written by Antone Davis, Contestant on Biggest Loser season 12

I have friends that use the CPAP and at different times in the past, those friends highly recommended I get tested and get some sleep apnea equipment.

I was always reluctant because:

#1  I don’t want to lay in my bed, next to my wife, looking like Darth Vader

#2  I don’t have sleep apnea (so I thought)

I love to sleep and when I can, I sleep in late with no problems.  I just thought I was only tired because I have a hectic schedule and work long hours.

Not to mention the thought of a sleep study,  who wants to go somewhere where they watch you sleep?  Creepy!

When I made it to the finals for The Biggest Loser, one of our meetings was with Pam (from Philips Respironics) and Dody (from Nationwide Medical, Inc.) and I thought I would just go to the meeting to make them happy.

I would not speak up and it would be over soon.  I did figure that if I was going to sit in on the meeting, I would at least have an open mind about it and let them make their pitch.

Once I listened to them and realized what I was hearing, my ears perked up.  I was actually floored by the number of times I woke up during my sleep.  Actually – I was shocked!

Once you hear the numbers and understand what it means, its no wonder we get sluggish during the day.  Still, after hearing the numbers, I was not convinced that I wanted to wear a mask every night to bed.

This is where Dody and I became best friends.  Dody and Pam fit me with several masks until I had one that was non intrusive and very comfortable. 

See what Antoine's favorites from last season, Olivia and Hannah, have to say about "Pappy":

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkUdXXgt1Tw

I was afraid I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel like I was being smothered but the mask is so comfortable and the machine works so well, I didn’t even wake up until the next morning. 

When I did wake up, I was so fresh, coherent and rested that I knew I had the mask on all night and it was no problem.

One thing you need at The Biggest Loser ranch is rest and sleep to recover from all the grueling workouts.  The CPAP became my secret weapon to recovery, along with all the other tools, so I could consistently have significant weight loss every week at the Ranch. 

Most of the contestants at the ranch used their CPAP and loved it.  Some people struggled and didn’t try as hard to get used to it. The most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind.

Get tested, Get fitted, Get rest

Antoine

"Nationwide Medical and Philips Respironics are sponsors of The Biggest Loser."

"NBC and The Biggest Loser do not endorse the facts, advice or recommendations included in this website."

Is your bed too firm or too soft? Do you have a good pillow that supports your neck and head the way it should? Misalignment during sleep adds stress and strain to the spine, neck, shoulder, hips and jaw, which can affect how you feel each day. It can also sabotage your ability to relax well enough to fall asleep.

Find out what the experts say about your individual sleep positioning. Take the Dr. Oz Sleep quiz 

Adjusting your sleep posture may be all you need. Pay attention to the following three curves on the body to ensure you are maintaining them in a natural state:

1. The lower back
2. The middle of the back
3. Near the neck

Do you sleep on your back, your stomach, right or left side? Look at the sleep wheel and ask yourself, are you the Freefaller or the Stargazer? Maybe you are a Soldier or the most common of all, the Thinker? 

Sleeping on your back is by far the best sleeping position for your body. It will give your internal organs more space to breath. If you find it difficult to stay on your back, try putting a pillow under your knees. This will keep you on your back and help to maintain the natural curves as outlined above.

This position is ideal for anyone suffering from lower back pain and can prevent hip and spinal problems. If you use CPAP machines or another sleep apnea device, this is also the best position for proper breathing and optimum rest.

The most common sleep position is on the side, or the Thinker. If this is you, it’s important to keep your back as straight as possible, even if your legs are curled up in a fetal position. A pillow between your legs is one good way to keep the back straight and it can also relieve discomfort to the legs. Try to steer toward the right side also, as sleeping on the left side will put pressure on your internal organs including the liver and lungs.

I have bad news for the Freefallers, or stomach sleepers. Experts advise against it, as it puts pressure on the internal organs and diaphragm, which is important for proper breathing. It’s also a good way to ensure you wake up with bad neck kinks and possible headaches.
Sleeping on the stomach prevents the ribcage from fully expanding by trapping it under your bodyweight. This position is only good for those who have specific medical conditions that require it, such as those with disc diseases.

See the top 20 funniest sleep position photos 
 

It’s up to you to decide which position works best for you so that you can ensure a peaceful and healthy rest each night.
 

Looking for Personalized advice on your sleep apnea condition?  Learn how to qualify and sleep better for less! Click here -–> "I Want More Info" 

Although the disorder is three times more common in men, researchers say obstructive sleep apnea affects up to 4% of women between ages 30-60.

