Stress Center Peer Support

I have anxiety---big time. The past month or so I am really doing a good job keeping it together. I am using different techniques such as reading and self talk. When I get an anxious thought that won't go away, I pick up my phone and play a game or something to help me deal with the thought without the fear. My problem now is that I want to begin exercising again. I have put on alot of weight in the past few years. I have developed a fear of afib. My aunt had a bout with it some years back and perhaps that is why it is planted in my head but I have a fear that if I exercise, I will throw myself into atrial fibrillation and maybe pass out or something. I don't know why I feel this way. I have had physicals, I am healthy (other than being overweight) and I have no reason to think this might happen to me. Does anyone have any advice so that I can get over this and start exercising again?

Thanks!
Mary

While advertisers would like us to believe that atrial fib is common, I do not believe it is. I do have some knowledge about it, know it is readily dealt with and nothing to be overly concerned about. You may want to check with your doctor.

As to weight loss, the key, really, is to reduce your caloric intake by avoiding sugar, white flour products (cakes, cookies, rolls, etc.), salt, fat. Exercise is important and I am big into it; but gently, with walking, yoga, qigong, weights, fit ball, the gym. There is no need to be wary of exercise, esp. if you go at it slowly and in moderation. Wishing you the best.

marycap
I can relay to a certain degree to your concern of exercise I was also verry scared of exercising becouse Palpitations Rapid heart beat they would be without moving around 120 BPMs and it was my main issue when i got anxiety and i thought in the begining that i had some tipe of heart problem.
Mary is correct, check first with your doctor i did and for my piece of mind he send me to do a stress test besides all of the other heart exams emaginable too make the long story short everything came back ok and the technitian for the stress test raised my heart up to 160 bpm He told me it ws all ok so now what i do is i walk practice a little Yoga and do a little bike .
Last but not lesat i give you today as an example i was feeling verry tired and down you know one of those days well guess what i picked my bud right up from the chair and walked for 30 minutes and that gave memore energy to go play some baseball with my son felt much better after i exercised .
Bottom line exercise is a must i know is not easy but a little walk start slow an increase little by little you will start feeling better soon .
Check with your Doc.
DolphinG