Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

spottydogspot · Post by **spottydogspot** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:43 am

I started cpap over 3 weeks ago, and guess what? I have gained almost 5 pounds to go with it!! I thought that it was supposed to hlep you lose weight and all that. This is an unacceptable effect, but I don't know if it would be from the cpap. I have lost 20 lbs in the last year, and so now I can tell when I go up a bit, even though i am still huge, in fact the sleep study doc said to lose lots of weight.

So, has this happened to anyone else? if so, why, and what can I do? I am already walking more and trying to eat a little better, but what the heck? (I am in Utah, so hence the "heck")

somewhat frustrated with this whole thing still.....

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:29 am

spottydogspot wrote:I started cpap over 3 weeks ago, and guess what? I have gained almost 5 pounds to go with it!! I thought that it was supposed to hlep you lose weight and all that. This is an unacceptable effect, but I don't know if it would be from the cpap. I have lost 20 lbs in the last year, and so now I can tell when I go up a bit, even though i am still huge, in fact the sleep study doc said to lose lots of weight.

So, has this happened to anyone else? if so, why, and what can I do? I am already walking more and trying to eat a little better, but what the heck? (I am in Utah, so hence the "heck")

somewhat frustrated with this whole thing still.....

Seriously though, you may want to take a look at what types of foods you're consuming. If you're eating quite a few carbs, you would probably want to cut way back on them. Our bodies metabolize foods differently with more oxygen in our systems after getting on this therapy.

Den

LinkC · Post by **LinkC** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:33 am

CPAP, by itself, shouldn't have any effect on weight.

I suppose if you are feeling better, you may have a bigger appetite. On the other hand, feeling better may lead you to getting more exercise.

I have lost weight since starting CPAP, but it's a conscious effort. I know that being overweight is a contributing factor for OSA, and I want to eliminate whatever I can.

TheDreamer · Post by **TheDreamer** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:40 am

I feel like I've lost weight...but I haven't.

But my pants don't feel tight anymore....so I guess I won't need to replace all my pants with the next size up (something I've done twice the last couple of years.)

The Dreamer.

TSSleepy · Post by **TSSleepy** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:37 am

Sleeping poorly is probably a HUGE stress on your system. Maybe now that you are sleeping better, your body is just taking a good, long deep breath and relaxing a bit. I say let it! At least for a few more weeks.

For weight loss, I think you have to look at your diet and exercise routine. Do you feel more energetic now that you are on CPAP? Is it easier to push yourself more on exercise? Is it easier to get focused and organized regarding shopping, cooking, and eating healthier?

I'm 5'10", 41 years old, and 305 lbs. But at 4.5 weeks into treatment, I'm starting to notice that my appetite is getting more even. I'm more inclined to eat breakfast and spread my calories out across the day. I'm less inclined to eat one HUGE meal per day. I have more energy, and have started to walk a little. I'm able to push myself a little harder physically, without feeling like I was hit by a truck the next day.

If you think about it, you have probably spent most of your life sleeping poorly and starving your body for oxygen every night. Three weeks of treatment is a very short time compared to possibly decades of non-treatment. Try not to worry about your weight for awhile longer, instead focus on "sleeping well" and "feeling better".

Once you're feeling well and sleeping better, you can start making changes in your life to lose weight. And unlike the many times you've probably tried in the past...weight loss will probably come much easier once you've recovered a bit more.

Good luck to you!

Debjax · Post by **Debjax** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:41 am

What type of exercise, other than walking, are you doing? Is there anything you are doing that could be building muscle mass? Muscle mass weighs more than fat, so if you are replacing fat cells with muscle, you will have a temporary weight gain, even while losing inches.

Maybe in addition to weight, use the tape measure and measure waist, thighs, etc. Weekly or so.

Karla1958 · Post by **Karla1958** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:28 am

Weight gain or loss because of CPAP??? I've never heard of this before. Please let it be weight loss... please! I can't believe that using a CPAP machine (or BiPAP or VPAP) would have anything at all to do with the weight gain or loss. I sure hope when I can stay awake longer that I have the energy to exercise. How many people on this message board are on a diet? I have been on a diet since mid January but I haven't lost that much. But I don't really know because I don't own a scale that works. I've only gone over 1400 calories one day since then (1480 to be exact) so I should lose something. All I do for exercise is sleep though... not the best exercise! Someone should start a diet group offshoot from this list. I'd love to know what diets everyone is on and how they are working. I find it so hard to get enough protein in my diet. I don't like meat or fish or tofu. Anyway, that is for another list, I guess.

Karla

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:32 am

If you have any weight to lose -and- you are not consuming less calories than you burn up in a day you should be losing.

