I would ask my doctor, but everytime I go to her she wants to run a bunch of tests.  So here's my question.  I have some heart problems.  If I add working out to my diet changes it seems that would make my heart work harder which doesn't sound like a good thing.  My heart beats very hard just going from the living room couch to the bathroom.  I know that sounds horrible and this is the only place I would admit that at.  I'm always afraid that exercises will cause another heart attack. 

 You should definately talk to your dr. before you start an exercise program.Maybe you could call her on the phone and ask if it is o.k. to start going on short walks. Until you get an o.k. from your dr. just work on changing your eating habits..I have a hard time exercising because of pelvic damage from my last son (he was 11 lbs 11 oz) The first 3 months I only changed my eating habits and then started taking an occasional walk when I didn't hurt to bad. I have lost over 40 pounds by mostly just watching what I ate. So it is possible to lose weight even if you aren't allowed to exercise. Good luck to you!!

 Congratulations on your weight loss.  I have to go to Walmart today and I'm thinking of getting some one or two pound wrist weights.  Maybe I can just sit on a chair and do some exercises that way for starting off.  I just can't handle walking right now.  I can barely make it to the convenience store that's two blocks away.  And walking back feels like torture.  But I think I can do the weights.

 Weights are a great idea. I actually started with those also. My upper body doesn't hurt, so it is a great way to build some muscle and raise your metabolism. If you don't feel up to walking, then definately don't do it. It took me quite a while to be able to go on walks, and still they are few and far between, because my pelvis will start hurting really bad. The great thing is, as the weight starts coming off, you will find moving around gets easier. But, there are some of us that just can't do physical activity. Start with baby steps and see where it takes you. Good luck on your journey!

 Well this answer is coming from a woman who just spent last week in the hopsital after having a major heart attack and having 2 stents put in.

If you get out of breath or your feel your heart rate is going crazy just from walking in the house - you truly need to get a stress test done.

You also don't need to do strenuous exercises .... try some chair exercises, get a stabalizer ball and make use of that.  Heck take 2 cans of veggies (or fruit) and do arm lunges using the cans instead of weights. 

 At one point my mom was so overweight she had difficulty walking to the car from the house.  She knew this was a major problem, so she called her doctor.  The doctor ran the tests to check for any problems that might make it difficult for her to exercise and to check for other problems as well.  Although those tests aren't fun they are necessary!!!  Either way, mom had a lot of pain in her knees and back so the doctor sent her to a physcial therapist who provided some exercises to get started with.  You should definitely make an appointment to see your doctor.  It helped my mom, and it'll help you too.

 I'm due to see the doctor again in July.  Hopefully I'll have a significant weight loss by then.  I know my iron level was also a big problem.  She called it extremely low and I have to take larges amounts of iron twice a day.  I also have slow flowing, thick blood which is not good.  Sounds like sludge, lol.  But my doctors office is a twenty minute walk from my house.  So one of my goals is to be able to walk to my next appointment.  Don't know how realistic that is, but I'll see how I'm doing by July.

 fwilliams62

When i started 2 years ago i was so out of shape,it hurt to walk and i was short of breath,i have asthma.i bought a dvd  with chair exercises.The first part of the tape you sit in the chair and do exercises then the second part you stand and hold on to the chair and do some leg ones.the one i got was by sunshine,she has regular exercises and some chair dvds.I bought them on amazon.i also saw some other one.theres also an advanced on thta uses weights.To me there was very little diference between the two except for the weights.Thrers also a lady who does yoga in a chair for seniors.I think she is peggy cass,not sure of last name.hope this helps.

LINDA

Hi Fwilliams62,

It's not a good idea to start a weight loss program or exercise routine without your doctor's approval when you have heart problems. I understand that you don't like the tests, but they can save your life. Here is the information on an exercise stress test http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4568. You really do want to speak with your doctor and get things cleared for exercise.

Let me know if you have any other questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

 Ok, I'll hold off on the exercise until I see her.