Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum, but have been using cpap for about 2 1/2 months. I have a question: I gained alot of weight during and after both pregnancies, before that I was never really heavy, not a skinny minny either, but just had an athletic build. When my second child was 3, I lost about 50 lbs and was feeling good, energetic, etc. I kept it off for about 3 years. For some reason I gained it all back and then a little more. I have tried to lose it this past year prior to cpap, but maybe b/c of OSA wasn't able to. Even though I tried WW which is what helped me last time. So my question, how many of you have been more successful with losing weight after starting cpap and are you seeing huge results. I'm just looking for some inspiration.
Weight loss
Interesting thread & a topic dear to my heart (at the moment).
Am aware of putting on weight when my therapy goes wrong (say over 2-3 month period) then when the therapy gets corrected, have little difficulty & shaking the weight again.
I put it down to 2 things (thoughts)
1) When we are getting inadequate cpap therapy, perhaps we lose the positive attitude that helps us burn up energy, do exercise etc:
2) When getting good cpap therapy, it becomes easier to get up early to go for walks and to sustain these initiatives & efforts.
Speak for myself, have been through two cycles in the past 18 months of losing weight (coming into the start of my cpap therapy) keeping it off for about 4-6 months, then slowly seeing it return and also noticing these were periods when the cpap benefits seemed to be evaporating. For me this weight variation was going from 212 lbs to 195 lbs then back to 220 & now heading back to 200 & with the intention to go lower.
Just in the past 2 months since reworking my settings on my machine (with the help of a few regulars from here), I have lost 12 - 14 lbs & am enjoying exercising once again & seeing benefits from it.
I know there could be a horse & cart aspect to the weight loss vs the decline in therapy but am pretty sure the declining therapy was the driver.
DSM
Am aware of putting on weight when my therapy goes wrong (say over 2-3 month period) then when the therapy gets corrected, have little difficulty & shaking the weight again.
I put it down to 2 things (thoughts)
1) When we are getting inadequate cpap therapy, perhaps we lose the positive attitude that helps us burn up energy, do exercise etc:
2) When getting good cpap therapy, it becomes easier to get up early to go for walks and to sustain these initiatives & efforts.
Speak for myself, have been through two cycles in the past 18 months of losing weight (coming into the start of my cpap therapy) keeping it off for about 4-6 months, then slowly seeing it return and also noticing these were periods when the cpap benefits seemed to be evaporating. For me this weight variation was going from 212 lbs to 195 lbs then back to 220 & now heading back to 200 & with the intention to go lower.
Just in the past 2 months since reworking my settings on my machine (with the help of a few regulars from here), I have lost 12 - 14 lbs & am enjoying exercising once again & seeing benefits from it.
I know there could be a horse & cart aspect to the weight loss vs the decline in therapy but am pretty sure the declining therapy was the driver.
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
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rock and roll
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Well...yes and no. I have lot a lot of weight since June, from 258 to 221 and it has done wonders for me with the apnea and I did it while using cpap. But it still requires diet and exercise any way you go about it. But I do have the energy since Cpap and less depression to get off my duff and do something about the weight.
TripGuy
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DreamStalker
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I agree with R&R.
I lost about 20 lbs first month after going on PAP treatment without doing anything else then plateaued. I had already been eating healthy prior to the PAP treament however.
About a month ago, I started walking a couple of miles a day in addition to avoiding the elevator up to my 4th floor office ... then a couple of weeks ago I started taking a yoga class once a week. I have lost another 15 lbs during the last month.
I too think the PAP treatment enables one ot have the energy to do the exercise.
My thoughts on DSM's comments are that the PAP treatment also allows you to have a normal metabolic rate while sleeping (you actually burn a significant amount of calories just by sleeping). Untreated OSA or inadequately treated OSA desaturates your O2 levels which prevents normal metabolic functions while sleeping in addition to preventing optimal rebuilding of exercised muscles which in turn are needed to increase your base level metabolic rate.
I think that for over-weight people with OSA, PAP treatment is essiential for any successful weight loss.
- r
I lost about 20 lbs first month after going on PAP treatment without doing anything else then plateaued. I had already been eating healthy prior to the PAP treament however.
About a month ago, I started walking a couple of miles a day in addition to avoiding the elevator up to my 4th floor office ... then a couple of weeks ago I started taking a yoga class once a week. I have lost another 15 lbs during the last month.
