asthma and weight loss

Dancing Paws started this discussion · 8/22/2011

I have hit a major road block!! I have been working out and I feel like I eat fairly well (yes I do cheat, cuz I am human). The problem is I have asthma and I don't like using my inhaler cuz it makes me feel like I am crack, so most of my exersicing is lower intensity, but for about 1-2 hour increments of poling, followed by stretching. I feel like I am just getting bigger (muscle underneath all my fat, so all my clothes are tigher on me!) Is there any way I can lose weight as an asthmatic???? I know I am buiklding muscles cuz I can SEE them!

18 replies

Dancing Paws · 8/22/2011
I shouls note that I live in the grass pollen capital of the world.
OopseyDaisey · 8/23/2011
I'm sending you a PM.
Stevesgirl · 8/23/2011
I am asthmatic too. I can't help you on the weight loss as I am going through the same thing, but I wanted to tell you to see if you can switch inhalers. I was on one inhaler that also did a "jump start" on your heart. Talk about being on Crack!!! Once I mentioned to my doctor about this, he took me off of that one and put me on a different inhaler. It made all the difference in the world! If I have to take too much of the new inhaler, I get that "crack" feeling (not as bad though) but under normal use, I might have SLIGHT shaking in my hands for about 15 - 20 minutes, but nothing that really bothers me.
chemgoddess1 · 8/23/2011
By eating "fairly well" what do you mean? Weight exercises will help you burn fat and will have you burning it all the time but without putting the right fuel into your body it is a moot point. Check into the Clean Eating books. If youa re going after "diet", "low cal", "low fat" foods then you are usually filling yourself with all sorts of fillers/chemicals to give you the same mouth feel/taste. This is also a huge issue for asthmatics as many of these foods actually create a low grade allergic reaction because our bodies do not know how to digest them.
Dancing Paws · 8/23/2011
I eat a mostly vegan diet. Losts of veggies, beans, nuts, tofu, rice, quinoa. Sometimes dairy sneaks in there. Most of my veggies are broccoli, tomatos, mushrooms, onions, and carrots. I do eat a lot of avocado though. Sometimes I have potatos when I make curry dishes. We make burritos with rice and beans a couple night a week. I make scrambled tofu or oatmeal with nuts and fruit for breakfast. I do get a frozen lasagna when I'm lazy, but I ususally east veggies on the side, and I usually only eat a normal portion. I always have crackers and hummus in the house...maybe that is part of the problem....
chemgoddess1 · 8/23/2011
Hmmmm...... well that blows that theory! Are you getting enough protein? Also, are you on any birth control? Are you on maintenance asthma meds or just the inhaler when needed? I have/had allergy induced asthma so as long as I keep my allergies in check I have no issues. Although when I went for full allergy testing with a specialist he told me I do not have asthma and to get off of everything they had me on. The inhaled steroids were causing more problems than my allergies! The one doctor I was seeing was so sure that I had asthma that she kept upping dosages and adding more stuff to the mix and that just caused more problems. At one point I was taking singulair, zyrtec, flovent and flonase and was still in need of the inhaler and when things got bad I would run scripts of prednisone. As for exercise, I would seriously look into lifting weights or doing something like TRX.
Dancing Paws · 8/23/2011
I should be getting plenty of protein. I drink almond/ soy milk every day with my coffee. I have the protein complimentarity down, so I should be fine in that area. I am definately allergic to everything airborne (I had an allergy test done), so I take zyrtec. I use flonase, though I am pretty bad about taking it regulalry. I usually use that when I get a sinus infection and am trying to get rid of it without antibiotocs. My asthma is usually only exercise induced or when I laugh to darn hard. I do have some weights that I use, in addition to resistance bands, my pole, etc. What is TRX? Yes, I am on birth control. I take yasmin. I had a consult with the doc, and it is one of the birth control pills where my seizure meds will be less likely to screw with. The way he explained it to me, the the interraction of my seizure drug with the yasmin is making it so it is like I am taking Yaz instead of Yasmin, so I just have to take a few extra pills a month I guess... My asthma kicks in when I do stuff ilke jazzercise, trampoline, etc type intensity. I can pole and bellydance and be fine. I feel that this is why I am stagnating. I don't feel I am able to get my heart rate up to the "target heart rate" without wheezing.
