Sleep Apnea PREVENTS weigh loss in Overweight

KETOGENICGURL · February 2015

Drs. find that people obese, or overweight can 'diet' with strict calorie count, exercise and still not lose weight! WHY? Because the body stays in 'flight mode', often waking, or not breathing dozens of times an hour. You are NOT getting rest, so the body keeps the weight as backup for the 'stress', (OK, this is low tech explanation of facts- do your own research to learn more)

I am proof this is true. Dietition put me on a 1400 calorie diet Jan 2013- no advise on carbs /fat, other than 'lots of veggies, and whole grains, limit to 30g sugar." I followed the guide for 14 months and continued walking 2 miles+ a day. I did not lose a single pound! I was eating 900 calories a day LESS than my fat body needed to 'maintain' that extra 90 pounds.

The sleep apnea now treated with a machine strapped to my nose..what a difference!! REAL rest, wake up feeling a lot better. But on 1400 again, 120+ carbs a day- apples, oranges, bread, crackers, rice, lean meat, little fat, and NO loss again for 4 months!

We are ALL different, it is NOT calories in-out for all. Yes too many calories will stop loss, but many people are also carbohydrate intolerant, and modern diet of heavy carbs, low calories stagnates weight loss.

Overweight causes some blockage on throat; snoring, etc are evidence you may have untreated apnea. It takes a full overnight sleep study and a bunch of drs. mumbling over your stats to determine which apnea machine you need. There is CPap, APap, now BiPap models, all flow air differently, but it can SAVE YOUR LIFE to get it treated. ( the brain doesn't signal your lungs to breath for 20-30+ seconds, or never, and you can die in your sleep) For very overweight people this is a serious concern.

PS: On a 1600 calorie diet, with Low Carbs, slow walking just 30 min a day, I am finally losing weight.

Humans are very complex..what works for one isn't right for all.

brianpperkins · February 2015

You tell people to do more research yet fail to post a link to, or even the name of, a single source. Anecdotal, personal experience does not equal "proof".

And yes, it is calories in - calories out for all.

obscuremusicreference · February 2015

I actually did quite a bit of reading on sleep and weight loss this weekend. While cortisol does play a role in weight gain, it will not override a calorie deficit.

Glad you're being treated for sleep apnea and are finally losing weight. Were you weighing and logging while you were eating 1400 a day? It's really easy to eat a few hundred more and end up at maintenance.

jemhh · February 2015

I have/had sleep apnea. My AHI was 87, meaning that I had shallow breathing or stopped breathing 87 times per hour. Severe sleep apnea is diagnosed with an AHI of 30. Clearly mine was ridiculous.

In all of my research into sleep apnea I never found that it directly prevents weight loss. Does it make you sleep like crap so you have no energy to get out of bed and function well enough to exercise? Yes, that absolutely was the case for me. That all turned around once I got my CPAP. But there's no way I would claim that it prevented me from losing weight.

FitOldMomma · February 2015

Each persons metabolic efficiency is different, but ultimately it still CICO. Some need fewer calories than others, but once they are at a true deficit they will lose weight- it's physics. No matter what- 3500 calories = one pound. Gain or loss.

KETOGENICGURL · February 2015

QUOTE from National Sleep Foundation on obesity:
"Is it harder for someone with sleep apnea to lose weight?"

"--There was speculation many years ago that sleep deprivation slows your metabolism, which, in dramatic cases, slows to the point where you couldn't lose weight. Science is showing that it's true. There is a tremendous physiological insult to your body including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and elevation in blood pressure." [clipped]
see:
http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/losing-weight-sleep-apnea/page/0,1/

________________KetogenicGurl sez:
I am speaking to seriously overweight dieters struggling, despite real effort, who may not have medical information that CAN/DOES make a difference.

Doubting my accuracy in following nutrition guides, or counting calories, does not make my statement untrue.