I too think the PAP treatment enables one ot have the energy to do the exercise.
My thoughts on DSM's comments are that the PAP treatment also allows you to have a normal metabolic rate while sleeping (you actually burn a significant amount of calories just by sleeping). Untreated OSA or inadequately treated OSA desaturates your O2 levels which prevents normal metabolic functions while sleeping in addition to preventing optimal rebuilding of exercised muscles which in turn are needed to increase your base level metabolic rate.
I think that for over-weight people with OSA, PAP treatment is essiential for any successful weight loss.
- r
President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.
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tmaiberger
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I have not lost much weight on the scale yet, however, since starting cpap, I have once again converted my nordictrack from a nifty clothes rack to its intended purpose, and started lifting weights again (light only). While the scale is still not really my friend, I have noticed that my belt has gotten looser since starting cpap and exercising. I attribute the exercise to two factors, first, more energy from cpap (although not always obvious to me) and finally being tired of only barely being able to see my toes when I look down.
TM
TM
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sleepinsilly
Hi, good question!
I've been on cpap about 9 months, and I felt a general difference immediately, even the night I went for my sleep test.
I had read a lot about links between OSA and weight gain. There are many theories but no absolute knowledge yet. But there's enough guessing that I thought perhaps I would lose some after I went on treatment. (I am extremely overweight.)
Well, I should have known better. There is no free lunch, calories or price-wise!
However, what I have found is that my body responds to both diet and exercise in almost an exaggerated way. I went on South Beach (my old standby) and lost weight faster then ever, but then had to stop. (Very expensive to keep it up.) Long story short, I went back on something called the liver cleansing diet, which I had been on many years ago. The purpose is to detox your liver, but by doing thet the dr believes you also rev up your chief metabolism (fat-burning) organ in the body. I did it for medical reasons before and lost a little bit of weight, but nothing specitacular. But I remember feeling fantastic, which is why I went back on it. (Also because I read that drs now believe heart disease starts in the liver.)
I also had a book by the same md, called the body shaping diet. So I looked into that. Basically what I've done is combine the principles from the two diets. Mainly, I have given up dairy (which is part of the liver diet and for my body type.)
Then, a few weeks later I started light exercise (Walk-A-Dobics by John Abdo). Very simple,. My knees are so bad I can't even do it standing up, I sit on my bed and do the gentle walking tape.
WOW! The weight is just pouring off me. I'm almost afraid I'm losing it too fast. I think sleep apnea (i've evidently had it all my life, I'm in my early 50's) made it progressively worse, and I think losing the dairy is really key. When you combine that with very simple, easy, light exercise, -- unbelievable! And it really feels almost effortless.
I went through quite a "rush" my first few days of cpap (my ox sats would go down to 20 every night, I never got out of state 1 sleep). One of the things I experienced was a really acute sense of the excess weight I was dragging around. I could feel my actual skeleton (bone frame) and also the extra weight hanging off it, as almost a separate entity. It was kind of strange, but it felt like my body was screaming GET THIS OFF ME!
I thought that would be enough motivation to stick to things, but it really took a lot of false starts until i found something that really works for me. Now, as I said, I'm melting away. I think I was doing two major things wrong: eating dairy, and not getting proper sleep.
Please, do not think I am anti-dairy. I come from a family of dairy famrers, in fact, so I feel very guilty. But if it's something that my body reacts to poorly, well... no more milk!
You can find out more about these if you google Sandra Cabot, or liver cleansing diet. I think the urls are http://www.weightcontroldoctor,com and http://www.liverdoctor com.
Good luck! Hope this helps!
I've been on cpap about 9 months, and I felt a general difference immediately, even the night I went for my sleep test.
I had read a lot about links between OSA and weight gain. There are many theories but no absolute knowledge yet. But there's enough guessing that I thought perhaps I would lose some after I went on treatment. (I am extremely overweight.)
Well, I should have known better. There is no free lunch, calories or price-wise!
However, what I have found is that my body responds to both diet and exercise in almost an exaggerated way. I went on South Beach (my old standby) and lost weight faster then ever, but then had to stop. (Very expensive to keep it up.) Long story short, I went back on something called the liver cleansing diet, which I had been on many years ago. The purpose is to detox your liver, but by doing thet the dr believes you also rev up your chief metabolism (fat-burning) organ in the body. I did it for medical reasons before and lost a little bit of weight, but nothing specitacular. But I remember feeling fantastic, which is why I went back on it. (Also because I read that drs now believe heart disease starts in the liver.)
