Does anyone else have Heart Failure here?

2

Replies

  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,986 Member
    kiteflyer105 wrote: »

    All I can do is keep on keeping on.

    BINGO!

    That is the one and only trick!

    One foot in front of the other!

    You got this!

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    Exactly! You’re sticking with it and putting effort and thought in.

    That’s key. 99% of people fail because they just don’t.

    Here’s to great success and a long happy healthy life!
  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 869 Member
    edited April 17
    The first 1.5 days I was not a happy camper. I was ticked off over eating in front of people, and being forced to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. It has taken awhile of getting used to....

    I am now incorporating some binge foods in my daily food plan. This makes me not crave them so much. Some of those foods are unappealing. We have exposure therapy where we eat different "scary' foods in front of the group or out in a restaurant. The point is to go out of our comfort zone.

    To the first part, I think this is such a key component for people who struggle with binging. For those of us who don’t binge, the number of meals don’t really matter, but for those who do, it’s about not allowing yourself to feel hungry, obsess over food, allowing food to be in control because you always have a meal or snack planned. I think this is the first step for a lot of people who need to get their eating under control if they have disordered eating. I absolutely do not think the answer out of the gate is to stop eating X food or X macro, or even use intermittent fasting for that matter. Especially if eating is an emotional gateway.

    To the second part, allowing yourself to add a binge food makes perfect sense. It’s empowering when you learn food isn’t evil or scary, and over time you care less and less about that food specifically, and look at it as just a part of your meals. Nothing more nothing less. That doesn’t happen on its own, it takes practice, especially in places where you give it so much power. Yet another reason why villainizing certain foods or macros can be dangerous advice when given to random people. We never know what their relationship is with food and it’s best to start with a healthy balanced approach.

    Thank you for telling us your experience, and sharing your personal BED journey. You should be incredibly proud. I hope others are inspired to speak with a therapist or professional to work on the internal parts that often get overlooked when trying to get healthy.
  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,754 Member
    ddsb1111 wrote: »
    The first 1.5 days I was not a happy camper. I was ticked off over eating in front of people, and being forced to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. It has taken awhile of getting used to....

    I am now incorporating some binge foods in my daily food plan. This makes me not crave them so much. Some of those foods are unappealing. We have exposure therapy where we eat different "scary' foods in front of the group or out in a restaurant. The point is to go out of our comfort zone.

    To the first part, I think this is such a key component for people who struggle with binging. For those of us who don’t binge, the number of meals don’t really matter, but for those who do, it’s about not allowing yourself to feel hungry, obsess over food, allowing food to be in control because you always have a meal or snack planned. I think this is the first step for a lot of people who need to get their eating under control if they have disordered eating. I absolutely do not think the answer out of the gate is to stop eating X food or X macro, or even use intermittent fasting for that matter. Especially if eating is an emotional gateway.

    To the second part, allowing yourself to add a binge food makes perfect sense. It’s empowering when you learn food isn’t evil or scary, and over time you care less and less about that food specifically, and look at it as just a part of your meals. Nothing more nothing less. That doesn’t happen on its own, it takes practice, especially in places where you give it so much power. Yet another reason why villainizing certain foods or macros can be dangerous advice when given to random people. We never know what their relationship is with food and it’s best to start with a healthy balanced approach.

    Thank you for telling us your experience, and sharing your personal BED journey. You should be incredibly proud. I hope others are inspired to speak with a therapist or professional to work on the internal parts that often get overlooked when trying to get healthy.

    Exactly this! People are often wanting to continue the restriction and just stop the binge behavior. But it doesn't work that way. The binge starts with the restriction, so we have to deal with the restriction (eat regularly and no food "off limits").
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    edited April 18
    Thank you all. It has been one of the best choices I have made in my life. The nutritionist altered my meal plan today. We discussed going part-time in roughly 3 weeks. I am counting down the minute’s truth be told. =)

    I have experienced so many positives. This past Sunday I went to the grocery store, and I could have any food I wanted--I was overwhelmed. There were too many choices. I have told myself no to certain foods for years. It was super freeing. I have never felt Freedom before. I am eating my "scary foods" at lunch. Two weeks ago, I was in tears, the thoughts I had to eat a piece of cake in front of everyone, my anxiety was off the charts. To the normal person who doesn't have an ED, this sounds silly. I wasn’t the only one. Someone was fretting over a piece of toast.

