Feels bad. A year ago I weighed 70 lbs less. I exercise more and eat less calories and up till the past year thought health conditions causing weight gain was bullshit, much like our uneducated friend Fedor.
Turns out when in right side heart failure it just isn't strong enough to circulate blood and fluids retain everyplace. Mostly my legs and around the waist. I take 80mg of lasix a day. The good news is I was actually 15 lbs heavier months back but I cut out pretty much all fried/fast food and started drinking water and down a handful of opiates a day to go walking in addition to working 4-6 hours. I asked my doctors if I should just cut down on water since I am retaining it and they said it doesn't work that way and for my level of congested heart failure/cor pulmonale the weight I've gained is actually better than expected.
Doesn't help literally everyone around me at work and at home freak out if I so much as do something. I used to do all our tile/hardwood/trim at the company. Now I just supervise. I used to mow the yard and take care of all the household chores. Now I get yelled out if I even move the lawnmower. I show up for work, check in, and spend at least 1-2 hours a day walking around home depot/lowes gathering materials for subs. Anything I can do to get some form of exercise without the boss/lady at home seeing.
By the end of the day though my leg swells so much the jeans which I could fold 3 inches on the leg in the morning is stretched tight to compression feel though and if I do too much I start cramping from thigh to feet. If I really overdo it I spend the next 24-72 hours afibing with irregular heartbeat and chest pains.
I'll keep walking when I am able too and sneak in heavier exercise when I can and as long as I keep losing instead of gaining I will personally feel better about it, but in the long run for me, I am not sure if I am helping or hurting my situation.