I also had a book by the same md, called the body shaping diet. So I looked into that. Basically what I've done is combine the principles from the two diets. Mainly, I have given up dairy (which is part of the liver diet and for my body type.)
Then, a few weeks later I started light exercise (Walk-A-Dobics by John Abdo). Very simple,. My knees are so bad I can't even do it standing up, I sit on my bed and do the gentle walking tape.
WOW! The weight is just pouring off me. I'm almost afraid I'm losing it too fast. I think sleep apnea (i've evidently had it all my life, I'm in my early 50's) made it progressively worse, and I think losing the dairy is really key. When you combine that with very simple, easy, light exercise, -- unbelievable! And it really feels almost effortless.
I went through quite a "rush" my first few days of cpap (my ox sats would go down to 20 every night, I never got out of state 1 sleep). One of the things I experienced was a really acute sense of the excess weight I was dragging around. I could feel my actual skeleton (bone frame) and also the extra weight hanging off it, as almost a separate entity. It was kind of strange, but it felt like my body was screaming GET THIS OFF ME!
I thought that would be enough motivation to stick to things, but it really took a lot of false starts until i found something that really works for me. Now, as I said, I'm melting away. I think I was doing two major things wrong: eating dairy, and not getting proper sleep.
Please, do not think I am anti-dairy. I come from a family of dairy famrers, in fact, so I feel very guilty. But if it's something that my body reacts to poorly, well... no more milk!
You can find out more about these if you google Sandra Cabot, or liver cleansing diet. I think the urls are http://www.weightcontroldoctor,com and http://www.liverdoctor com.
Good luck! Hope this helps!
sleepinsilly, your links need a little tweaking...they don't work as they are.
Kajun
This therapy WORKS!!!
Kajun
This therapy WORKS!!!
_________________
| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP, 8-14 cm H2O. |
This therapy WORKS!!!
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MandoJohnny
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BellaAddormentare:
Judging from your picture, you don't look like you have a weight problem at all!
Seriously, the thing I have found about WW is that if you follow the plan, you will lose weight, no question. It is the most reliable weight loss plan going. I also like the optional online point tracking software systems they have now. For me, I am working on it and I have lost about 10 pounds. I have a ways to go, though.
It's like anything else, there is no magic. CPAP won't make you lose weight all by itself. It's just like if you want to sleep well, you have to use your CPAP and work through any issues you have until it works right. Similarly, if you want to lose weight, you have to follow the WW program and work out any issues you have that would prevent that. I also find that exercise really helps. Most people can't actually lose weight just though exercise and theoretically, you don't need exercise to lose, but exercise really "supercharges" a good weight loss plan and has so many other benefits also.
So the good news is that it is all under your control. Of course, that may be the bad news also!
Judging from your picture, you don't look like you have a weight problem at all!
Seriously, the thing I have found about WW is that if you follow the plan, you will lose weight, no question. It is the most reliable weight loss plan going. I also like the optional online point tracking software systems they have now. For me, I am working on it and I have lost about 10 pounds. I have a ways to go, though.
It's like anything else, there is no magic. CPAP won't make you lose weight all by itself. It's just like if you want to sleep well, you have to use your CPAP and work through any issues you have until it works right. Similarly, if you want to lose weight, you have to follow the WW program and work out any issues you have that would prevent that. I also find that exercise really helps. Most people can't actually lose weight just though exercise and theoretically, you don't need exercise to lose, but exercise really "supercharges" a good weight loss plan and has so many other benefits also.
So the good news is that it is all under your control. Of course, that may be the bad news also!
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sleepeinsilly
sleepinsilly.
I tried to PM you but I believe I sent it to another as your username was not found then noticed the Guest note.
Just suggestion put a period before each of the .com ..you have a comma before and nothing before the other..then the clicking on your link will work..
Hit EDIT...tochange
Thanks for the info
I tried to PM you but I believe I sent it to another as your username was not found then noticed the Guest note.
Just suggestion put a period before each of the .com ..you have a comma before and nothing before the other..then the clicking on your link will work..
Hit EDIT...tochange
Thanks for the info
We can all be angels to one another. ..., the little whisper that says,Go. Ask. Reach out. The world will be a better place for it. And wherever they are, the angels will dance."