    It hurts me to see my recovery family hurt themselves, or treat themselves as less than. It has been said plenty of times, “Treat yourself like you would a family member or a friend”. I’m not sure why I can be encouraging and compassionate to other people, yet I have a harder time treating myself kinder. It is a work in progress.

    I have faith and hope that this time it will work. I have to stop all restricting, eat multiple times a day, and incorporate binge foods into my meals in moderation. It is weird not dieting. In fact, I am relieved taking a break from it. I need to get these habits truly down first. I am relieved I don’t have to live by strict food rules. I am relieved I can eat whatever I want in moderation.
    Submitting to this process was hard at first, now I wouldn’t have it any other way. Truth is, if I am not willing, I will die. I still don’t like eating 6 times a day. I like 4 meals much better. If I binge, I do a behavior chain analysis exercise; I always feel better after that…

    Everyone has to figure out what path works for them without the most negative consequences.
    Funny to think I was considering RNY surgery as a last resort. This has been one of the best choices I have made in my life. The nutritionist altered my meal plan today. We discussed going part-time in roughly 3 weeks. I am counting down the minute’s truth be told. =)

    I have experienced so many positives. This past Sunday I went to the grocery store, and I could have any food I wanted—I was overwhelmed. I have told myself “No” to certain foods in the past for years. Now, it was super freeing. I am eating my "scary foods" at lunch.

    Two weeks ago, I was in tears, I had to eat a piece of cake in front of everyone. My anxiety was off the charts. To the normal person who doesn't have an E.D., this sounds silly. The rituals of stinking thinking, restricting, and bingeing are self-destructive. Now I know here are better ways to cope, like journaling for grief, mindfulness, do the opposite, listening to music, a podcast, read a book, go walk, etc.

    With drug and alcohol rehab, you take the substance away. With the Eating Disorder Clinic, they are adding foods to properly fuel your body for the long haul.

    This time I am miserable enough to make the change. For other people with EDs, you have to want it bad enough to DO whatever it takes. No, you will feel uncomfortable a lot of the time. I have felt too full in getting used to this whole process. I have never liked that part. You will get overcome that. I have real hunger cues now, where I am not famished. The benefits of healthy eating and self-care are priceless. The real goal from this is to move to intuitive eating where you are getting a wide variety of nutrition.

    We owe it to ourselves, because we deserve better. Good luck!
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,986 Member
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  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    Excellent, thoughtful post @kiteflyer105
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    Thank you. My ICD appointment went well. I have 7.5 more years of the battery. Also, I found out it won't immediately shock me if my heart rate goes too high. Thankfully.

    I still want to encourage and support people who lose weight. Everyone is on a different path. Keep on keeping on.
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,986 Member
    <3 Excellent news!
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    edited May 27
    kiteflyer105 wrote: »
    …..My goal is to string together as many wins as possible for not bingeing….

    Congrats. You get it.


    The binges don’t define us. We look, we learn, we shrug our shoulders, and we carry on.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    @kiteflyer105

    That is a staggeringly insightful and honest post and ought to be pinned somewhere for posterity.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,168 Member
    @kiteflyer105, your recent post is so honest, sincere and insightful! Congratulations on your progress with such a tough thing, and thank you for sharing your story so generously here. It will help people.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,168 Member
    edited July 4
    @kiteflyer105, that's a wonderful accomplishment - a great, life-changing gift to yourself. You rock!

    Thank you for posting your experience here to encourage others!
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    Thank you Ann! You are definitely a positive role model to me. Your consistency is something I aspire to..high fives and sending positivity.
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,986 Member
    edited July 4
    Congratulations and awesome work on everything!

    But also?
    kiteflyer105 wrote: »
    I see how the diet culture is propaganda. It sets the game up, so we lose.

