I have heart issues but need to start working out, any ideas?

[Anonymous]

So basically heart disease runs in my family and I have heart issues and have trouble doing heavy workouts so I have stuck to light workouts all of my life. Now lately I have started gaining weight despite no change in the amount of exercise I do, and I have actually started eating healthier, no more fast food, all fresh salads and wraps. One of the few workouts I can do for long periods is swimming laps, while I can barely run for 3 minutes. Any ideas on what kind of workouts I can do that aren't too intense but will help me lose weight (mainly in my stomach and thighs).

[ManThatKnewTooMuch]

Yeah, the girls are right. You pretty much want to stick to the "girl" workouts like pilates and yoga.

Weight training is good too and you can strengthen your legs that way. You have weak legs which is why you can't run for very long. It's possible your running is a result of poor cardio but I highly doubt that as Swimming is MUCH more intensive than running. Any football/soccer/track athlete will tell you that. Unless you're swimming all wrong- I imagine you can ACTUALLY swim instead of just swimming from side to side and taking a break at each end; THAT is not swimming. Swimming is when you go for 100-200-500 meter increments without stopping.

Anyway, you may be gaining weight because of the muscle you've been building up. Don't rely on the scale when you're trying to see results- do your pants fit looser? That's how you can tell. Calories also add up so if you drink fruit juices or sodas all the time you need to cut those out too. Salad dressing? That's all fat so that needs to go too. You should eat meat or things high in protein so don't cut meat out if that's what you're doing- you'll need it for the muscle.

Anyway I touched on really basic stuff on here and I hope it helps. Let me know.

[Asker]

I am a lifeguard so yes I can actually swim and know how but I have to stick to strokes like breast stroke and elementary backstroke

[Nomad93]

Not sure exactly what your situation is just pace yourself and work towards becoming more fit. Bodybuilding. com has lots of great exercises and meal plans. Watch your sugars if you don't burn the energy it becomes fat and will deposit in your trouble areas more than elsewhere. I do body weight exercises like planks, push-ups and chin-ups they work good. Cycling is a great exercise and I am not sure about other people but sometimes I even get erections when i'm riding so that's pretty sweet if you ask me. Maybe you would like the feeling that natural body high from biking or riding on rough terrain.

[kittykatg]

Weight training and yoga. I did this thing called Bar Method for a while and it was a super low impact but productive workout when it came to shaping and toning.

[kittykatg]

Thanks for most helpful. I hope you've found something that works for you.

[Tokana]

You can't spot reduce weight (fat), its all determined by genetics. I think a combination of weight training and cardio is what you need. No you not get bulky, or muscular you don't have enough testosterone in your system to. As far as you gaining weight even though you are eating the same amount of food, I suggest you cut down even more. As you age your metabolism slows down and it becomes easier to gain weight.

If want to go balls to the wall, try Insanity. Slow down the workout if you need to the important thing is that you're trying. That's all anyone can ask of you.

[Red_Arrow]

Regardless of all the suggestions here, probably the first thing you should do is check with your doctor. You want to make sure that your heart can stand the exercise before doing it. Questions like how fast should your maximum pulse be, and for how long.

[AlwaysBelieving]

I had / have Kawasaki disease (rare heart condition) and I do Body Pump. It combines lifting with some cardio. It allows me to hit my max heart rate with "indicators"

[nonopink]

Pilates and yoga would be great