A woman experienced a sudden 40lbs weight gain within six months despite maintaining her diet and exercise routine. Lex Banach, 29, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, faced confusion and frustration as the weight piled on despite her efforts to eat healthily and work out regularly. After struggling with brain fog and extreme fatigue, she visited a doctor who diagnosed her with undetected sleep apnoea that had been affecting her for three years. Using a CPAP machine, Lex managed to shed 60lbs in a year.
Expressing relief, Lex shared, “I felt like I was losing my mind for years because I couldn’t understand what was happening to my body. I was following the same diet and exercise regimen.” She mentioned that she had a history of snoring and mouth breathing, which her doctor linked to the weight gain through sleep apnoea.
Passionate about fitness, Lex had successfully dropped 20lbs in 2020 to reach her goal weight of 160lbs. However, her weight started to rapidly increase in early 2021, leading her to suspect the birth control pill she was taking. Despite discontinuing the pill in 2022, her weight gain continued along with symptoms of brain fog, exhaustion, and impulse control issues.
Seeking help, Lex visited a doctor who suggested she might be dealing with anxiety, depression, and ongoing sleep apnoea. The doctor recommended a sleep study to monitor her vitals while she slept, revealing that Lex had mild sleep apnoea, causing disruptions in her metabolism, hormones, and energy levels.
Following the diagnosis, Lex was provided with a CPAP machine in June 2023 to improve her breathing during sleep. Within months, she noticed positive changes in her body, eventually losing 60lbs and reaching 140lbs by the following year. Subsequent tests in February 2024 showed that her sleep apnoea had improved.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of health insurance, Lex had to return the CPAP machine in April 2024. By May 2025, she experienced a recurrence of sleep apnoea symptoms, leading to a 20lbs weight gain. Despite the setback, Lex is managing her symptoms through meditation and yoga while striving to regain control of her health.