Finally Losing Weight Easily - Don't Give Up!

[CrazyDreamGirl]

Hello Everyone,

I haven't checked the boards for a long. Just wanted to give a bit of encouragement as well as celebrate with people who understand!

I had my 2 night sleep study the last two days of July. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea with a 102 apneas per hour average. I have been using a BiPAP since August. Even though my compliance was excellent, I could never get below 5 apneas per hour until the last time I saw my doctor - about 8 weeks ago. I was at about 12 apneas per hour when I last saw him. I see him again in two weeks - my appointment got post-poned but it's okay. This last week my apneas have been 3.6 an hour.

What has happened since the New Year and especially in the last few weeks is that I am finally losing weight without over-thinking it. I've lost about 7 pounds since December. I've been trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables but I've also noticed that I'm just not craving carbs so much. I have been about 40 pounds over-weight for years (I'm 46) but had just stayed the same weight for about the last 8 or 10 years, even though I've had a gym membership for 4 years and actually go fairly often. I would always eat normally during the day but was a late evening snacker. I could easily sit down with something to drink and a big bowl of buttered, salted popcorn, finish that, then eat several pieces of candy, maybe even some fruit, a few crackers and cheese and still not feel uncomfortable, and this was after having a normal sized dinner earlier. I felt like a bottomless pit. Supposedly that has to do with the sleep-deprived body not producing enough of the hormone leptin which tells you you're full. (I"m sure a lot of you already know that.)

This really didn't happen until my BiPAP was properly adjusted for me and then things have sort of gradually begun to change. I actually kind of fit into some pants I had bought on-line a year ago and which I couldn't really get into. That's a big deal for me. I have lots of clothes in various sizes that I'm looking forward to wearing as I continue to lose - and clothes I hope to give away. Last August I was expecting that big burst of energy you hear about. I never really noticed it probably because the positive changes have crept up on me. I used to yawn constantly and feel tired even after 9 hours in bed the night before. I still like to get 9 hours of sleep but now when I yawn, I notice it because it's unusual, not a constant. It happens and I think "gosh, I haven't done that for hours!"

And with even with a little weight loss, I'm beginning to feel less self-conscious. I'll always be kind of shy. When I was younger and thinner and got a little positive attention from men I was self-conscious too. But that way is still more fun! Thanks for reading my long post and don't give up!