UPDATED - heart problem and over weight

74jax

I am not after health advice, I've had that today at hospital, but it's just a query on the NHS now and over weight people.

I've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and have had my hospital appointment today. Where I had my weight taken - 62.1kg (with boots, trousers to on) and height taken, I'm 5' 2".

I then went in to see the doctor and he said, basically, as I was overweight I need to sort that out first. And the NHS is under a lot of strain etc. I said I was trying to lose about half a stone, but that I had cut down at the gym from doing spinning, HIIT training, kettlebells, boxing, etc, as I passed out in the gym due to my heart going in to A Fib and so I am now just doing spinning 3-4 times a week and abs class 3 times a week.... My theory is I can't fall in an abs class and spinning is in a seated position.

He said if I was doing just two spinning class a week I wouldnt be in the situation I am in and I clearly know I need to lose weight so just do it. I asked if there was any food he could recommend as I ate paleo to use weight. He said it didn't matter what I ate I just needed to eat less in here, and pointed to his mouth.

Now I totally appreciate I'd like to lose half a stone. But if I was at the hospital yesterday I weighed 61.6kg and that would be ok, ish.

I do believe the NHS is understaffed and us overweight people are adding to the problem, as are people who smoke. But does anyone know the situation when you are borderline, do I ask for another referral and make sure Im not wearing boots, go to loo first?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

according to the BMI your height and weight puts you at 25.1,

Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9,

so borderline.

You've only got to lose half a [STRIKE]stone[/STRIKE], just over a pound, so try cutting out any 'treats'.

Edit: Oops, , that should be kilo.

74jax

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

according to the BMI your height and weight puts you at 25.1,

Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9,

so borderline.

You've only got to lose half a stone, just over a pound, so try cutting out any 'treats'.

How much under do I need to be to be treated on NHS though. I was under yesterday, I weigh myself pretty much every day now I'll trying to lose half a stone. I feel my heart beating, get dizzy, pass out frequently. I'd like it sorting. I had to wait for months for this appointmen.

flissh

I think if this is how the Dr treated you it is pretty shabby.

My advice would be to go back to your GP and have a chat. You need advice on diet & exercise with AF and does GP think it should it be treated.

I think if your BMI is 25, although technically overweight, hardly obese. God knows what he would say to a very large person.

academiablues

I agree with flissh, the way the doctor spoke to you is out of order. There's no link between BMI and illness, you can be overweight and as long as you're fit and active (which it sounds like you are - you do a lot of exercise and eat well) then it doesn't make a difference what your BMI is, it's a really arbitrary number - most rugby players, for example, are overweight or obese on BMI because of their muscle, not fat.
It doesn't matter how much strain the health service is under (and I know, it's a lot of strain, I work in it!) there's still an obligation to provide the best evidence-based care for people. I'd get a second opinion if possible.

74jax

Thanks all. Today I weighed in at 61.8 so if I'd gone today i'm guessing I would have been ok.

I will contact my GP in a few weeks to see if I need refering again or if I wait until I have anothe episode before I go again.

Thanks again

j.e.j.

62 kilos is about 9 stone 10, which is heavy for someone who's only 5 foot 2. I'd say you need to aim for about 8 and a half stone - ish, maybe 9 stone tops.

Having said that, it is a bugbear of mine that while some doctors will finger-wag people to lose weight, they will give no advice on how to go about it. Just saying "eat less" is like telling a hoarder to "not keep stuff that they don't need". People know what they need to do, but they need help in doing it.. grrr.

74jax

j.e.j. wrote: »

62 kilos is about 9 stone 10, which is heavy for someone who's only 5 foot 2. I'd say you need to aim for about 8 and a half stone - ish, maybe 9 stone tops.

Having said that, it is a bugbear of mine that while some doctors will finger-wag people to lose weight, they will give no advice on how to go about it. Just saying "eat less" is like telling a hoarder to "not keep stuff that they don't need". People know what they need to do, but they need help in doing it.. grrr.

I don't mind being 9'3ish I'd be happy with that.

I'm quite happy i can lose it, now he's said i can do what i do normally at the gym - i probably was taking it too easy dropping all my classes apart from spinning and abs, but I'm now back in full swing of doing all the calsses, so hopefully that will take me back to what i should be.

i'm in size 10-12 now very comfortably and wouldn't want to loose too much to go to an 8, I'm more than happy at a steady 10.

I was 9'3 last when I got married 2 years ago and my dress was a dress in a 10 taken in around the boobs but that was it. I then broke my foot hence the extra weight and then this heart thing kicked in......

I really wouldn't want to be below 9 stone at all.

fairy_lights

You're under ten stone which might be slightly over weight for someone of your height but not massively, and if you do a lot of exercise some of that will be muscle. I agree with what others have said, you're doctor behaved very unprofessionally.
If you're going spinning 3/4 times a week and doing an ab class three times a week that's a lot of exercise, which makes me think you need to focus on your diet if you want to lose weight - you can't out exercise a bad diet. You have so little to lose though that just cutting out sugar in your tea, fizzy drinks etc could make a big difference.

74jax

fairy_lights wrote: »

You're under ten stone which might be slightly over weight for someone of your height but not massively, and if you do a lot of exercise some of that will be muscle. I agree with what others have said, you're doctor behaved very unprofessionally.
If you're going spinning 3/4 times a week and doing an ab class three times a week that's a lot of exercise, which makes me think you need to focus on your diet if you want to lose weight - you can't out exercise a bad diet. You have so little to lose though that just cutting out sugar in your tea, fizzy drinks etc could make a big difference.

I think the problem was I did a lot more, kettle bells class, trx, combat etc. But then took a funny turn in the gym - normally I was always either at home, work or with friends, and it scared me. So I stopped everything apart from spinning and abs. But still ate the same..... Instead of cutting back slightly.

wapow

In simple terms, your body is like a car. The outer shell can weather the elements. The inside of the car should not remain exposed for too long.


You are working your outer shell but have you given any thought to your inner workings?


You are not addressing the problem with whatever it is youre doing. The problem is your heart.


Slow down your strenuous physical activities and introduce slow movements in your life.


I would advise to sit quietly somewhere, turn everything off, phones etc, then breathe through the nose and out of the mouth. Meanwhile, try to listen to your heart.


30 mins for two weeks then increase in 15 minutes intervals per week

This is an incredibly powerful internal exercise.


I don't think you'll have the patience to do this and probably think its pathetic or useless.