If following the government MyHealthyPlate 1200-2000 cal diet with minimum 120+ carbs a day worked for everyone, nobody would be overweight for long. Yet we are more obese as a nation than ever, with more 'diet' gurus, low calorie foods, low fat foods, gyms, fitness centers, than ever..why?

For those INTERESTED in doing their own reading, in addition to "anecdotal' evidence:
A simple search of pubmed.gov, sleepfoundation.org, or even 'googling' sleep apnea/obesity will show almost UNLIMITED studies…my own sleep tests are held by the VA Hospital in SF, I don't have a voice recording of my doctor's advice "that I won't lose weight until apnea treatment". But she was right, and until I pushed my dietitian to allow a low carb diet, not follow the government handout advice..I was stuck.

KetogenicGurl <former staff research scientist, UCLA, School of Public Affairs/Welfare

see related: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10086291/ok-to-obsess-for-30-days-count-calories-portions-excercise#latest
__________________

Postoperative CPAP Use Impacts Long-term Weight Loss Following Bariatric surgery
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25515283

Abdominal fat and sleep apnea: the chicken or the egg?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18227501

"Associations of disordered sleep with body fat distribution, physical activity and diet among overweight middle-aged men." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25644747

Studies such as the Minnesota starvation tests, diabetes research all show people respond very differently.

I clearly stated too many calories slowed weight loss.

brianpperkins · February 2015

Nothing you linked trumps calories in / calories out. Your own quote is speculative about slowing metabolism ... which would alter calories out. You counter your own posts. Thanks for the laugh.

Alluminati · February 2015

Where's my Judge Judy eyeroll?

mcclelland0484 · February 2015

I have sleep apnea (severe). I lost 130 lbs by calorie counting. Sleep apnea has completely disappeared. My weight was causing my sleep apnea. Not the other way around. Calories in / calories out is not a general rule. It's a law. If you use more energy than you consume you body has to get it from some where. If you can run on nothing (negative calories) with out burning fat, you are the most efficient machine on the planet . Good luck with your new found super power.

Train4Foodz · February 2015

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note, please try to keep all replies on topic and supportive. From previous experience, topics such as these don't end too well and only serve to cause drama and arguments within the community. Even though this is likely not the original intention of the post.

As such, this topic is being monitored and should it become counter-productive it may be closed/deleted at any time.
Along with the possibility of warnings being issued by the moderation team for breaches of community guidelines.

Discussions and debates are fine but if they become heated and argumentative, this takes away any potential benefit they may have to any member.

Wishing you all the very best.

Adam, MFP Community Greeter

PrizePopple · February 2015

OdesAngel wrote: »

Where's my Judge Judy eyeroll?

Here you go dear...

KETOGENICGURL wrote: »

<snip>

Doubting my accuracy in following nutrition guides, or counting calories, does not make my statement untrue.

If following the government MyHealthyPlate 1200-2000 cal diet with minimum 120+ carbs a day worked for everyone, nobody would be overweight for long. Yet we are more obese as a nation than ever, with more 'diet' gurus, low calorie foods, low fat foods, gyms, fitness centers, than ever..why?

<snip>

I'm sorry, are you debating sleep apnea and impacts on weight loss or your own personal dietary habits that you feel are superior?

ZebsterBC · February 2015

mcclelland0484 wrote: »

I have sleep apnea (severe). I lost 130 lbs by calorie counting. Sleep apnea has completely disappeared. My weight was causing my sleep apnea. Not the other way around. Calories in / calories out is not a general rule. It's a law. If you use more energy than you consume you body has to get it from some where. If you can run on nothing (negative calories) with out burning fat, you are the most efficient machine on the planet . Good luck with your new found super power.

That's about the same for me. I have, as the sleep Dr put it "Olympic level" sleep apnea (100x/hr). I'm no longer able to use my cpap and yet I still can lose weight by eating at a calorie defecit. I look forward to improvement in quality of sleep as I lose weight.

Sleep Apnea PREVENTS weigh loss in Overweight

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