weight loss and IC

**bigred** · 12-18-2007, 06:31 PM

I am sitting here watching the biggest looser and getting depressed. I have lost about 30 pds. but have about 80 more that does not want to come off. I don't fill like I can do it. I joined a gym a month ago and have gone some but not as much as I thnik I should. My IC flarred up really bad. I had to have a hydrodistinson on Fril I don't know how long I should wait before I go back to the gym since my favorite spot there is the pool. I also am waiting on the results of an Echocardiogram. My pulse rate is over 100 most of the time. Hope to be back at least by the first part of January. Anyone got advice on how to loose weight with the IC diet and exercise without pain.

HELP !!!!!! Depression is trying to get the best of me.

**karen10** · 12-19-2007, 12:56 AM

Dropping the sugar, adding more vegetables, less carbs and adding a soluble (not insoluble) fiber to my diet did the trick for me! I tend to yoyo but this has been the winning combo! I first experienced a reasonable weight loss and now have maintained a consistent weight for the past year. I also do as much cardio as I can tolerate twice a week and walk almost daily. Keep trying, you'll find what works for you!

***ICNDonna*** · 12-19-2007, 02:33 AM

You could try just plain walking every day, even if it's just for fifteen minutes. In my diabetes education class they suggested I wear a step counter so I can be sure I get enough activity every day.

Donna

**aprilchen** · 01-13-2008, 10:36 AM

The Elliptical trainers are really easy on your joints and don't seem to set off flares with me. I have done this twice now after starting back to working out since I haven't in over a year. The one I used on base at Wright-Patt is a Precor. I set the settings on Level 1, because elevation seems to hurt my pelvic area.

Stay away from abdominal crunches. I did 50 yesterday and that was BAD. We have been through four instillations, pain medication, muscle relaxers and almost considered the ER since the pain was SO bad last night. The UTI I have is contributing also, but I only found out about it last night when I dipped my urine. Anyway, luckily I have 16 500mg Levaquin tablets so I didn't have to go to the ER to get antibiotics.

Thank Goodness. Also, I am adding in light weights...no heavier than 5 lbs. for chest, arms and legs. No more ab work though until I determine if that is best for me or not.

Good Luck with finding the right Elliptical. When I taught aerobics before my onset of these medical problems, I learned that the Elliptical is like a "natural runner" and therefore does not cause so much weight (bad weight) on the joints.

Blessings!

**turnaround** · 01-13-2008, 10:47 AM

Don't feel depressed, Big Red. How about yoga. I bought a beginner yoga tape and try to do a little more each day. I used to swim, but the chlorine aggravated my IC big time. Light weights are excellent, as muscle burns more calories!!!
Good luck, and just keep chugging along!

**Berkshire Road** · 01-13-2008, 12:47 PM

Big Red, you might be interested in my thread in this forum, on the ergometer.

**Just visiting** · 01-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Weight watchers is by far the best weight loss program I have found.I lost about 52 pounds on it.It wasnt always easy but Im glad I stuck with it.As far as excersice I recommend walking and water aerobics. Its low impact but yet very affective.

**Big Red** · 01-14-2008, 04:30 AM

Thank you for your replies. I have lost 6 pds since Jan1. My goal is to be down by 10 pds by Feb. 1st. My doc. just gave me the formula to figure out my heart rate since I was diagnosed with the starts of CHF. I know that this will help me. My daughter said the gym has also but a water aerobics class in it schedule. I got the check that out. Have a great day.

**tahini16** · 01-15-2008, 07:09 AM

Good luck! I hope all turns out well for you. I have a lot of heart disease in my family and I know what you're going through. Please take care of yourself and don't let depression bring you down. I walk every day and try to eat a heart healthy diet. (lots of blueberries and strawberries) It it's red or purple, it's good for your heart! (well, healthy red and purple foods, too bad candy doesn't count!) Watch out for veges like potatoes, corn, and carrots. They are high in sugars which turn into fat. They also aggrivate my IC.

Take care! Good luck!

**Claredale** · 01-15-2008, 07:38 AM

Walking was the best trick for me, just getting my metabolism up since I am over 40 has made a huge difference. I can swim too during the summer. We put a very low chlorine system in our pool so it doesn't bother me at all. We are converting to a salt water system not this summer but next. Last summer I would just get out there with a noodle and do exercises in the water too, plus it relaxed my muscles.

Sounds like you are doing great with your weight already though! Good job!

T83

dreamy · 01-15-2008, 08:31 PM

Im kind of confused. Do you all just workout even if you feel your bladders and have to hold pee in the whole time?

**Want2BPainFree** · 01-16-2008, 02:28 AM

I, too, flare from exercise, but I have found ice packs to be quite soothing. I sit on one and put one on the front of my bladder when I get home from the gym.

However, your medical history concerns me regarding your CHF. I also suffer from this due to dilated cardiomyopathy, and I got to tell you, sister, they will want you to exercise, but you must know your limits. If you start feeling like you are drowning, you must stop. Not permanently, but stop right away and sit down.

I know from experience, that the best treatment for me for CHF has been reducing sodium intake. I never add salt to food, and I also do not eat processed food. This is the sodium killer. My doctor recommended that I never intake more than 1500 mg of sodium per day. Well, usually, I don't consume more than 1000 mg per day, and I've still had some days when I'm just so full of water.

Has your doctor limited your fluid intake?

**Vicki** · 01-21-2008, 01:39 PM

I second the elliptical. I do mine every day for an hour. Now if I could just stop stress eating I might be able to lose weight. We live under some pretty emotionally strenuous circumstances. Hopefully, someday we will be able to get out of the situation we are in. -Vicki

**aprilchen** · 01-24-2008, 09:29 AM

My weight loss has come to a screeching halt and is stuck on 155. I am 5-feet tall and this is entirely too much for me to weigh...especially since we want to have a baby. I need to just lose down to 125 or 130. I have been doing elliptical exercise four times a week for about 30-40 minutes and dieting (mostly veggies)...cutting down carbs and doing everything I know and it just won't budge.

I also drink about 1-1 1/2 liters of water a day.

Ideas?

**karen10** · 01-24-2008, 10:17 AM

April -- have you had your thyroid checked out? What about yeast/candida? That's all I can think of! I hope you figure it out. It's frustrating. I finally started losing weight when I got my yeast problems under control. Good luck to ya!