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Guest
Weight Loss
Bella,
I suppose I can "weigh in" on this topic. You asked whether CPAP therapy can help with weight loss. I guess the conventional answer is that it should help. But I don't think it's realistic to think that CPAP by itself is going to be the critical factor.
I've been on CPAP therapy for about 6 years now, and it hasn't made much of a difference in my weight either way. Over time, my weight crept up to a point where it became critical about 7 months ago, and I discovered (due to some chest pains and a trip to the emergency room) that I was developing some coronary blockage. Not enough to require immediate treatment, thank goodness, but it provided me with a wake-up call.
Since then I began a program of traditional calorie counting diet and exercise and watching the fats and cholesterol, etc. The result is that I've lost about 125 lbs to date and am continuing to lose. As I said, I don't think this can be attributed to CPAP one way or another.
Personally, I have found that the combination of exercise AND diet compliment each other and has made a huge difference in my rapid weight loss AND in feeling much better.
So, I would suggest continuing the CPAP as you are doing and trying to mix your best diet process with moderate aerobic exercise.
One suggestion I would recommend is an excellent website that has a ton of great information and is actually FREE. It's called SparkPeople and the address is: http://www.sparkpeople.com
I wish you the best of luck in your quest. I am looking forward to getting a new Auto-PAP machine which should arrive tomorrow. My old machine is still working fine, but with all of the changes in weight, my doctor and I agreed that going to an Auto-PAP machine would probably be worthwhile.
So, I am hoping he's right.
Best regards,
George
I suppose I can "weigh in" on this topic. You asked whether CPAP therapy can help with weight loss. I guess the conventional answer is that it should help. But I don't think it's realistic to think that CPAP by itself is going to be the critical factor.
I've been on CPAP therapy for about 6 years now, and it hasn't made much of a difference in my weight either way. Over time, my weight crept up to a point where it became critical about 7 months ago, and I discovered (due to some chest pains and a trip to the emergency room) that I was developing some coronary blockage. Not enough to require immediate treatment, thank goodness, but it provided me with a wake-up call.
Since then I began a program of traditional calorie counting diet and exercise and watching the fats and cholesterol, etc. The result is that I've lost about 125 lbs to date and am continuing to lose. As I said, I don't think this can be attributed to CPAP one way or another.
Personally, I have found that the combination of exercise AND diet compliment each other and has made a huge difference in my rapid weight loss AND in feeling much better.
So, I would suggest continuing the CPAP as you are doing and trying to mix your best diet process with moderate aerobic exercise.
One suggestion I would recommend is an excellent website that has a ton of great information and is actually FREE. It's called SparkPeople and the address is: http://www.sparkpeople.com
I wish you the best of luck in your quest. I am looking forward to getting a new Auto-PAP machine which should arrive tomorrow. My old machine is still working fine, but with all of the changes in weight, my doctor and I agreed that going to an Auto-PAP machine would probably be worthwhile.
So, I am hoping he's right.
Best regards,
George
George, it sounds like things are going pretty good for you. Keep it up!
Thanks for the link to sparkpeople. I'm going to have to check it out when I have more time, but it really looks promising. And it's one that I've never heard about.
Kajun
This therapy WORKS!!!
Thanks for the link to sparkpeople. I'm going to have to check it out when I have more time, but it really looks promising. And it's one that I've never heard about.
Kajun
This therapy WORKS!!!
_________________
| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP, 8-14 cm H2O. |
This therapy WORKS!!!
Weight loss
Since I started xPAP therapy, I've lost more than 50 lbs (in 7 months), and more importantly, I'm more fit than I've been in 30 years! I now go to the gym 5 days a week, eat sensibly and I'm looking pretty buff again (last time was in my twenties).
Obesity is a cardinal SYMPTOM of sleep-disorderd breathing. Most confuse it as a CAUSE of SDB. It can be associated with the occurence of SDB, or making it worse, but it IS a symptom of it!
SO stick with it! You'll find amazing results in terms of regaining the body that you want to have when you make you xPAP treatment work for you!
Cheers!
Chuck
Obesity is a cardinal SYMPTOM of sleep-disorderd breathing. Most confuse it as a CAUSE of SDB. It can be associated with the occurence of SDB, or making it worse, but it IS a symptom of it!
SO stick with it! You'll find amazing results in terms of regaining the body that you want to have when you make you xPAP treatment work for you!
Cheers!
Chuck
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