Beta blockers are medication taken for high blood pressure. According to this study, the average beta blockers weight gain stemming from using beta blockers stands at 2 to 4 pounds.
What makes it hard to lose weight while on medication like this is how it affects the body. This is because it causes fat to accumulate around the belly area.
On top of this, beta blockers lower the metabolism rate, making weight loss that much more difficult. This is done to relax the body, which may consequentially lower your calorie deficit.
All these effects piled together, induce feelings of weariness, which makes you lose the will to exercise.
Looking back, it may feel like the odds are stacked up against you due to medication weight gain. This prompts the natural desire to want to figure out how to lose weight on beta blockers.
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT ON BETA BLOCKERS
1. LIMIT PORTION SIZES
Beta blockers already reduce your metabolism rate, which means every single calorie you consume counts. As such, it might be time to think twice about sneaking that extra piece of bacon onto the plate.
The general rule of thumb on portion stands at a palm-sized serving of high proteins such as meat for women and two palms for men. A fist-sized of vegetables should be enough and two for men.
High-carb foods such as grains and starchy vegetables require a serving of about a cup-hand for women and two men. High fats food such as nuts requires a thumb-sized serving for women and two for men.
2. INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
As mentioned above, beta blockers slow down the metabolic rate. This, however, doesn’t mean that it can’t be elevated.
As such, exercise remains one of the most effective ways to lose weight on beta blockers. This, therefore, involves engaging in metabolic-raising exercises.
3. INCORPORATE HIGH PROTEIN BASED FOODS
Since everything you eat counts when you’re on beta blockers, it’s prudent you get creative about where your calories come from.
Eating high protein content foods are great if you’re looking to reduce your calorie intake. They generally make you feel ‘full’ and should keep your appetite at bay.
4. ENGAGE A DIETICIAN
Figuring out the perfect number of calories or the best nutrients when all these things are happening to your body is hard.
In case you find yourself overwhelmed, trying to figure out how to lose weight on beta blockers, talk to a dietician.
Bringing a professional into the picture alleviates the pressure from your shoulders. It allows you to evaluate your current diet and figure out what needs to be changed.
It also enables you to find healthy ways of being satiated without going over your calorie deficit.
5. AVOID ALCOHOL
First of all, it’s dangerous and highly recommended that you avoid alcohol while on beta blockers. Not only does alcohol counteract the effects of the blockers, but it is also full of calories.
As such, it’s another form of calorie intake and consumption gives you all the more work.
6. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Sleep deprivation plays a huge role in frustrating weight loss results. Lack of sleep is responsible for various things.
This includes the fact that it leads to an increase in fat stores, leading to weight gain. It also leads to an increased appetite which prompts the body to demand more calories.
In the end, it throws your calorie deficit out of whack.
7. DRINK MORE WATER
Water’s importance to the human body cannot be stated enough. Water is a 100% calorie-free, body cleansing liquid that can also play a big part in weight loss.
This is because water raises your resting energy expenditure. Evidence suggests that your body’s resting expenditure rises by 24-30%, ten minutes after drinking water.
This, therefore, leads to an increase in the number of calories you burn. Therefore helping you lose weight while on medication.
8.REDUCE YOUR SALT INTAKE
Eating a lot of salt can lead to increased water retention. Excessive water retention leads to increased weight as the retained water shows up as extra pounds on the weighing scale.
You can, therefore counter this as by reducing your salt intake.
9. FOOD DIARY
Food diaries can help you to figure out how to lose weight on beta blockers. This is because they ensure you track any calorie consumed.
Food diaries are therefore a huge part in creating a weight loss plan
10. REDUCE DOSAGE
If your health allows it, you can lower the dosage of the medication, causing weight gain.
This, however, should be done in a manner that curbs weight gain and still remedies the symptoms of high blood pressure.
DOES EVERYONE GAIN WEIGHT ON BETA BLOCKERS?
Weight gain can occur as a side effect of taking beta blockers. This is especially so for older variations such as atenolol and metoprolol.
As it stands, the new varieties such as carvedilol are believed not to have weight gain as a side effect.
However, it is important to note that a lot of doctors don’t prescribe the metoprolol’s and atenolol’s unless other forms of medication fail.
Weight usually rises gradually before stabilizing after weeks.
WHAT FOODS TO AVOID WHEN TAKING BETA BLOCKERS
Beta Blockers have quite an effect on the body. Therefore, while taking this medication, there are some foods you should avoid due to the dominant presence of beta blockers. They include:
HIGH-POTASSIUM FOODS
Beta blockers contain a substantial amount of potassium. There are several popular foods that are also rich in potassium, i.e., bananas.
Potassium can be positive as it maintains the electric activity of the heart. However, when consumed excessively, it can lead to erratic heart-rhythm or even kidney failure.
Other foods that include high amounts of potassium include avocado, papaya, tomato and kale. However, it is vital to note that these foods don’t have to be avoided; they are actually very healthy.
They should just be consumed in moderate amounts while on beta blockers.
CAFFEINE
Recent studies indicate that coffee increases blood pressure and renders blood pressure medication less effective.
This, however, is negligible if taken in controlled amounts. However, if you notice jitteriness symptoms, it might be time to put the coffee down.
If you crave the effects that come with coffee, forms of exercise such as aerobics can be used to achieve the same effect.
IS IT SAFE TO EXERCISE ON BETA BLOCKERS?
Effective exercise is built on the foundations of an elevated heart rate. However, beta blockers slow down the heart rate.
This, therefore, makes it harder to get your heart rate up. This, therefore, means that beta blockers do affect your exercise.
However, exercising while on beta blockers should be safe. Although while exercising, you should check your heart rate levels.
This is because, in the event of struggling to get your heart rate even higher, you can overexert, leading to a heart attack.
CONCLUSION
Beta blockers are generally controversial types of medication however if you’re still figuring out how to lose weight while on beta blockers, note this.
Your metabolism and heart rate will be slowed down, and as such, every calorie you consume will matter, and the intensity of exercises will get higher.
Through it, all the most important part is finding that balance. Balance in the foods you consume, how intense your exercises are and what to do away with.
