Balancing weight loss and exercise with a heart condition.

bookwormwendy

Hi, I am 35 and started on MFP about 95 days ago. I've already lost around 25 lbs. I say around because I lost some before I started on here and have lost some since last weigh in. I only record once a week. I was very healthy and very thin in my youth and teen years. When I met my husband I would yo-yo between 95- 105 lbs. I am 5'4" with a smallish medium build. (my fingers ALMOST touch) I started gaining weight after a miscarriage and continued to put it on after two children. I got busy, complacent (I worked out religiously in high school) and one day looked into the mirror and didn't like what I saw. I didn't change it immediately. I'd eat a little better for a while and then slowly return to my old habits.
My wake up call came when I was diagnosed with a heredity heart condition. It turns out nearly all of my aunts and uncles have it (I lost my mom when she 40 to cancer so she might have eventually had it herself). My doctor encouraged me to lose weight. It won't reverse my condition but the less I weigh, the less it has to work which means the better it does function. I also knew I was at risk for HBP, diabetes, and a number of other health issues my family likes to pass along :grumble:
I had a false start. After we got meds adjusted I set out to lose weight and I did! Then....I put it back on....and then some. :sad: My husband, also hoping to avoid health issues, came across MFP and joined. I was happy for him when I saw him losing weight and jealous (isn't that silly? I wasn't doing anything what did I expect?) Anyway, I finally decided to try it and...IT WORKS. I have to be careful though. It is imperative that I exercise, eat right, and get my weight down. It is also important that I not do too much too fast. I did that- ended up at the cardiologist. We adjusted my meds and I started again and now after losing more weight--- they had to be adjusted again. Happily, I am now on a very minimum amount of meds. YAY- less side effects :bigsmile:
However, I still have to be careful. I see people around me just go all out and drop quickly and I wish I could. I still have soooo far to go but I know I have to balance it with being good to my heart as well. So all of this to ask: (I can take a while to get to my point :laugh: ) Does anyone else have similar issues?
I currently get on the treadmill for about 30-40 minutes and have slowly increased my speed to 3.5 and do about 40-45 min of yoga- great body weight resistance training and also relatively low impact. For those of you in similar boats- what do you do to find that balance between doing enough and not over doing?

originalcookiemonster

What is your heart condition? I am a cardiac sonography student about to graduate and can help with any kinds of tips. Good for you for staying active. I've seen first hand the benefits of being active and eating right. It has a more positive impact than you might imagine!