Losing weight is not an option

jeffreyrbrock

I have been diagnosed with heart disease and I am only 53 years old. Losing weight is not an option at this point it is a matter of life and death. I have just signed up and I am hoping this site will help me with my weight loss goals. This is a very scary situation. I hope no one else here is faced with the same type situation.

HMD7703

Some times it takes a real slap in the face for us to do the things we needed to do all a long. I hope you are able to safely reach your goals. I know MFP has been a huge help to me - and should be for you as well. Good luck in your journey!!

SabrinaJL

I'm here hoping to avoid that. There is a history of heart problems in my family. Welcome to mfp and best of luck with your weight loss.

hpsnickers1

Right now the information on the causes of heart disease is based on very, very bad science. Some books to buy:

The Cholesterol Con (IMPORTANT!!)
Good Calories, Bad Calories (a very long read but a very, very enlightening book that you will really get into once you can get through the very beginning)(IMPORTANT!!)
The Cholesterol Delusion
Wheat Belly (IMPORTANT!!)
Cereal Grains: Humanity's Double Edge Sword
(heart disease isn't caused by saturated fat or high cholesterol - this is based on a hypothesis that no one has ever been able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt but has had PLENTY of evidence proving otherwise)

And look into the Paleo/Primal lifestyle. I'm not pushing this but I do think heart disease can be reversed (not by drugs) if you catch it early enough. But you have to be willing to do a serious diet overhaul (think real food like meat, fish, fowl, eggs, healthy fats and oils (think coconut oil, butter, olive oil, macadamia oil), vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds). The body is made of protein and fat and those two nutrients are very, very important for health. Carbs - not so much - at least not the amount that the USDA tells us to eat.

Good luck.

TheAncientMariner

Good luck on your weight loss for sure. You can totally do it, but do it under your own terms and only at the doctor's recommendation. You will hear a lot of "bro science" coming through the forums, so make sure you research everything on your own and discuss it with your physician before beginning any "diet."

xginanax

Aww i hope you beat this heart disease and be healthy again! you can do this! we here to support you all the way! trust me this site is the best! theres always people out there whos welling to lead you a hand..

AngieM76

Good luck in your journey!!!

lissypriss

You will have more support here than most people have at home, and for me--that is wonderful! It has changed my life! After changing your lifestyle, it's a breath of fresh air knowing people here are going through the same things you are, and can lift you up when no one around you can. I'm here for you! Friend me if you want, and I will push you when you need it!

kahlee2000

Actually I was-- reality check came in the form of an ambulance ride when I was taken out of my office. My doctor flat out told me then I was a walking heart attack waiting to happen. It wasn't a question of if, but when. This month I am going in to see if we can REDUCE my blood pressure medication! Yeah! You can do it. Just build a good support system on both here an in your private life. They are the best when it comes to motivation.

hpsnickers1

Correction: The book is The Great Cholesterol Con: The Truth About What Really Causes Heart Disease and How To Avoid It.

debussyschild

Really sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but kudos to you for realizing now's the time to start making serious changes. It's never too late or too early to get started. This site has a lot of wonderful tools, the best being the diary. It makes keeping track of what you eat a lot easier as well as helps you meet certain nutrition goals like lowering cholesterol intake (you can individually track your cholesterol in your diary as one of your nutrients) or lowing sodium. We're all here to support you, feel free to add me. :flowerforyou:

debussyschild

Right now the information on the causes of heart disease is based on very, very bad science. Some books to buy:

The Cholesterol Con (IMPORTANT!!)
Good Calories, Bad Calories (a very long read but a very, very enlightening book that you will really get into once you can get through the very beginning)(IMPORTANT!!)
The Cholesterol Delusion
Wheat Belly (IMPORTANT!!)
Cereal Grains: Humanity's Double Edge Sword
(heart disease isn't caused by saturated fat or high cholesterol - this is based on a hypothesis that no one has ever been able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt but has had PLENTY of evidence proving otherwise)

And look into the Paleo/Primal lifestyle. I'm not pushing this but I do think heart disease can be reversed (not by drugs) if you catch it early enough. But you have to be willing to do a serious diet overhaul (think real food like meat, fish, fowl, eggs, healthy fats and oils (think coconut oil, butter, olive oil, macadamia oil), vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds). The body is made of protein and fat and those two nutrients are very, very important for health. Carbs - not so much - at least not the amount that the USDA tells us to eat.

Good luck.

This is good advice, and though high cholesterol may not be a definitive cause for heart disease, those who have high cholesterol statistically are at much higher risk for heart disease. This is probably due to a correlation between cholesterol and heart disease, not necessarily a causal relationship. Monitoring cholesterol is still important, but I agree that understanding the real purpose of cholesterol in the human body and as a necessary part of your diet is also very critical. There is a lot of misleading information out there.