Magic Diet

[Bucky]

OK...what I want to know is who has the magic diet that lets me eat as much as I used to, exercise much less (so little that I don't break a sweat) and still not gain weight.

This light exercise stuff with HCM is all fine and good, but I keep exercising less and weighing more. The only way I that I can figure out to keep my weight in line is to stuff a sock in my mouth.........

Ok, I am whining, but seriously.....does anybody have any answers to this problem or do I just have to suck it up (literally) and forget about eating anything................poor me.

Thanks,

Doug

[Paula&Dave]

Hi Doug,

Unfortunately, there is no magic diet. My husband has HCM, is 58 Years Old, and has lost over 50 Pounds during the last year. He goes to a personal trainer twice a week for light exercise, and we walk approximately two miles almost every day. Admittedly, it has been difficult for him to take this weight off due to the exercise limitations and being on a Beta Blocker. He really had to decrease the amount of food he eats and focus on eating healthy foods. He feels much better and his symptoms have diminished.

I do not have HCM but lost 100 Pounds on my own and have kept the weight off for over 5 Years. It took me 2 1/2 Years to lose the weight. My advice is to make gradual changes in your eating and exercising habits. And first and foremost, be kind to yourself! Do not beat yourself up if you slip up.

Believe in yourself - I know you can do it!

Paula

[Midge Rollins]

Paula has good advice. Walking is the best way to burn up those calories, you can pace yourself. Diet does play a big part however. If you were used to intense workouts, now you will have to cut some caloric intake. Beta Blockers slow your heart rate, therefore it makes it harder to burn calories during exercise. Hang in there.

[Bucky]

Hi folks:

I appreciate the input and your telling me what I suspected........Drat! Unfortunately I didn't notice Beer being mentioned in any of the posts so I assume it is not one of the food groups.......Oh well.........I suspect I drank enough of it during the first 2/3 of my life that I can now "coast" the rest of the way.

I have been walking alot more lately. It is just a bit frustrating because my pace is pretty slow and I get bored. I guess I had better start looking more at the flowers and the trees and get back to nature. I used to love running and listening to rock and roll, maybe Frank Sinatra now.....so I don't try to go to fast.

I am always envious of people who have enough willpower to actually loose weight by sticking to a program for a long period.....I guess HCM is the personal trainer I never wanted.

Thanks again for the posts.


Doug

[gfox42]

I echo what the others have said. Exercise more and eat less.

I realize that's easier to say than to do.

If music helps you walk more, listen to music. I know it helps me, and I *am* interested in flowers and birds.

Gordon

[adpsmp]

Doug - try listening to Yawny (I mean Yanni) to slow down your pace! Of course, listening to Abba might help you from the puking their music invokes!

Hang in - Andy P

[mtlieb]

Of course, listening to Abba might help you from the puking their music invokes!

Easy there, fella. There'll be no ABBA bashing on this forum!

:cool:

[Bucky]

I actually like both Abba and Yani....but after seeing Mama Mia three times here in Vegas, I am almost to the illness phase of Abba....but not quite.... The show is very good....and based on Abba songs...very creative...but now I'm full of Abba so to speak.

Are you saying that if I listen to Abba I won't retain my food....thus a diet?

I know that all of the HCM'ers were/are a creative lot......maybe this is the key. A Big Mac and then Abba.

Thanks for the input...I'll keep it in mind. I'm off to UCLA tomorrow for more testing on Monday. So hopefully, I'll have more info by the end of next week after I see the UCLA specialist. I'll ask him about the Abba diet and see how he responds.

Take care all.

Doug

[danielk]

Doug, I have a UCLA cardiologist, but I wasnt aware UCLA has a HOCM specialsit. May I ask who this person is at UCLA. Thanks Daniel Kupper

[Bucky]

Hi Daniel:

His name is Dr. Michael Lee.........................

He bills himself as a specialist and so far I'd say he is doing OK. I am still so new at this I am not sure just how much the HcM Specialist is supposed to know and where we go from where I am.

I'd say that in comparison to some of the more known HCM centers of excellence, UCLA is still learning.

Why don't you go see Dr. Lee and see what you think....I like him alot, and I am hoping he has more answers for me. I see him again next week.

Take care,

Doug

[Zippythebighearted]

Hi Doug,

Before learning that I needed to limit weightlifting I was practicing a bodybuilding lifestyle. I wouldn't call myself buff or really a bodybuilder, but did manage to take off about 40 pounds and get my bodyfat to 7-8%. I find that the diet followed by bodybuilders works fairly well for me with HCM. Some highlights:
- Eating frequent small meals
- Drinking lots of water
- Less bad carbs, more quality protein
- Limit sugar
- Limit alcohol
- Lean meats- chicken breast, egg whites, fish.

Bodybuilders call it eating clean. There are variations to this depending on how motivated you are. Some folks have a cheat/treat meal once a week. Some have more.

You'll find that by eating clean you can eat more. Just not junk food.

If you search the net for eating clean you'll find lots of info. Here's one link I found that covers it from a basic level
http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/derek8.htm

Finding your BMR (base metabolic rate) can be tricky but it's the place to start. You can log your diet on www.fitday.com by getting a free account. They don't spam you either or have an obnoxious www site. One key to remember that you've probably heard over and over is not to starve yourself. I've done that and it kills your metabolism. If you starve yourself, then when you do eat your body thinks it's still starving and wants to hold on to every calorie it can get. Defeats the purpose. So slow and steady is the rule.

If you search around on www.bodybuilding.com you can find lots of good info and just ignore the parts about lifting.

I need to include this next paragraph before somebody chimes in with a statement that it's dangerous to eat high protein diets.
There is some controversy about how much protein is safe to eat. Bodybuilders say you can eat 100-200 grams per day as long as you drink lots of water. Others say the amount is less. Like HCM you'll need to read, research, and make your own decision.

Gary

[Lisa Salberg]

Thank you for that well thought out and informative post!
Lisa