Weight Loss and CPAP - looking for success stories

[Roman Hokie]

Okay, I am not here to debate which came first, the weight or the OSA. What I am looking for are success stories. I've been on CPAP now for 9 months this week and have been doing well on therapy. It's only when I'm not feeling well that I take after-dinner naps nowadays. And I no longer sleep till noon on the weekends.

Anyway, my employer is sponsoring a weight-loss contest and, for whatever reason (insanity?), I've decided to toss my name into the hat. I'd love to hear success/inspiration stories from those of you who have lost weight (and kept it off) while on CPAP. It doesn't matter to me whether you were able to get off of CPAP (congratulations, though). Just your success stories. Pounds lost and time frame is fine - as I know we have folks who do not want to post their weight. Let's respect that.

Also, I'm on myfitnesspal.com if anyone wants to friend over there. Same name, but no space.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I have lost 10% of my body weight since self-diagnosing with OSA in December 2010 (officially confirmed in February 2011, started using CPAP then).

Drowsy Dancer

[Roman Hokie]

That's awesome, DD!

I've lost almost 12lbs in the last 16 days. Only 18 more by the end of May, 38 more by the end of July, and 65 on 1/1. Of course, I think I'm coming down with something today. Leaving work early. I feel miserable. And I think I got a hairline fracture on my left foot running on Monday. Of course, it probably wouldn't have happened if weighed less...

[BernieRay]

I lost 70 lbs in the first 6-7 months after I started CPAP back in 1998. I quit smoking, turned my diet upside down, and was walking 25-40 miles a week. CPAP gave me the energy to make those changes, without a doubt. My pressure needs, however did not decrease. My OSA is caused by a smaller than normal airway which weight loss simply didn't help.

[Roman Hokie]

70 pounds? Wow. That's fantastic. I'm looking for only about 75 in 9 months. And I really don't care if I get off the hose. I'd like to, but that's not why I'm sucking weight.

[Jaylee]

I lost 70 lbs in the first 6-7 months after I started CPAP back in 1998. I quit smoking, turned my diet upside down, and was walking 25-40 miles a week. CPAP gave me the energy to make those changes, without a doubt. My pressure needs, however did not decrease. My OSA is caused by a smaller than normal airway which weight loss simply didn't help.

Wow that is awesome!

[EricinNC]

Okay, I am not here to debate which came first, the weight or the OSA. What I am looking for are success stories. I've been on CPAP now for 9 months this week and have been doing well on therapy. It's only when I'm not feeling well that I take after-dinner naps nowadays. And I no longer sleep till noon on the weekends.

Anyway, my employer is sponsoring a weight-loss contest and, for whatever reason (insanity?), I've decided to toss my name into the hat. I'd love to hear success/inspiration stories from those of you who have lost weight (and kept it off) while on CPAP. It doesn't matter to me whether you were able to get off of CPAP (congratulations, though). Just your success stories. Pounds lost and time frame is fine - as I know we have folks who do not want to post their weight. Let's respect that.

Also, I'm on myfitnesspal.com if anyone wants to friend over there. Same name, but no space.

My ideal weight is around 165. My navy medical in 1987 said I was 164 and I was extremely physically fit back then, had no clue how I would end up. I started on CPAP at 225, got a lot of energy back and started working out again. And dieting. Dropped to 204 lbs. Thats the lowest Ive been able to go so far. I have not seen a drop in my pressures but have noticed that the CPAP seems to have a more consistent, better clinical effect. I simply feel better mood wise.

On the downside, by dropping around twenty pounds, I started noticing I was having mild stomach pains on the left side from the high pressure CPAP air. Not severe, but I figure if I lost another ten to twenty pounds that was a sign my pressure would need to be reduced. Just a gut intuition or hunch. Some people will tell you losing a lot of weight does not matter with OSA but I dont agree with them.

Lose as much as you can and your CPAP therapy will work better.

Eric

[Gerryk]

I had lost about 60 pounds but I wouldn't attribute all of it just to be on cpap. I would say it is a combination of things.
First I wasn't so tired during the day because I was using cpap.
I started to watch what I was eating.
I was drinking a lot of water.
I was exercising. I walked a lot. It is a lot easier to walk outside than it is on a treadmill and I walked at a faster pace outside and also walked further.
I also worked at reducing stress in my life.