nymphdancer · 8/23/2011
have you had your Thyroid levels checked? Soy is bad for those with a sluggish Thyroid, slows it even more....
Dancing Paws · 8/23/2011
Yes I have and it is in tip top shape.
Ophidia · 8/23/2011
I have to chime in on the allergy topic! I have absolutely INSANE allergies, and I tried everything for them, nothing worked without making me drowsy or brain dead. Recently I heard that vitamin C is a histamine blocker so I started taking it, about 3000mg per day, and my allergies are completely gone!! And as a result I rarely need my asthma inhaler and my skin is looking much better (I also had eczema). Its practically a miracle, I had to share:) good luck!
chemgoddess1 · 8/24/2011
TRX: http://www.trxtraining.com/ Ophidia: Vitamin C...huh! I know about how large doses will stave off a cold when you are just coming down with symptoms but I had not heard of it for allergies.
TRX Training - United StatesTRX® Suspension Training | Suspension Weight TrainingTRX® Suspension Trainers™ provide world-class training for anyone, anytime, anywhere, regardless of their fitness level or goals. Learn more.
Dancing Paws · 8/24/2011
I can try the Vit C for allergies, but if my asthma is only induced my heavy breathing, wouldn't that not affect it? Chemmie - That thing is neat. I'll have to save up for one.
Maria-Elena Kadala · 8/24/2011
Acupuncture saved my life. I was on 5 presecription medications for allergies and asthma, on the verge of starting steroids. Since beginning acupuncture, was ablee to give up medication entirely, except during high allergy season, and then I take Zyrtec and use Advair inhaler for a couple of months. Two years ago I started drinking ginger tea for arthritis. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, and I was surprised that my allergies & asthma were less severe this year even though it was tougher than usual season for most. Now I grate it directly into my morning smoothie! keep it frozen to make it easier to grate. As tea, I would grate directly into green tea or yerba mate. I did weekly acupuncture for a year, since then I do only a "tune-up" series prior to allergy season. It's been 10 years! For allergy sufferers, trying avoiding wheat and dairy ... after 3 weeks, add them back in, and you'll know right away whether it makes a difference or not. For me it does, so I tend toavoid as much as possible, although in summer it's impossible to stay away from the local home-made ice-cream place!
Dancing Paws · 8/24/2011
I went wheat free for a little over a month in addition to eating a vegan, no soy diet. I am not allergic to wheat. I take surged every morning. My allergies are very well controlled. I only get asthma when exercising at higher intensities, when laughing too hard, if there is smoke around, or if there is a cat around.
Dancing Paws · 8/24/2011
I went wheat free for a little over a month in addition to eating a vegan, no soy diet. I am not allergic to wheat. I take surged every morning. My allergies are very well controlled. I only get asthma when exercising at higher intensities, when laughing too hard, if there is smoke around, or if there is a cat around.
Dancing Paws · 8/24/2011
I went wheat free for a little over a month in addition to eating a vegan, no soy diet. I am not allergic to wheat. I take surged every morning. My allergies are very well controlled. I only get asthma when exercising at higher intensities, when laughing too hard, if there is smoke around, or if there is a cat around.
Ava macKenzie · 8/28/2011
Muscle burns fat. Do some strength training to build muscle. I love TRX, whoever mention that, god job! lol Also your metabolism might be slow. How often do you eat? What is caloric intake per meal, per day? Are you drinking at least half your weight in water? Do you walk daily?How often do you workout weekly?
Dancing Paws · 8/28/2011
O think it might be my metabolism. I drink over 64 oz of water a day. I rarely drink soda, juice, etc. I have my morning coffee and will sometimes have unsweetened ice tea? But I usually use stevia as a sweetener. I am starting to think my seizure meds are a cause. I just got put on another one that has caused weight loss for me in the past, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. At my peak, I was working out every other day, with this heat going on, I am only making it to a dance class once a week.