I have a question, was anyone afraid to start working out because it would make your heart rate go up? I'm afraid of that and how I have a hard time breathing afterward and I'm shaky. Does anyone have or has had these problems and how do I overcome them. Please I need some answers. Thanks

Rm,

I felt exactly how you did about working out. I have a heart arrythmia to start with & just knew I would have a heart attack (even though my doctor assurred me this wasn't so).

I've started out by just walking. Slow at first so I wouldn't get my heart beating too fast. I've eventually started walking faster and sometimes I do it twice a day. It really does help get rid of some of that adreneline!

As far as the being out of breath. I would suspect that you might be hyperventilating. I suspect this because I do it too. Just try to take slow deep breaths.

For a nice relaxing workout that won't get your heart racing out of control, I suggest you go and but a yoga for beginners video tape.

I also suggest that you do stretches at home at your own pace. I also have arrythmias and was very nervous to work out. I take walks for about 20 minutes and while I walk i talk to myself and think positive thoughts. If you have anytime minutes use your cell phone and call someone and that will keep your mind occupied. I am trying to do something for at least 30 minutes a day and if I don't walk I will stretch my muscles on the floor. I have a good pilates video and I will do that sometimes.I admit I am afraid to do that alone, my husband travels during the week and I always think "what if" something happens while I am working out. I am countering my negative thoughts with positive and I revel in the fact that my 9 month old enjoys our walks and it is good for him.

I can definately relate to your problem. I used to love to walk, then this past winter I started having panic attacks and my heart would flutter like crazy.(I don't like to call it ayrithmia because one doctor says I have it the other says I don't, so I call it a flutter.)I had a hard time doing anything like getting out of bed would cause it. Then this past spring I purchased the program,Attacking Anxiety and depression, and it said that what I was feeling wouldn't hurt me. It said you needed to start doing things that made you feel anxious and float through the anxiety. Feel the anxiety,and realize it won't hurt you.So I started to do little walks and now I'm up to a half hour. But admittedly I do still have problems going by myself, but I'm slowly getting over that too. I think Suz is right, start off slowly. Once you get used to it and realize you'll be ok then the racing heart thing won't bother you as much. I'm not going to say that it won't bother you at all, but you be able to deal with it alot better and it won't scare you so much. Plus it might help to have someone to walk or exercise with.
best wishes
candy

When I first started having anxiety attacks, I didn't work out at all. It wasn't until I got whiplash the following year that I started to work out. My chiropractor suggested that exercise would help me heal faster.

Because I felt like I had to, I began to ride a bike and do strength training. As soon as I felt my heart beating faster I would start tapping my chest. It's wierd, but the tapping actuallly calmed me down. But then the tapping became a habit. Sort of like a tic to calm me down. After a while, when I got used to working out, I stopped doing this because the workout's started to make me feel better.

I guess you just have to do it enough to get over the fear.

Take care, Tricia

I would first if you haven't already have a complete physical done. Once you are asured everthing is OK then away you go. Your heartbeat will increase because your giving it a workout, you will feel dizzy and weak for the first little while until you get use to your work out. Just start at a slow pace and work up. Your going to feel wonderful when you get into it.

I want to tell all of you who answered me thank you so very much. It is wonderful to know there are people out there that really understand and are willing to help out. God bless you all.

Hi
I can relate to what you are experiencing. Even though I have been working out for years. I am sometimes afraid of my heart beating fast. I have Mitral Valve Prolaps and I experience palpitations. If I am anxious working out is extermely difficult and to add insult to injury my heartrate tends to be high anyway so as soon as I exercise it goes right up there. What I do is I go by how I feel, I do positive self talk and on those days I try not to do anything too Streneous so I stick to the bike or Walk on the Treadmill as opposed to Other exercise. Time heals all. So give yourself time, take it slow and build your confidence and most of all remember you are not ALONE.
Good Luck!!!

Hi everyone,
I can't believe it - I thought that I was the only program participant who has arrythmias too. But I'm really sorry that anyone else has to go through this.
Actually I'm having kind of a black day...my arrhythmias are what scare me the most - exercising, eating, sleeping...whatever. I never know when they're coming and when they do I feel so terrified - like I'm all alone and dying...

I feel like the self-talk and breathing do help me...but then I think to myself 'but I REALLY might be dying...not just imagining it like other people'! And so my fear consumes me.

I just can't seem to be able to accept that I'll have these arrythmias for the rest of my life, and I can't accept the unbelieveable fear I feel along with them. I just seem to run from it and no matter how hard I try, I can't accept it.
Does anyone have any thoughts on how they deal with their arrythmias and fear? I would so appreciate it because I feel all alone right now...to make matters worse I pigged out so I feel disgusting, shameful, and terrified of my scary life...Sometimes it all seems too hard. This is a really heavy burden and I just don't feel equipped to deal with it all.

Sorry to lean on you all so much...not even offering support to anyone. I really appreciate reading your messages and the time you take to write to everyone.