    SUCH AN IMPORTANT POINT

    I’ve recently been watching anti-MLM stuff on YouTube. There is so much toxic diet culture stuff out there. Scammers scamming for a buck.

    I won’t get too far into it here, because I don’t want to take the focus off your great work.

    But yeah. The diet culture gurus are harming people.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    @kiteflyer105
    Baby, you are killin’ it instead of the other way ‘round. Love this update!!!!
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    Thank you. It is really appreciated. I am not sure what I can do physically after being so sedentary. I will try different things to push myself. I took for granted moving my body--I do not now. Trying to rebuild your life is a struggle for everyone, I am no different. For motivation, I listen to Ben Lionel Scott's video on You Tube about "No Excuses". It gets me off my rear. Take care.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,398 Member
    Are you near a cardiac rehab center? My gym started as one and still maintains a large cardiac rehab program.

    They offer a full schedule of cardiac specific classes, including stretching, chair classes, gentle yoga, gentler aquafit classes, cardiac-specialized gym trainers. They also have special boxing programs for Parkinson’s patients. (It’s supposed to help, don’t know much about it). Classes are available even to those not in, or who’ve “graduated” from the program, via the regular $35/month gym membership. They can also schedule pool lap lanes to simply walk with resistance, and there’s a special lift available in and out for anyone who needs it.

    There’s also staff dieticians.

    Once you “graduate”, you can (if you wish) move to the regular gym and training options. Same location, different schedule for classes, and full gym facilities available without the cardiac restriction.

    It’s fricking awesome to see people who were recovering move to the regular gym. They also do regular videos that show all over the gym, interviewing people who've had success with weight loss or improving their fitness. Good promo for them, inspiration for the rest of us.

    It also tends to be a smaller tighter community than an LA Fitness or Workout Anytime type Gym. It’s open to the community, but tends towards an older, less judgmental clientele.

    Just last night an overweight woman who had to be late 70’s or so took her first aquafit class and she was just hammering it. I was astonished. Clearly new, needed help knowing what the moves were but then? oh my! She said she might feel it later, and my husband told her about the milder classes. She basically told him to buzz off. She needed this. I coulda hugged her, but wet, in bathing suits, probably not welcomed lol.

    Hope I haven’t asked you this before. Sometimes these threads get confusingly repetitive!
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    Oh! that is so cool. I am very proud of a 70 year-old person working out. Everyone has different health concerns at any age. No, you didn't ask me; it is not a repeat.

    I started cardiac rehab (needed 37 visits for 4 months) and had my first heart surgery. It interrupted the cardiac rehab schedule. My heart surgery failed. Then I had a a six week recovery period. My bingeing became worse. My second heart surgery, I had a 6 week recovery period, and I was going to an Eating Disorder Clinic (6 hours a day) after that.... My schedule was too busy to do both.

    My ejection fraction is over 35%, so I am appealing my insurance company to cover cardiac care. Apparently they don't cover it after 35%. I don't believe 2% is that significant.

    I was approved for a YMCA membership. We don't have one in our town. Boo. My insurance company would not let me join another company to go work out at their facility. I'm not sure of their reasoning. Seems silly if they are interested in preventative care....

    I can only take a day at a time. One area that ALL heart failure patients have to deal with is daily fatigue. I am still not used to it. It can come out of nowhere. It is what it is....rebuilding yourself back up from a health scare can be challenging and daunting, I have an alternate plan in place if cardiac rehab does not work out.
  • Corina1143
    Corina1143 Posts: 3,615 Member
    Ever heard of Jacob Teitelbaum? He specializes in fibromyalgia, which is entertwined with chronic fatigue. Some of his hints really helped my fatigue. Like count your total steps every day for a week or 10 days, average them, and aim for that average. Try not to go over or under more than a few steps. It really helped me to not get too exhausted to rest or sleep. Of course your situation is completely different, so that might not be a good idea for you.
  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 166 Member
    Thank you so much! I have not heard of him. I will look him up. I appreciate your help. Best wishes!

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