Adding diet and exercise to my sleep therapy

[Hunter1]

Been on CPAP for about 4 months. Have seen results but not happy with where I am.

For some time I have been thinking that I have only been treating one component of my problem. Can all the junk food and lack of exercise factor into how I sleep at night and how I feel each day?

Today I started a diet and exercise program after reading the book "Eat Right For Your Type." I want to see if a proper diet and exercise program will help me sleep better at night and feel better during the day.

Does anyone out there have an encouraging story to share about adding a proper died and exercise program to their sleep therapy?

Hunter1

[Jager]

Can't comment on the diet portion of your question, but I start cycling (bicycle) in the spring and ride through early November and my sleep patterns seem to become much more stable. (I sleep more soundly, and do not wake up during the night as I do during my non-active period of the year.

[Captain_Midnight]

Poster Hunter writes...Does anyone out there have an encouraging story to share about adding a proper died and exercise program to their sleep therapy?

And, yes, I do.

In the months between when I suspected sleep apnea to the time I had my sleep study, I lost about 25 pounds (from over 210 to about 185). I did this with the Zone diet. As a scientist, the Zone diet appears to me to be the most highly supported scientifically, and it works without a "yo-yo" return to obesity.

The OSA had made me so sick (catching any and every bug in sight, and taking very long times to recover) that I had gotten somewhat out of shape. So, I started walking, then walk-running, and sloowwwllly eked my way back into running.

I got the flu the same day I started CPAP, it was miserable, but I couldn't wait for perfect health. I kept up w the PAP even with the yucky flu. Once over that (and even a bit lighter thanks to the bug) I resumed running, and within 2 months after starting CPAP, I ran my first 5 K race in about a year.<P>

Did I feel better? Absolutely. Did I, (and do I now) feel perfect? Nope. I do feel stronger, smarter, more coordinated, and happier than I have for decades. I have more mental focus, greater powers of concentration, I'm more at ease in social situations, I recall names and "things" with greater facility, I can multitask like never before.

And, getting back to your question. Did diet and exercise (and weight loss) help with the OSA therapy? Unquestionably. When I don't exercise, or I eat a few deserts, I can tell in the way I feel. And I even have another example. I had to lay off exercising for a few months (messed up my back a bit running with the wrong shoes and sitting in a bad position.) So, my weight goes up, and sure enough, I need to compensate w a slightly higher pressure range; and my AHI is still slightly higher.

Back's better, I'm running again (4 miles yesterday, training for a half-marathon). As the weight goes down, I'm pretty certain that I'll be adjusting the pres down.

So, from my experience, proper diet, exercise, and weight loss all assist PAP therapy in treating OSA successfully.

And, I salute your efforts at all of them, best of luck to you.