Now, after I lost that weight, I wasn't done losing. Unfortunately I had a problem with shin splints more than once last summer and another problem with my legs which really killed my exercising. Once I wasn't able to exercise I wasn't burning off all that stress by exercising and things started to turn around. I put a large part of the weight back on. I am back working out again and hopefully I get the same results.

It all depends on how you look at it if you say cpap helped you do this or not. I believe it helped me but I also think I could have lost some of the weight even if I was so tired. I believe the biggest thing is state of mind and your outlook on things.

Best of luck.


Gerry

[tschultz]

I can't say I'm a success story yet being only on CPAP for 72 days so far, but I have lost 16 pounds since starting the CPAP and have started to see by blood pressure also drop somewhat. I can only hope this continues as I still have another 72 pounds that I should lose. If I can drop another 10 pounds by June then I will be back at the weight I was last year at my annual physical.

I don't know how much of the weight gain was due directly to the untreated OSA or the fact that with no energy I was doing pretty much nothing physical as just holding my head up was too much workout some days. My sleep doctor had told me that my OSA was negatively affecting my whole metabolism and that was mainly why no matter what I had tried I was continually gaining weight. He was correct when he said I should see improvements as my metabolism would start to return to normal after the first 3-4 weeks. I know that also before treatment my blood work was also showing some electrolyte imbalances which my doctor was pretty sure was due to the OSA. I've just had new blood work done and will get the results the end of the month.

I now have lots of energy (no longer fall asleep when sitting idle or watching TV), have much more patience and my overall mood has returned me to the guy my wife said she married. I no longer get up 3-4 times a night to pee, sleep on average 7.5 hours, and wake up feeling quite rested. My appetite has changed and I no longer feel like I am starving all the time so I have been able to reduce the amount I eat. With the increased energy and feeling better I've now started to increase my exercise and am walking around 2 miles each day at this point.

[dilbert]

I started to lose weight since November. Started at 258 now 215 and according to BMI tables I should be 174 or less. Just found out I have Sleep Apnea weeks ago and the doctor's comment was it was probably worse 40 lbs ago.

[Roman Hokie]

I think, for me, taking more of an interest in my weight is the result of taking ownership of my own CPAP therapy. In a short time (thanks to the fine folks here!), I became somewhat knowledgeable (is that word supposed to have an e before the a?!?!) about my own therapy and how to not just be passive with the DME and doctors. So, I've been able to be a go-getter with the weight loss. Sure, I still need to start working out (I did start, but screwed up my foot), but I'm still only eating about 1200-1300 calories a day. That's 1100-1200 a day less than I need to maintain my shape (round).

So, one day at a time.

[BlackSpinner]

Sure, I still need to start working out (I did start, but screwed up my foot), but I'm still only eating about 1200-1300 calories a day. That's 1100-1200 a day less than I need to maintain my shape (round).

So, one day at a time.

There are some threads here with lots of information on best sources of those calories. A lot of us having been trying variations of low carb and paleo eating styles. (i refuse to use the D word). Since Cpap I haven't lost much BUT I haven't gained either which I was doing consistently for the 3 -4 years before cpap, no mater how much I was active.

[Roman Hokie]

There are some threads here with lots of information on best sources of those calories. A lot of us having been trying variations of low carb and paleo eating styles. (i refuse to use the D word). Since Cpap I haven't lost much BUT I haven't gained either which I was doing consistently for the 3 -4 years before cpap, no mater how much I was active.

Thanks, BlackSpinner. Yeah, I don't use the "D" word either. My biggest problem now is the caffeine withdrawal. I'm down to 1 can of cola a day. More than I'd like, but it's better than the 4-6 I was having. These headaches are killing me.

BTW, I've not mentioned yet. I'm down 11 lbs, my lowest weight in about 4 years.

Paleo?

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks, BlackSpinner. Yeah, I don't use the "D" word either. My biggest problem now is the caffeine withdrawal. I'm down to 1 can of cola a day. More than I'd like, but it's better than the 4-6 I was having. These headaches are killing me.

BTW, I've not mentioned yet. I'm down 11 lbs, my lowest weight in about 4 years.

Paleo?

Check out this thread
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49155&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=low+carb

There was another one before that.

Paleo - paleolithic lifestyle - meat vegtables, fruits and no grains and lots of walking (which most Paleo diets ignore but you had to hunt that deer before you ate it)

[Roman Hokie]

Thanks. Yeah. Will check it out.

Love me some pasta, though...