That is what is happening with me... I am down 18 pounds and the blood pressure is down as well.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:40 am

YES, You will gain or lose weight on XPAP. Your body will even do that if you don't use XPAP. Anything that's a change from what you have been doing will cause changes in how you feel and how you feel sometimes changes how and what we eat. Enjoy your XPAP, your health will be better, the weight gain or loss is life, that's dealed with separately. Jim

SharkBait · Post by **SharkBait** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:45 am

spottydogspot wrote:I started cpap over 3 weeks ago, and guess what? I have gained almost 5 pounds to go with it!! I thought that it was supposed to hlep you lose weight and all that. This is an unacceptable effect, but I don't know if it would be from the cpap. I have lost 20 lbs in the last year, and so now I can tell when I go up a bit, even though i am still huge, in fact the sleep study doc said to lose lots of weight.

So, has this happened to anyone else? if so, why, and what can I do? I am already walking more and trying to eat a little better, but what the heck? (I am in Utah, so hence the "heck")

somewhat frustrated with this whole thing still.....

I went in for my original doctor consult about 7 weeks ago and weighed 183. A couple of days ago I was at my kids' house and they had a scale that they said "showed the weight to be a bit under what it really is" and it showed 197. My theory is that I used to be fighting for my life all night and now I'm just laying there breathing and going into deep sleeps like a lazy slacker.

I'm trying to decide whether I want to start being more active and exercising and stuff, or setting the CPAP equipment aside and doing my pulmonary aerobics all night again. I think I'll just flip a coin...

spitintheocean · Post by **spitintheocean** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:54 pm

I'm with you sharkbait; I've been on the system about a month and I'd swear that I'm gaining weight (my pants are tighter) but I'm afraid to get on a scale. Maybe I should stop washing my pants in hot water?

I've been subscribing to the same hypothesis as you. For years we battled hypopneic events with our bodies continually going into stress ...... I used to wake up in a sweat repeatedly every night, and just the trips to the bathroom added up to a junior marathon on a daily basis. Now I sleep the sleep of the dead; my wife said she's found herself occassionally poking me at night just to confirm I'm still alive since my body is so still and quiet, my chest hardly heaves, versus the F4 twister she's been sharing the bed with all these years.

Between me and you, I kind of liked getting most of my exercise while I slept. Does this mean we have been sentenced to sleep with all this equipment for the rest of our lives ....... and give up pizza too? Oh Lord, what did I ever do to deserve this?

Paul

SleepyRose · Post by **SleepyRose** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:04 pm

Ive gained 8 so far.
Aak.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:13 pm

For me, it makes perfect sense to lose weight once on xPAP with effective therapy for about a month or so. The reason being is that during the day one will be more energetic and more inclined to engage in more exercise... perhaps park the car in the outer reaches of the mall parking lot rather than circling near the door for a spot.

No, the increased energy is NOT for the arm muscles to move food from the plate to mouth.

tgzlavistane · Post by **tgzlavistane** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:29 pm

I gained 9 pounds in 5 Weeks I don't know what the deal is? I don't think I eat anymore than before. Luckily the Grass is starting to grow and I will be Mowing my Lawn and my Aunt's lawn every week. I will load up on the fertilizer this year that way the grass will grow quicker and I will have to mow more often.

spottydogspot · Post by **spottydogspot** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:27 am

Very interesting info everyone. I dont' move near as much when i do sleep. The past few nights my liberty elbow thing broke and i haven't made it through the night, but that's another story.

Anyway, I have actually been walking the dog a little more, and I am a college student who usually takes the elevator because I can't breath taking the stairs, but I have made a point in taking the stairs lately.

I think that I am actually trying to eat better too. I have a very poor diet and I constantly crave dove chocoalate. You know what, I have had a few girl scout cookies, it's that time of year.

I am only frustrated because I finally lost some and went down a size, and here I am in tight clothes again. Besides that I thought that cpap was going to help me lose weight. I am so tired today, had a few hours on, so that means I will sleep half the day away.

Maybe it is a temporary thing. I take many meds, and many years ago i gained alot because of depression/psychotic meds and i had finally started to lose it.

Oh, and I don't exercise because of energy and breathign issues, but I do walk the dog, walk at school, and have to go up a full flight of stairs to pee, and thats ALOT!!.

So I guess I will give it some time. and I am normally afraid of the tape measure, but maybe that will show me something that I will like, i just have to get that first measurement and get over the shock, lol.

And, when I get my new liberty that is new and fits right and I don't have to worry about the tubing coming off, then I can get a good nights sleep, and I am hoping that will feel great!

Thanks all for the input

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Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?

Re: Am i supposed to GAIN weight on cpap or lose it?