gatorade. I think there are several of us here that now drink NUUN (pronounced 'noon') which comes in table form and you just add it to your water. It's 5 calories and low sugar. Another good drink supplement is 'Elixir' by Camelbak. Same kind of deal. You can find these in sporting goods stores on online. Just in case you're interested - I couldn't stand Gatorade!Cheers,Jana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rene S. Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Sorry lisabeth,I have the opposite problem! And it's no fun. My body burns through calories with the high heart rate and also due to the gastroparesis, eating is no fun whatsoever.There should be a happy medium for all.As for exercise, just going up the steps a few times a day is my daily work out! My heart rate goes sky high!Rene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 Lisabeth - Hope you can reach the goal you want. I totally understand your frustrations! It's interesting you started a Beta Blocker, too. My weight gain (and I was eating LESS after starting it with my move and all) came after it. Maybe we'll start regulating it better? Here's hope!Maxine - I thought my PCP was quick to jump to the 'don't blame medicines!' speech. I know what I've been doing. It seems absurd it happened quickly and with less eating. :/ I'll talk to the POTS specialist I am seeing next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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