Heart failure and weight

This holiday in Bulgaria is actually my 1st real holiday in sun since I was diagnosed and what it has highlighted is at 48 in October I seem to fit into the stereo typical middle aged over weight man in appearance. I have a rather well round stomach and man boobs but where I differ is I actually do a very high amount of physical activity even when here. 2 hours on a bike in soaring heat is a doddle.

So a question that faces all us heart failure patients is does the tablets etc cause our weight issues or do we use it as excuse. I find myself asking this question as weight on a bike will be important on my End2End. Less weight means less pressure on tyres so easier cycle.

If honest I eat well, probably too well, & double what most eat but I eat healthily but maybe just in very large amounts. I drink alcohol in binges but not every week and mostly now spirits or red wine. Yet I can easily weigh 20 stone sometimes & at 5:11ft I am in no doubt my body fat index is off scale & I am obese.

After Diagnosis & I lost the water retention I lost easily 5 stone but slowly since then it has creeped up and was actually surprised at hospital this month they stated 16 and half stone as my weight. I know it had been close to 20 Stone.

So I probably hide behind fact Barry the device at maximum 130bpm  will not allow my heart rate to go into maximum calorie burning rate but since my intensive training of last 6 weeks I have lost weight but not in areas that people look and see big fat middle aged man and that is the thing that as a heart patient that annoys the most. I go to gym and know others see big fat middle aged man not the triathlete. It is annoying but I fight this mind set with at least I am alive to do this fitness & so lucky I can.

My conclusion is my tablets do cause me to look fat while being very fit. I could diet and starve myself but what would be point?, I didn't live not to enjoy life, I love my life but if honest I hate being fat in appearance probably like a lot of heart failure patients who can't do activities I do so stop moaning John just be thankful you can be so active while Fat.

Thanks for reading