I just do not have any desire to exercise with the intensity that I did BA(before afib)
About a month after diagnoses, I started to walk, I got a heart monitor, one that has the strap around my chest, and the other I touch the watch to get a reading. I was told not to go above 130. I found I can't do eliptical, treadmill w/incline, or stair climber w/o pulse going rapidly to 180. I don't do those anymore. Each time I get an episode, I loose desire to exercise, it takes me over a week before I start walking and going to the gym. I did swim last summer AA but leisurly. I did also notice, I was able to add more intensity and time, then I would have another event, and I had to start all over. That's how it is for me. HUGS, and I surely look forward to your monitor results.

I actually have a note from my EP that says I can do whatever exercise I want. My advice is:

1) Use common sense. If you can't talk while walking or jogging, adjust your rate. The breathlessmess with beta blockers goes away after a few weeks or so.

2) I was a maniac with exercise till afib hit last year at 62. Now I am 63. I exercise like someone my age. I am not going to the olympics, so I have moderated my exercise.

3) Get a heart rate monitor and use the target heart rate formula everyone uses (220-age X .85).

4) Use light weights and do the exercises correctly.

5) If you have a treadmill and TV, put a movie on... you will wind up an hour later wondering where the time went.

6) Eat light 5 times a day. You know the drill.

7) Measure your BP and HR before bed and when you wake up (not right after exercise) and marvel at your improvements.

Start with moderation and in a year you will back to obsessive exercise again. :-)

Remember: What is good for your heart is good for afib.

I am in afib all the time and do 4 miies per day.

Great dvice.. thanks. I actually was a very serious athlete in my 20's.. I used to compete on a very high level . Now I'm out of shape, overweight, and just plain miserable. It seems every time I try to get back into shape, something knocks me down.

You're right, Petey.. I need to stop forgetting that I'm not 20 years old anymore, and scale back. People don't understand that when you once WERE in shape, it's much harder to get BACK in shape. That's because we keep saying, "Oh, I used to be able to swim this many laps. I used to be able to lift this amount of weight."

Of course, at this point, I can't do much of anything. I know what you mean yogacat.. that's how I feel. I tried walking the other day, and I just felt so miserable, I gave up.

I feel your pain! 56 years old now. I have always been active and in reasonable condition with good energy. Now since developing afib, I have never been this out of shape or overweight or slovenly! I find it difficult a lot of the time to do much more than moderate walking due to SOB and fatigue from the meds I am on (I think it's the 200mg/day metotoprolol that I take). I'm feeling ashamed of my appearance and I'm depressed :(

I am hoping it gets better although I've had one ablation already and still deal with some afib issues. Glad I have all of you hear for support and to listen to my whining :)
Hang in there!

I went through months of not exercising. Then one day I decided I am going to look and feel my best and enjoy life.

Sitting back and feeling old was depressing. I feel good about myself and how I look and feel and have tried to be more social... I get involved with my family and friends more... I watch movies that move me and read and attend the arts and science displays that interest me.

I need meaning. Just sitting back and being a patient... an afib stat to be managed, is not fun.

I am trying not to define myself as a persistent asymptomatic 63 year old afibber on rate control anymore. I'm trying to look at all the good stuff... who I was before this "shaky shroud" was hanging over me.

Island: I skate nearly every day of the week for 2.5 to 3 miles. I do go into AF when I exercise despite rhythm medication, but if I take a minute or so break, my rate calms down. If it doesnt calm down, then I make my way back home and rest for about 10 minutes in a chair and that helps. Sometimes I dont get to do the 3 miles and only end up with 1 mile if my heart starts acting up, but I keep going out there each day :) I, too, was away from my favorite exercise in my first year of diagnosis. I was glad to return to it, I just have learned to know my limits some days. I use a rate monitor which gives me some confindence, but at times it wont work if my heart is too irregular. I started back to exercise with small baby steps. I walked 1.5 miles, then increased the walk to 3 miles over the course of months. Then I progressed to skating after I felt that I built back my exercise tolerance a bit :) Good luck and I hope you are able to get back to the activities you love.

"A sacred illness is one that educates us and alters us from the inside out, provides experiences and therefore knowledge that we could not possibly achieve in any other way."
Deena Metzger

I surely have had to challenge myself in new ways since afib...Never did I believe I would be just fine w/o alcohol and caffeine. I love walking now, there are alot of beautiful places I never saw before.
We are ALL OVERCOMERS

Nice comments on this subject! I was never in good shape, but did try to exercise regularly. That all stopped when I got hit with this a fib. I thought I should try to get into better shape before the procedure, so are slowly trying to do little things, but it does tend to put me into a fib. I just listen to my heart before I start and go from there. Really puts a bummer on things that we used to take for granted. Use to be I just had to overcome my own inertia to exercise, now I have to ask my heart for permission! Ha!

Thanks for everyone who commented. This is excellent information! Glad to hear you were able to return to exercising Petey and Clane. I'm 54 and feel 100!

OK, I'm now inspired. I've contacted a really good personal trainer, and when she gets back from vacation, will sit down with her and go over my "challenges" with her.

(Yogacat, I love this!) "A sacred illness is one that educates us and alters us from the inside out, provides experiences and therefore knowledge that we could not possibly achieve in any other way."
Deena Metzger"

I've gone into afib the last few times I've been on an elliptical, so I've decided to avoid them for the time being, but otherwise I've been OK with the other machines at my health club. I hurt my back last fall and couldn't do a THING for weeks and weeks, but am gradually getting my strength back, although I'm not back to where I was with weight training machines.

As for weight, I lost over 50 pounds simply by modifying my diet alone during all my cancer treatments when I couldn't exercise at all. Exercise helps, but I still think diet modification helps most. It's like pushing water uphill at times, trying to eat healthy when everyone around you is not. But more and more of us are trying.

I have had paroxysmal Afib for 40 years and have been competetive in baseball and soccer. Done backpacking and hiking sometimes for 40 milers. I love to fish and camp and the only times I ever had any real issues was at high elevation, mostly because I am a sea level resident and it really wasn't the Afib interference at all. I am planning on starting Krav Maga classes which are a martial art soon. My Dr says to go for it as it ain't gonna kill me, and might help with some muscle tone.

Just had the exercise conversation yesterday w/my doc. Advised to start back again on tread mill for 15 minutes slowly and drink lots of water while doin this. Am able to do long walks in the park; unable to exercise as rigorously as previous; nor am I able to do yoga. Miss my workouts and willing to give his advice a try. Previous "tries" have resulted in af episodes. Just want to express my appreciation to this group as it has been so helpful. I am on warfarin and just today received my "at home" INR testing gear. This too will reduce some of my anxiety.

When I was dx in Feb 2011, symptomatic, EP told me I could exercise. I thought, is he crazy??? I felt horrible! I finally converted back in NSR (chemically) after about 4-6 weeks of constant afib. For me, I really didnt start back to exercising till about 4 weeks after being back in NSR. Prior to afib, I ran about 2 miles 3 times a week and did aerobics 2 times a week. When I finally worked up the courage to exercise again, I did it gradually. I started back on the treadmill with a slow walk and gradually increased my intensity over a period of time according to how i felt. I dont really "run" anymore, but I do a very fast pace walk. I am doing aerobics again. I avoid all caffeine and am eating much healthier.