My main reason for starting WW again and the thing that keeps me so motivated is my medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
It is caused by the collapsing of the area around the throat, leading you to stop breathing in your sleep for a minimum of 10 seconds per episode.
My symptoms were extreme day time tiredness, leading to memory loss, depression, lack of motivation & lowered immune system. I have spent my 20s feeling awful. I was too tired to do much and would fall asleep anywhere. It was becoming more and more difficult to do my job as I couldn't get out of bed in the morning (despite having 4 alarms going off) and I would sleep as soon as I got home. It meant that I was eating at strange times during the day and my motabolism was at a standstill.
More importantly, OSA can lead to serious heart conditions and strokes as the brain is starved of Oxygen.
I was finally taken seriously in October 2008 and was given a CPAP machine to wear at night. It has completely changed my life in every way. It's not particularly attractive but I have never felt better.
I want to spread the word about this condition as most people think it is something that only affects morbidly obese men over 50. I AM OBESE, BUT AM ALSO FEMALE and I HAVE HAD IT ALL THROUGH MY 20s! It can affect everyone, even children, but the overweight are more prone to having it due to the fat held around the neck area.
If you think you or a loved one has the symptoms, please, please go to your doctor. It could save your life.
Interesting about the OSA. I was fairly unwell before starting WW due to what I was told was tonsilitis/pharangitis but I was asked questions about whether I stopped breathing in my sleep, etc. I have felt so much better since starting WW and I haven't had a day off work sick since I started on 26 Jan 08.
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