Thanks

Hi,
A suggestion. Keep a daily journal. Write everything in it for the ENTIRE DAY: what's on your mind, when you feel tense, why you think so, etc. Bring it to the gym w/you and write what you're feeling at the moment you feel tense. Also, write what exercise you're doing at the time. Here is a piece from my journal this morning. I bike at home.

---------------

Oct 10

Road the bike for about 25 minutes this morning. I was trying to keep it at 70% of my max heart rate to burn fat. I had all sorts of scary thoughts running through my mind. For instance, I thought I was going to pass out, have a heart attack, lose my mind, fall of the bike and hurt myself, etc. There were moments when I thought I was having trouble breathing. Well, here I am typing in my journal. Obviously nothing happened. It was all in my mind. I also noticed that when I had a big �burp� I felt better. This is because I swallow air. I read about this yesterday on the internet. It�s common for people w/stress and anxiety to swallow air. Right now I feel a bit spacey. This might be due to the fact that I haven�t eaten yet. I normally eat before biking. Spacey is OK. I can deal w/that. I can just wait for it to pass. It always does.

Hello guys. The Big G here. Just leveled Tokyo. Again. Now they've got this thing called "Kaiju Urban Renewal Insurance," and the premiums are outrageous. Every time I knock over a building or step on a school, the insurance companies eat me alive. Only in the 21 Century would there be such ridiculous legal recourses for destroying a city. Anyway, I know exactly what you guys mean about being afraid to work out. I've had anxiety disorder for 3 years now and its been terrible. However, last year I got VERY into the Rocky movies. Anybody who need motivation to exercise, WATCH THESE MOVIES. I guaruntee you can't sit throw the whole movie without getting up and punching or wanting to go exercise afterward. Anyway, my friend and I got into weightlifting. And I mean REALLY into it. At first I was afraid, because like you guys, I associated the rapid heart rate and heavy breathing and sweating with anxiety. Of course, within about 2 weeks, I had become a weightlift-aholic. I would wake up WANTING it. I would work out everyday, and I felt great. No, no, no, not great. GREAT!! And after about a month or so of lifting weights, jogging, and boxing........my anxiety was TOTALLY GONE. I mean I didn't feel a stitch of anxiety or panic at all. None whatsoever. It was gone completely. I had my life back, felt great and truly believed I was cured. But be careful. There is a cost. And I mean a BIG ONE. When you get into an exercise as strenuous and extreme as weightlifting, your body becomes addicted to the heavy workout and pretty soon, it requires it. If it doesn't get it, it goes into shock. I went on feeling great for about 7 or 8 months, but then winter came and I got the flu. I couldn't workout for a month. And by the time I got well, my body was totally out of shape again. And I had almost no motivation to exercise. And as it so happened.....my anxiety came back. TENFOLD! And it has been with me ever since. And about 10 times worse than it was before. My point is, exercise is great! But the wrong kind can be dangerous. Especially something like weightlifting, because if you stop, the effects are disasterous, even if you don't have anxiety. Try to find something you can handle, something that provides a healthy workout, but something realistic. Don't overdo it. And take it easy. Don't rush it or go to fast. Your body can't handle it. Pick an exercise you CAN do and will stick with, motivated or not. And don't be afraid if you feel rotten or overexhausted at first. It takes time. And don't be afraid if your heart is pounding or you're breathing hard, that's what your body is supposed to do. And remember, its doing that for healthy reason, not anxious ones. My mistake was that I over did it, and couldn't stick with it. To this day, I have apprehensions about weightlifting. And I didn't have the coping skill then, so that's why the anxiety came back. But DEFINATELY EXERCISE. Your body needs it. I try to exercise whenever possible. I've had a cold for the past week, on top of being very anxious, and haven't been able to exercise for a few days. And let me tell you, I feel like and old rotten corpse (or like I'm enervated by Anti-nuclear Energy Bacteria). And I'm only 21! So get the exercise, even if you don't feel well, because your body absolutely needs it. And don't worry about body symptoms. Listen to Fishcake (Kamaboko) back there and keep a journal. But whatever you do, EXERCISE. Good luck, and good health. "The Big G."

quote:

Originally posted by rmbdk:
[qb]I have a question, was anyone afraid to start working out because it would make your heart rate go up? I'm afraid of that and how I have a hard time breathing afterward and I'm shaky. Does anyone have or has had these problems and how do I overcome them. Please I need some answers. Thanks [/qb]

Like Lucinda says this is a irrational fear! Yes your heart rate will go up for 30 minutes but for the other 23 hours and 30 minutes of the day your heart rate will go down! One because your heart is in better condition and your create red blood cells when you excercise and the second reason is you will burn off some of the extra anxiety that you have going on inside you!

quote:

Originally posted by rmbdk:
[qb]I have a question, was anyone afraid to start working out because it would make your heart rate go up? I'm afraid of that and how I have a hard time breathing afterward and I'm shaky. Does anyone have or has had these problems and how do I overcome them. Please I need some answers. Thanks [/qb]

Try Power Walking to start!