Hello! I am brand new to this site. I am a 42 yr old male with cardiomyopathy since 2008. In 2009 I received a pacemaker/defibrulator to aid my heart in pumping better, and because of deadly heart beats or something(tachycardias). I went from 179 lbs to 217 lbs. I've been on a heart transplant list since 7/2009 as well. Doc STRONGLY suggested I begin to loose weight and get in some kind of shape.
I started out walking in march of this year 4 miles @ 4 mph. I currently weigh 195-198. I currently have the following workout schedule and I am curious as to if I am OVER doing it. My wife seems to think so, but I love it more everyday as I feel better everyday! Below is the schedule
Also, I am 5'8 if that even matters.
m - 8 mile bike ride to the gym @ 12 mph on a beach cruiser with no gears. 45 minute shoulder workout. Walk 4mph over two bridges for 40 minutes. Swim what I call light to moderate for 90-105 minutes. (1.5-2 miles) freestyle. I have for the last couple of days worked my way to swimming sets of 200's 13-17 of them with 30-45 seconds rest between sets. Today I actually swam the last 15 minutes of my 105 minute swim with no rest. Then......I bike the 8 miles back home.
I repeat this schedule everyday except for sunday. I usually just walk and/or ride bike on sunday. or nothing at all...although that is becoming harder to do just sit around.
The rest of the days, I do the same but workout different bodyparts.
t - biceps, triceps traps
w - chest and back
th - shoulders
f - biceps triceps traps
s - chest and back and all the above cardio also.
I generally eat very well (whole foods) high protein and carbs and low fat.....and around 2500-2700 calories a day!
Is this overtraining. I am sore (not badly) everyday. A good sore tho. I am hoping to get down to 170 lbs asap!!!!! I also currently have 25% bf, 30 bmi, my last scale read a ffm 148.8 lbs....tbw 109 lbs....fat mass 50 lbs. this was done on 8/24/11
I am hoping to get to 170 lbs and 10-12% body fat ASAP.
Thanks in advance for any workout, nutrition, supplement info /advice you guys can give. :chug:
Hi and welcome.
Your question about overdoing it is very difficult to answer. There are different types of cardiomyopathies. What I can gauge from your story is you are clearly at risk for a dangerous arrhythmia, whether a very slow heart rate (thus the pacemaker) or fast heart rate (defibrillator). I think directing this question to your cardiologist would be the best way to go about it.
What I can say is this. People do not have to spend 6 hours a day exercising to be healthy. To my knowledge there is no evidence that the person who spends 4.5 hours a day exercising is apt to live any longer than the person who spends 2 hours a day exercising, eats well, and doesn't over engage in sedentary activities (think TV, computer, etc.). In other words, there may be a point of plateauing or even diminishing returns. In your case, if you are taking in 2700 kcal/day I can't imagine even 2 hours of moderate exercise a day not dropping your weight considerably over a short period of time as long as you are not a couch potato the rest of the day.
I am a firm believer in moderation in everything we do. Overuse injuries, menstrual problems, etc. are nature's way of saying "whoa slow down a little". I think if you can get from point A to point B with a little less exercise but decrease your risk of an adverse cardiac event, you are better off. What you need to ask your cardiologist is at what point are you starting to put yourself at higher risk. If he or she feels that the risk difference between 2 hours and 4 hours of exercise is negligible, and you enjoy what you are doing, then go for it.
I am glad that you are seeking help here, but this is a question that you might want to answer avoiding assumptions, which is why I am going to give you nothing but a recommendation to contact a medical or rehabilitation professional...
I think it's frightning that a physician would tell someone with your heart situation to "lose weight and get in some kind of shape" without giving you a program of physical therapy to keep you on track and make sure you are doing the right types of exercises. I'm assuming the heart situation is serious if you are on a transplant wait list. I'd look for a Doctor that is willing to interact with you more.
Hey there,
you're 42 yr old male with cardiomyopathy, a pacemaker & you've been on the heart transplant list since 7/2009. You went from 179 lbs to 217 lbs & now you're down to 195 - 198 and hope to get down to 170 lbs asap!
your Doc STRONGLY suggested you lose weight
you're following a workout schedule and curious if you're OVER doing it.
your wife thinks so, but you love it & you're feeling better everyday!
6 days a week you:
40 min bike 8 miles to the gym @ 12 mph on a beach cruiser with no gears.
45 min weights shoulder workout.
40 min Walk 4mph over two bridges
90 - 105 min Swim light to moderate (1.5 - 2 miles) freestyle.
40 min bike 8 miles back home.
you're sore (not badly) everyday. A good sore tho. very well (whole foods) high protein and carbs and low fat and around 2500 -2700 calories a day!
Is this overtraining?
Probably, you have a serious heart condition and because of that, anyone with any sense will tell you to work with your docs and or physical therapists and or personal trainers to come up with your workout regimin and monitor it. You titled this thread "need advice from a professional" and you're right, you do and you should get it locally from proven pros who will work with you rather than shot in the dark guesses from folks here. My guess is none of your pros are going to tell you to train 5 hours a day. Your regimen looks like you're training for a triathlon with a walk instead of a run.
Do you work?
What are your goals beyond losing weight?
Are you or your wife concerned with how much time you spend working out each day?
(your routine takes nearly 5 hours a day)
That amount of training reminds me of 2011 WSJ Article: A Workout Ate My Marriage
Your desire to lose 25 lbs ASAP concerns me. For weight loss: consider weight watchers or some other sensible sustainable system, maybe you can achieve better results through calorie restriction rather than exercise. I don't think it's good or healthy to use a crash diet approach.
Anything you do must be with the guidance and blessing of professionals
you titled your post "need advice from a professional"
We all agree, get help and follow it.
Good Luck, be well
ande
