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Why Sleep is Important for Weight Loss
What if you could lose weight while you sleep? It’s absolutely possible! Sleep is an important factor in your weight loss plan, but it’s one that is often overlooked. Think of sleep as a foundation for your life. Without enough quality sleep you won’t feel your best the next day, your workouts might suffer, and your willpower for eating healthy may falter. When you cut back on sleep, your body tries to preserve energy by burning calories at a slower rate — a huge setback if you’re trying to lose weight. If you feel like you’ve tried everything but a few stubborn pounds just won’t go away, it could be a signal that you need more rest. What happens when you skimp on sleep:
Doctors recommend 7-8 hours of sleep each night. It’s not just the quantity of sleep; quality is what we’re striving for. In a clinical study, people burned about 400 more calories by sleeping 3 extra hours, totaling an additional 2,800 calories a week! Click here to read the study: http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=746184 Benefits you’ll begin to notice when you get the right amount of sleep for your body:
Now that you know why it’s crucial to catch enough Zs, try to incorporate healthy sleep habits into your routine. Give yourself enough time to sleep for at least 7-8 hours each night. Cut down on screen time about an hour before falling asleep. Try to have your last meal or snack 2 hours before bedtime. Keep your bedroom cool and dark, and minimize clutter so your mind is more at ease. Bottom line: if you want to lose weight, have more energy for exercising and feel less hungry during the day — give your body the rest it deserves. Sources: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sleep-unsung-hero-fat-loss.html http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/cant-shed-those-pounds http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=746184
2 Comments
Ann
11/29/2015 06:39:33 am
That was a huge issue for me when I was trying to lose the weight. I used to work overnights at a residential facility for the elderly, and when I came home, it was a rush to make sure the girls are awake and ready for school, husband get off to work, cleaning up a little, the daily small stuff. Then when I would lay down, I could not get a full 7-8 hours of sleep because our 2 dogs would wake me over any little thing, and then school's over and after school activities and evening doings. When I was able to quit my overnight job, and sleep a more normal schedule, the difference was very evident! And I know as adults, we get maybe 4-5 hours of good sleep, but your body really does need more....do as the post suggests, turn off electronics, dark room, have last snack at least 2 hours before bedtime. And what works well for me (to stay asleep) is relaxing music/sounds that lull me to sleep. There are a variety of apps that offer it, or use a CD.
Maddie
12/3/2015 07:07:29 pm
I have always heard that sleep is important to lose weight, but I never actually knew why. This really drilled it into my head, though, and now that I know the reason I feel more confident overall that it's actually true. Leave a Reply. |
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