So... I've just come out of hospital after having a catheter ablation on my heart for some AFib / tachy arrhythmias... only time will tell if they've fixed the problem - my second ablation in 9 months.

Before I went in, I got to thinking that pickles would enhance my life - nice crunchy texture, nice piquant flavours - a good balance to protein. Well they might have been mighty delish but the 30g (only 30 measly grams!!!) of mixed pickled veg that I ate with a piece of chicken breast increased my weight by 4lbs!! unbelievable!! And, it took me 4 days to start to lose it because weight never goes down fast - those 4lbs decided to hang around for a while, just for the hell of it!!... on the day of surgery, I was still carrying some of the extra weight from the pickle-day. And, of course, after surgery, I gained a further 5lbs of water that was IV'd into me for the surgery!!! Not been a great week and a half, but I'm pleased to say that I'm on the way down again...

I hate that my body is so sensitive!! I hate that I don't really understand what works for me and what doesn't ... it's a complete mystery! I hate that it's one step forward and 5 steps back!! but, I don't hate my shrinking body shape!

Thank you guys for being on this amazing forum - you all are so wise, so knowledgeable, so full of relevant experiences and anecdotes!! ?

I don't think the pickles caused you to gain actual weight. It's likely that the high sodium content caused you to retain water. Maybe try to find a low sodium variety but I don't think you need to avoid pickles altogether. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush it out. I know it sounds counter productive but it works.

I'm guessing it was the sodium in the pickles. They're notorious for high sodium, which makes you retain water

I love pickles..I eat just a few here and there. The little tiny slices of dill pickles. I can't eat much yet anyway so a little goes a long way. But i do drink A LOT of water every day to flush the sodium and in general it's good for us. Keep eating pickles !

Well I would guess with A-fib, that you have issues with your heart pumping at its best, which means you would fight fluid build up. So any amount of salt would cause fluid retention issues. And the IV that most would circulate out fairly quickly, takes you longer cuz of your heart and inefficient pumping. With pre-mature contraction you don't pump blood as efficiently out of your atria so there is a little regurgitation, etc. And it causes fluid to pool in distal tissues.

Get with your cardiologist for reqs on your diet/salt intake/minerals etc.

Glad you're back. We missed you!!! Hope this one is the fix for you. Tacchy is scary business!!!! ((hugs))

Dear FC... no one has explained that to me before! Thank you for the clarity- it certainly helps enormously!! ?

Yeah hon, I "think" for now pickles, salty foods, and processed foods are not your friends. Go back to eating your dense protein and dense al dente veggies with a bit of healthy fats and a few nuts/seeds/and berries thrown in for fun here or there. I'd use raw, unsalted nuts and dry roast them yourself. You'll eat less and won't contend with the sodium. I don't know how to manage sodium stuff with heart probs.

I’m looking up recipes to pickle my own veg - I think that might be the solution - I hadn’t realised they are a minefield of not so good stuff... I happened upon this recipe - https://www.hackingsalt.com/making-salt-free-dill-pickles/#.XH_k5qSnwlQ

Oh wow! That looks very tasty. Try it and let us know!!!!!!

You know, this is a quick hack, but I just use unfiltered ACV (Braggs) sprinkled over sliced cucumbers/veg. Or I use Trappey's Pickled Pepper Vinegar (maybe too high sodium, haven't checked). I love em like that. So easy and quick and filling! I get more satiety with the peel on the cucs.

Sorry to ask... but would that be the same for artificial sweeteners? I have a little bottle of stevia liquid that I keep in my bag to plop into my unsweetened decaf latte (thankfully coffee has no bad effect on me!) I’ve been moving away from protein drinks because of the artificial sweeteners and most are really high carb (I use Atkins shakes if I’m rushed and keep some Sanatogen protein powder in my bag to top up if necessary - it’s unsweetened - the bag is starting to look like the one Mary Poppins used)

Yes I love the peel on - makes cucumbers so much more substantial !

And I love ACV (although it’s the first time I’ve seen it shortened! Ha ha had to look it up to see what you were meaning - I always sprinkle a bit on anything and everything I can...

I don't know if the yeast need the sugar to ferment. You should drop him a line on his blog and ask if you can use stevia? Have no idea. But it would bother me to know I'm putting in 1tbsp of sugar into the brine.

Good point! I’ll blog him now...

He died! His wife and family are continuing the website...