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops during sleep for 10 seconds or longer due to an obstruction the airway in the breathing apparatus. This can cause snoring and disruptive sleep patterns that can leave you feeling tired all day.

Over time, sleep deprivation can lead to a decreased performance level in everything you do. It causes fatigue, excessive sleepiness, hormonal imbalance, weight gain, decreased sexual desire, and mood swings, which can also cause work and life relationship issues.

Perhaps the most common symptom of sleep apnea in women is misdiagnosis. If you have any of the following, it might be a good time to seek a sleep apnea evaluation:

• Anemia
• Cardiac or pulmonary illnesses
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Fatigue from overwork
• Fibromyalgia
• Hypertension
• Hypochondria
• Hypothyroidism
• Insomnia
• Menopausal changes
• Obesity

Of course women look to doctors for a solution but they often times settle for a simple diagnosis.  All the above noted conditions are very real but they are also symptoms of sleep apnea and prescriptions will only subdue the underlying condition and make it worse over time.  

Quality of life often times stays below par as a series of other symptoms will start to occur as sleep apnea is a progressive condition that sets the stage for weight gain, diabetes, increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, the list goes on. Now, who wants that?

It is important as women to understand how prevalent this condition is and how detrimental it can be if it goes untreated. Ask your partner to tell you if you snore. Investigate fatigue. Don’t settle for a simple answer or diagnosis.  Take the Online Risk Assessment Here.

Many doctors are not too informed about sleep apnea and all the common symptoms that are often misdiagnosed. If you exhibit any signs or symptoms of sleep apnea, please be sure to visit your doctor and ask about sleep apnea home testing, or go here for an accredited sleep center in your area. 

Most insurance providers cover a good part of the testing and other medical costs associated with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

As women, we deserve to live out our full potential and perform to the best of our abilities. The demands of daily life can take a toll, as so many people count on us. This alone is more than a good reason to ensure you are living a healthy balance and getting a good night’s sleep – every night. 

Looking for Personalized advice on your sleep apnea condition?  Learn how to qualify and sleep better for less! Click here -–> "I Want More Info" 

In fact, research has proved that a good night’s rest increases your chances of losing weight and staying slim. The connection between sleep and weight is obvious. Sleep affects the hormones that tell us when to eat and when to stop eating, the metabolic process and the balance of the body mind. 

When we are sleep deprived, our hormones get out of whack and make us feel hungry when we’re not. Less sleep causes the metabolism to slow down, which in turn causes the body to burn less calories than it takes in. When our systems our out of balance, the body makes up for it by storing the excess energy as fat. Yes I said it. FAT.

The word we don’t like to talk about. Can’t we make it just go away? I wish it was that easy. Sure, everyone knows a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet can lead you down that path, but there might be another culprit enhancing your waist. It’s called Sleep!

So what if I told you that you can lose weight while you sleep? The first step is to be sure you aren’t at risk for sleep apnea. Did you know that sleep patterns actually have a greater influence on long term weight than physical activity and eating habits?

Hormones that are affected by sleep patterns are also the same little buggers that regulate the appetite. Imagine what a few nights of deprivation can do for the waistline? Ok. Maybe add a few pounds here and there. 

Now imagine you have a sleep disorder that goes undiagnosed for 20 years? Obesity. This is the reality of more than 20 million people in America! Most people will go a lifetime being fat and sluggish with no hope. Little do they know it might just be a matter of getting tested for sleep apnea, the most common sleep disorder!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRyri-yzeXY

Here are the three secrets to a slim physique that will work for everyone:

1. Adequate sleep
   
2. Proper Nutrition
   
3. Physical Activity
   

Ask any fitness profession and they will attest to this combination as the key ingredients to a happy healthy body. Of course a healthy mind is equally important, so that you can focus on the main goal – happiness and optimum health.

How many times have you woken up late, skipped breakfast, gorged on coffee, energy drinks and sugary snacks to get you through the day. Eat on the run, skip the gym, and stay up watching television and you wonder why you can’t get to sleep at a decent hour!

It’s a vicious cycle, and eventually this type of life will sabotage your waistline and make you FAT. Someone once said sleep debt is like credit card debt. If you keep accumulating it, you’ll end up paying a high interest rate and you’ll have a hard time paying it off. If you accumulate too much sleep debt, your body will suffer in the long run.

Looking for Personalized advice on your sleep apnea condition?  Learn how to qualify and sleep better for less! Click here -–> "I Want More Info"